Department of Transportation July 15, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration is seeking suggestions from all transit stakeholders (transit authorities, planning officials, States, cities, the private sector, and the public) on improvements that could be made to the evaluation process for projects seeking funding from the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. Specifically, FTA seeks input on evaluation measures and data sources that can better capture the benefits and costs of transit and how the CIG program can facilitate outcomes that maximize those benefits.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. The information to be collected is necessary for MARAD to identify the effect of potential foreign-built small passenger vessel coastwise operations on U.S. vessel builders and coastwise trade businesses. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (RRD) BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by reports of HPT stage 1 blades failing in service due to sulphidation and subsequent crack initiation. This AD requires removal and replacement of the HPT stage 1 blade and HPT stage 1 blade damper. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt three individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti- seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports indicating that during investigation of a fuel leak, fatigue cracking was found on the forward inboard side of the fuel tank access door cutouts on the left and right lower wing skin. The cause of the cracking is attributed to corrosion damage. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any existing repair of the wing lower skin fuel tank and dry bay access door cutouts on the left and right lower wing skin, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of burned Boeing Material Specification (BMS) 8-39 urethane foam found in certain locations on the airplane; investigation revealed that the fire-retardant properties degrade with age. This AD requires inspecting the insulation blankets in certain areas of the forward cargo compartment for exposed BMS 8-39 urethane foam, not encapsulated by a protective fire resistant barrier, and for seal integrity, and replacing the BMS 8-39 urethane foam and seal if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-25-01 which applied to certain Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Models AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. AD 2003-25-01 required modifying and re-identifying the hoist operator control unit and replacing certain fuses. This AD was prompted by the identification of multiple errors in the applicable service information for the AS350-series and AS355-series helicopters and of other needed changes. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2003-25-01, revises the applicability, and requires using corrected service information. This AD also requires reporting certain information and prohibits the installation of an affected hoist until the required actions are accomplished. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on June 4, 2021 that amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-25, V-27, V-494, V-108, V-301, and United States Area Navigation route (RNAV) T-257 in the vicinity of Santa Rosa, CA. This action makes an editorial correction to include the Mendocino VOR, which was inadvertently deleted from the legal description for V-494. Amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the Santa Rosa, CA VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) navigation aid (NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected airways. The Santa Rosa VOR/DME is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, FALCON 900EX, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing issue involving misalignment of a cabin seat pin and plate that can prevent the recline locking mechanism from properly engaging when the seat is in taxi, take-off, or landing position. This proposed AD would require an inspection of certain cabin seats for discrepancies and corrective action, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.