Department of Transportation 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the public meetings via conference call of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Advisory Board.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FAA invites public comments about its intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) grant emergency approval for a new information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments is waived, as this is an emergency action in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. This action would enable the FAA to collect voluntary information from air carriers authorized to conduct operations under the Code of Federal Regulations that participate or have participated in transport of the COVID-19 vaccines to support continued operational safety and efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is amending its regulations regarding the hearing procedures that are available when the Department proposes a discretionary aviation consumer protection rulemaking declaring a practice to be unfair or deceptive. This final rule simplifies the hearing procedures and allows the Department greater flexibility to conduct a hearing in a manner that would not unduly delay the aviation consumer protection rulemaking.

This notice outlines how PHMSA will review and process Pipeline Safety Enhancement Program (PSEP) requests from pipeline owners and operators (PSEP applicants or applicants) to implement safety-enhancing testing programs for innovative technologies and operational practices on natural gas and hazardous liquid (HL) pipeline facilities. PHMSA will review each PSEP application and provide regulatory oversight of each approved PSEP, in accordance with the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES Act of 2020), to ensure the safety measures in each achieve a level of safety greater than the level of safety provided by the federal pipeline safety regulations (PSR).

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion nor omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

The FAA is considering a proposal to change approximately 328 acres of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the lease and ultimate sale of airport property located at Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, Ohio. The aforementioned land is not needed for aeronautical use. The property is located southeast of the airfield and currently consists of vacant land, paved roadways, fencing and utilities. The land is proposed to be used to expand the Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park (RGLP) and all activities necessary to prepare the site as a Cargo Campus for development capable of accommodating growth in bulk warehouse/distribution facilities.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc., (Piper) Model PA-46-600TP airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by testing that showed that the wing splice assembly could fail before the assembly reaches its established life limit. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the existing maintenance manual (MM) or instructions for continued airworthiness to reduce the life limit of the wing splice assembly. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board is publishing the Regulatory Flexibility Agenda for fall 2021.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-02-20, which applies to certain H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters. AD 2021-02-20 requires initial and repetitive inspections of certain rotating and non-rotating scissor fittings, and depending on the results, replacing the affected assembly. AD 2021-02-20 also prohibits installing certain main rotor hubs (MRHs) and swashplate guides unless the initial inspection has been accomplished. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-02-20, the MRH and swashplate guide have been redesigned to include a certain part- numbered scissor fitting. This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2021-02-20, require installation of newly designed parts, provide a terminating action for the initial and repetitive inspections, and revise the applicability. This proposed AD would also extend the repetitive inspection interval and prohibit installing certain MRHs and swashplate guides. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) on behalf of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) (collectively referred to as ``Toyota'') has determined that certain replacement seat belt assemblies manufactured by Marutaka, Tokai Rika Japan, Autoliv, NSK, Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, TRQSS, Key Safety Restraint Systems, Inc., Tokai Rika Czech, BMW Group Headquarters, Subaru Corporation, and Mazda North America Operations, and sold to Toyota dealerships as replacement equipment do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies. Toyota filed three noncompliance reports, two dated April 20, 2021, and the other dated May 4, 2021. Toyota subsequently submitted two petitions to NHTSA both dated May 14, 2021, for a decision that the subject noncompliances are inconsequential as they relate to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces receipt of Toyota's petitions.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 747-8F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of fuselage crown stringer cracking between station (STA) 740 and STA 1000, stringer (S)-7 to S-12. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of fuselage crown stringers and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of burned Boeing Material Specification (BMS) 8-39 urethane foam, which is a material with fire-retardant properties that deteriorate with age. This proposed AD would require replacing certain BMS 8-39 foam pads with Nomex felt in certain areas, removing certain BMS 8-39 foam pads in a certain area (which includes a general visual inspection to find BMS 8-39 foam pads), and inspecting the corner seals to determine if the corner seals were replaced, and replacing affected corner seals. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of BMS 8-39 urethane foam seal in certain locations. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters; AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters; and Model SA-365C1, SA-365C2, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters. This AD was prompted a report of increased vibration during flight. This AD requires the application of alignment markings on, and repetitive inspections of, the main rotor (MR) pitch rod upper links and, depending on findings, the accomplishment of applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at Monticello Airport, Monticello, UT. The establishment of airspace supports the airport's transition from visual flight rules to instrument flight rule (IFR) operations and ensures the safety and management of IFR operations within the National Airspace System.

This notice announces actions taken by TxDOT and Federal agencies that are final. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for these projects are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to an assignment agreement executed by FHWA and TxDOT. The actions relate to various proposed highway projects in the State of Texas. These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the projects.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-22-20 which applied to certain Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines. AD 2021-22-20 required, for engines with an affected cylinder head, inspection of the high pressure pump (HPP) driving gear and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacement of the HPP driving gear with a part eligible for installation. AD 2021-22-20 also required, for engines with an affected HPP driving gear, replacement of the HPP driving gear before further flight or within a certain number of flight hours, depending on the engine configuration and number of affected engines installed. This AD requires, for engines equipped with a certain cylinder head and HPP driving gear combination, removal, inspection, and replacement of the HPP driving gear before further flight and, depending on the inspection findings, replacement of the HPP shaft, cylinder head, camshaft gear, or inlet/outlet camshaft bushing. This AD also requires, for engines with an affected HPP driving gear, replacement of the HPP driving gear before further flight or within a certain number of flight hours, depending on the engine configuration and number of affected engines installed. This AD was prompted by reports of failure of the HPP driving gear and a subsequent determination that a batch of HPP driving gears may have been damaged during assembly. This AD was also prompted by an investigation which found that certain cylinder heads installed in combination with certain HPP driving gear on the same engine may cause damage to the HPP driving gear. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This AD was prompted by significant changes, including new or more restrictive requirements, made to the airworthiness limitations (AWLs) related to fuel tank ignition prevention and the nitrogen generation system. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 747-8F and 747-8 series airplanes and Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band), and a recent determination that this interference may affect multiple airplane systems using radio altimeter data, including the pitch control laws, including those that provide tail strike protection, regardless of the approach type or weather. This AD requires revising the limitations section of the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate limitations prohibiting dispatching or releasing to airports, and approaches or landings on runways, when in the presence of 5G C-Band interference as identified by Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice announces a public informational webinar on the scope of Section 114 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 (PIPES Act of 2020). The webinar will also cover PHMSA and state inspection plans to ensure compliance of operators' inspection and maintenance procedures to eliminate hazardous leaks, minimizes releases of methane (the predominant component of natural gas), and the replacement or remediation of facilities known to leak.

The FAA announces the special class airworthiness criteria for the Amazon Logistics, Inc. Model MK27-2 unmanned aircraft. This document sets forth the airworthiness criteria the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the unmanned aircraft design.

This action changes the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register on September 8, 2021, amending airspace for several airports in the south Florida area. The FAA is delaying the effective date to coincide with the completion of ongoing airspace projects in the area.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model 120 and 140 airplanes and all Model 140A airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of seat belt center bracket failures from overstress. This proposed AD would require determining if the seat belt center bracket is made of steel and replacing any non-steel brackets. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on September 14, 2021. Only one supportive comment was received.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-23-05, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2020-23-05 requires inspecting the control rod attachment yokes (yokes) of certain main rotor (M/R) rotating swashplates (swashplates), establishing a life limit, a one-time inspection of stripped yokes, and applicable corrective actions. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-23-05, the FAA has determined that a revised compliance time is necessary for swashplates that have accumulated less than seven years since the date of manufacture and that clarification is necessary for the condition that concludes with a dye penetrant inspection of the yoke. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-23-05, with a revised compliance time for a certain inspection. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.