🌫️Colorado Regional Haze Regulation and Business Implications
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove a regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) submission submitted by the State of Colorado under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. Colorado's 2022 SIP submission addresses the requirement that states revise their long-term strategies every implementation period to make reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas. We propose to base our partial disapproval of Colorado's long-term strategy on its inclusion of insufficiently justified enforceable source closures that are not consistent with statutory requirements. Colorado's 2022 SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. Concurrently, the EPA is proposing to approve a revision to Colorado's SIP consolidating existing regional haze provisions into the same regulation where the State's new, second planning period provisions are located.
Learn More✈️FAA's Amendments to Standard Instrument Approach Procedures
This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.
Learn More🌫️Ohio EPA's Second Maintenance Plan Approval for SO₂ Emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the second 10-year maintenance plan submitted to EPA on November 7, 2024, by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) for the Ohio portion of the Campbell-Clermont Counties, Kentucky-Ohio maintenance area. The Ohio portion of this area consists of Pierce Township in Clermont County, Ohio. The plan addresses the second 10-year maintenance period for the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is approving Ohio EPA's submittal for the area because it provides for the continued maintenance of the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS through the end of the second 10-year portion of the maintenance period.
Learn More🌍EPA Approves Guam Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Inventory Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a revision to Guam's State Implementation Plan (SIP) under section 110(k)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act"). This revision concerns the base year emissions inventory for the Piti-Cabras, Guam sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) nonattainment area ("Piti-Cabras area" or NAA) for the 2010 1-hour SO<INF>2</INF> National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS, "standard," or "2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS").
Learn More✈️New FAA Regulations on Instrument Approach Procedures and Takeoff Minimums
This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.
Learn More🌬️EPA Air Plan Update
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the regulatory materials incorporated by reference into the New Jersey State Implementation Plan (SIP). The regulations affected by this action have been previously submitted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and approved by the EPA in prior rulemakings. The EPA is also notifying the public of corrections to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) tables that identify material incorporated by reference into the New Jersey SIP. This update affects the materials that are available for public inspection at the EPA Regional Office.
Learn More🚁FAA Airworthiness Directive for Airbus Helicopters Safety Compliance
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of over-torqued swashplate bolts on helicopters in service and in production. This AD requires removal of certain swashplate bolts from service and replacement with new (never previously installed on a helicopter) bolts, a one-time inspection for damage on the threads of the bearing ring and control ring of the swashplate and, depending on the results of the inspection, corrective actions. This AD also prohibits the installation of certain swashplates on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Learn More✈️Revocation of Airway Routes in Alaska
This action revokes Colored Federal Airway Green 6 (G-6) and Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-459 and V-496 in Alaska. The identifier V-459 is also used for a VOR Federal Airway in California. This action revokes the Alaskan V-459, not the V-459 in California. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the St. Marys, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) and the Aniak, AK, NDB.
Learn More✈️Proposed Airworthiness Directive for Goodrich Cabin Attendant Seats
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Goodrich cabin attendant seats installed on Airbus SAS Model A330- 200 series, A330-200 Freighter series, A330-300 series, A330-841, A330- 941, A340-200 series, A340-300 series, A340-541, and A340-642 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that track attachments used on certain part-numbered seats are non-compliant. This proposed AD would require replacing all seat track attachments and hardware and re-identifying the seat with a new part number. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Learn More✈️FAA Proposes Changes to Class E4 Airspace Over Elmira, NY
This action proposes to amend Class E4 airspace at Elmira/ Corning Regional Airport, Elmira, NY, due to the currently designated airspace not properly containing instrument flight rule (IFR) operations, which require controlled airspace.
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