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FAA, Coast Guard, and EPA Issue Cluster of Safety and Environmental Rules

The FAA expands a Rolls-Royce engine airworthiness directive, the Coast Guard establishes three Southern California fireworks safety zones, and the EPA proposes a federal backstop plan for solid-waste incinerator emissions.

5 min read Synthesized & fact-checked by The General Plan

FAA Expands Rolls-Royce Trent XWB Fuel Hose Airworthiness Directive

The Federal Aviation Administration has superseded Airworthiness Directive 2024-25-10 with a broader final rule addressing unsafe conditions in the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold on Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Trent XWB engines. The original AD, issued as Amendment 39-22912 and published January 31, 2025, applied only to certain Trent XWB-97 engines and required a one-time set of visual and dimensional inspections to confirm softness, compliance, and lack of resistance, and to check for shrinkage, cracks, chafing, dents, kinks, necking, and degradation of the hose braid wire, with replacement if necessary.

The new AD expands applicability to include certain RRD Model Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 engines, in addition to certain Trent XWB-97 engines. The rule explains that the FAA has determined additional engine models are affected by the unsafe condition and that required inspections should be repetitive for certain engine populations. Accordingly, the AD establishes two compliance tracks: a one-time set of on-wing visual and dimensional inspections for certain engines, and on-wing and in-shop repetitive visual and dimensional inspections for certain other engines. The AD also provides criteria for installation of an affected part and an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.

The document traces the unsafe condition to a damage event reported to EASA, the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union: damage to a fuel manifold main fuel hose was reported, which led to a controlled, temporary engine fire and heat damage to the exterior and interior of the engine nacelle (thrust reverser C-ducts), resulting in an in-flight shutdown. In-service and in-shop inspections identified a specific cleaning process available during engine refurbishment that may lead to degradation of the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold. EASA subsequently issued a series of ADs — EASA Emergency AD 2024-0174-E, EASA AD 2024-0182, EASA AD 2024-0182R1, EASA AD 2025-0128, and EASA AD 2025-0128R1 — progressively expanding scope, revising service material, and requiring repetitive inspections. The FAA rule is effective July 17, 2026, and the agency is accepting comments under Docket No. FAA-2026-4661; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01530-E. The rule amends 14 CFR 39.

Coast Guard Establishes Three Southern California Holiday Fireworks Safety Zones

The Coast Guard has issued three temporary final rules establishing safety zones for fireworks displays in Southern California waters on July 3 and July 4, 2026, all falling under the authority of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Los Angeles–Long Beach and amending 33 CFR 165.

San Pedro Bay, Long Beach: A safety zone covering all navigable waters within a 1,000-foot radius of two fireworks barges offshore of Long Beach, CA, is effective from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. on July 4, 2026. The COTP determined that potential hazards associated with fireworks are a safety concern for anyone within that radius. The Coast Guard notes it did not receive final details for this event until June 4, 2026, and invoked good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to bypass notice-and-comment rulemaking.

Port of Los Angeles, Berth 46: A safety zone covering all navigable waters within a 600-foot radius of a point on a pier at Berth 46, Port of Los Angeles, is effective from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. on July 4, 2026. Fireworks will be launched from that pier location. As with the Long Beach zone, the COTP cited insufficient time to solicit and respond to public comments as the basis for waiving the standard NPRM process.

Isthmus Cove, Santa Catalina Island: A safety zone covering all navigable waters in Isthmus Cove within a 1,000-foot radius of a fireworks barge is effective from 9:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on July 3, 2026. In all three zones, entry by vessels or persons is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the COTP or their designated representative.

EPA Proposes Federal Backstop Plan for Solid Waste Incinerator Emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a federal plan to implement revised emission guidelines for existing other solid waste incineration (OSWI) units that commenced construction on or before August 31, 2020, and have not been modified or reconstructed after August 29, 2025. The EPA promulgated original emission guidelines for existing OSWI units in 2005 and revised those guidelines on June 30, 2025.

The proposed federal plan is designed as a backstop mechanism. According to the rule, if a State or Tribe with existing OSWI units subject to the 2025 revised emission guidelines does not submit an approvable plan by June 30, 2027, the EPA will develop, implement, and enforce a federal plan for existing OSWI units located in that State or area of Indian Country. The proposed federal plan would implement the 2025 revised OSWI emission guidelines for units located in States and on Tribal lands without effective State or Tribal plans by the effective date of the federal plan. The rule amends 40 CFR 62.

What to Watch

  • July 3–4, 2026: Coast Guard safety zones take effect in Isthmus Cove (July 3, 9:30–10:30 p.m.) and at San Pedro Bay Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles Berth 46 (July 4, 9–10 p.m.).
  • July 14, 2026: Last day to pre-register to speak at the EPA's virtual public hearing on the OSWI federal plan proposal.
  • July 16, 2026: EPA virtual public hearing on the OSWI federal plan, if requested.
  • July 17, 2026: FAA Rolls-Royce Trent XWB airworthiness directive takes effect.
  • August 3, 2026: Deadline for Office of Management and Budget to receive comments on the EPA OSWI proposal's information collection provisions under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
  • August 17, 2026: General comment deadline for the EPA OSWI federal plan proposed rule (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-3028).
  • June 30, 2027: Deadline by which States or Tribes must submit approvable OSWI plans or face EPA federal plan enforcement.

Related

Sources

30 cited

Every hard fact above is grounded in and cited to a primary source record.

  1. The FAA superseded Airworthiness Directive 2024-25-10, which applied to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model Trent XWB-97 engines.

    federalregister.gov

  2. AD 2024-25-10 was issued as Amendment 39-22912 and published January 31, 2025.

    federalregister.gov

  3. The new AD expands applicability to include certain RRD Model Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 engines.

    federalregister.gov

  4. The FAA determined that additional engine models are affected by the unsafe condition and that the required inspections should be repetitive.

    federalregister.gov

  5. The AD provides criteria for installation of an affected part and optional terminating action for the repetitive visual and dimensional inspections.

    federalregister.gov

  6. Damage to a fuel manifold main fuel hose was reported, which led to a controlled, temporary engine fire and heat damage to the exterior and interior of the engine nacelle (thrust reverser C-ducts), resulting in an in-flight shutdown.

    federalregister.gov

  7. In-service and in-shop inspections identified a specific cleaning process available during engine refurbishment that may lead to degradation of the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold.

    federalregister.gov

  8. EASA issued EASA Emergency AD 2024-0174-E, EASA AD 2024-0182, EASA AD 2024-0182R1, EASA AD 2025-0128, and EASA AD 2025-0128R1.

    federalregister.gov

  9. The FAA Rolls-Royce AD is effective July 17, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  10. Comments on the FAA AD are to be submitted under Docket No. FAA-2026-4661; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01530-E.

    federalregister.gov

  11. The FAA AD amends 14 CFR 39.

    federalregister.gov

  12. The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone covering all navigable waters in San Pedro Bay within a 1,000-foot radius of two fireworks barges offshore of Long Beach, CA, effective from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. on July 4, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  13. The COTP Los Angeles–Long Beach determined that potential hazards associated with fireworks are a safety concern for anyone within a 1,000-foot radius of the fireworks barges in San Pedro Bay off Long Beach.

    federalregister.gov

  14. The Coast Guard did not receive final details for the Long Beach fireworks event until June 4, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  15. The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone covering all navigable waters within a 600-foot radius of a point on a pier at Berth 46, Port of Los Angeles, effective from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. on July 4, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  16. Fireworks at the Port of Los Angeles will be launched from the pier at Berth 46.

    federalregister.gov

  17. The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone covering all navigable waters in Isthmus Cove within a 1,000-foot radius of a fireworks barge, effective from 9:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on July 3, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  18. Fireworks at Isthmus Cove will be launched from a barge in Isthmus Cove, Santa Catalina Island.

    federalregister.gov

  19. All three Coast Guard safety zones amend 33 CFR 165, and entry is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or their designated representative.

    federalregister.gov

  20. The EPA is proposing a federal plan to implement revised emission guidelines for existing other solid waste incineration (OSWI) units that commenced construction on or before August 31, 2020, and have not been modified or reconstructed after August 29, 2025.

    federalregister.gov

  21. The EPA promulgated original emission guidelines for existing OSWI units in 2005 and revised those guidelines on June 30, 2025.

    federalregister.gov

  22. If a State or Tribe with existing OSWI units subject to the 2025 revised OSWI emission guidelines does not submit an approvable plan by June 30, 2027, the EPA will develop, implement, and enforce a federal plan for existing OSWI units located in that State or area of Indian Country.

    federalregister.gov

  23. The EPA OSWI proposed rule amends 40 CFR 62.

    federalregister.gov

  24. Comments on the EPA OSWI proposed rule must be received on or before August 17, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  25. The EPA's virtual public hearing on the OSWI federal plan, if requested, will be held on July 16, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  26. The last day to pre-register to speak at the EPA virtual hearing is July 14, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  27. The EPA OSWI proposed rule is identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-3028.

    federalregister.gov

  28. AD 2024-25-10 required a one-time set of visual and dimensional inspections of the main fuel hose assembly of the fuel manifold to confirm softness, compliance, and lack of resistance, and for shrinkage, cracks, chafing, dents, kinks, necking, and degradation of the hose braid wire, and if necessary, replacement of the main fuel hose assembly.

    federalregister.gov

  29. The new AD requires, for certain engines, a one-time set of on-wing visual and dimensional inspections, and for certain other engines, on-wing and in-shop repetitive visual and dimensional inspections.

    federalregister.gov

  30. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on the information collection provisions are best assured of consideration if OMB receives them on or before August 3, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

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