Department of Transportation 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FMCSA announces its response to public comments regarding the granting of exemptions from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Since February 2013, FMCSA has granted a number of exemptions and published numerous Federal Register notices requesting public comment on additional exemption applications. This notice responds to the substantive comments we received and announces our intention to continue granting additional exemptions.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace designated as a surface area and amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Muscatine Municipal Airport, Muscatine, IA. The FAA is proposing this action due to the decommissioning of the Port City VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) facility, which provided navigation guidance for the instrument procedures to this airport. The VOR has been decommissioned as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. This collection involves air carrier and commercial operator certificate holders. The information collected will be used to ensure regulatory compliance.

The Board hereby gives notice of vacancies on RSTAC for two small shipper representatives, one large shipper representative, two small railroad representatives, and two large railroad representatives. The Board seeks suggestions for candidates to fill these vacancies.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections.

The FAA, Eastern Service Area is issuing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the Categorical Exclusion/Record of Decision (CATEX/ROD) for the LaGuardia Airport (LGA) RNAV (GPS) Runway 13 (RWY 13) procedure. The FAA reviewed the action and determined it to be categorically excluded from further environmental documentation.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The information to be collected will be used to evaluate injury claims made by seamen working aboard government-owned vessels. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

These special conditions are issued for the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC), CTS800-4AT turboshaft engine model. This engine model will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO) power rating. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

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.

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.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) announces the availability of its report issued under Section 2 of Executive Order 13783, ``Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth.''

The Board has approved the first quarter 2018 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. A new base level for the index is calculated in the Board's decision, as the statute requires be done every five years. The first quarter 2018 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.027. The first quarter 2018 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.422. The first quarter 2018 RCAF-5 is 0.402.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.- build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models G-1159A (GIII), G-IV, and GIV-X airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain flap tracks were manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than design minimum. This AD requires replacing any defective flap track. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is considering a request from the State of Montana to release certain deed restrictions at the Yellowstone Airport, MT.

FMCSA grants a limited 90-day waiver from the Federal hours- of-service (HOS) regulations pertaining to electronic logging devices (ELDs) for the transportation of agricultural commodities as defined in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The Agency takes this action in response to a waiver request from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) on behalf of eight organizations representing transporters of livestock and other agricultural commodities, as defined in the FMCSRs. The Agency has determined that the waiver is in the public interest and would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption, based on the terms and conditions imposed. The waiver will also through notice and public comment, provide FMCSA with time to consider certain exemption applications from segments of the agricultural industry concerning the use of ELDs to document drivers' hours of service and clarify applicability of the requirements and the need for certain carriers to begin using ELDs by the December 18, 2017, deadline.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-25-07 for Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2009-25-07 required amending the rotorcraft flight manual supplement (RFMS) and pre-flight checking the emergency flotation gear before each flight over water. Since we issued AD 2009-25-07, Airbus Helicopters developed a terminating action and identified an additional part- numbered emergency floatation gear part with the unsafe condition. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2009-25-07, expands the applicability, and adds a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The actions of this AD are intended to correct an unsafe condition on these helicopters.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation (Enstrom) Model F-28, F-28A, F-28C, F- 28C-2, F-28C-2R, F-28F, F-28F-R, TH-28, 280, 280C, 280F, 280FX, 480, and 480B helicopters. This AD requires inspecting certain rod end bearing assemblies. This AD is prompted by an accident. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.