Department of Transportation 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the public with notice that, on October 17, 2023, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.

This document provides the public with notice that, on October 16, 2023, New Jersey Transit (NJT) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system. The RFA notifies FRA of a planned PTC outage to its I-ETMS PTC System for maintenance purposes. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.

This action removes the current flight prohibition Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for specified areas of the Dnipro Flight Information Region (FIR) (UKDV). This SFAR, which is scheduled to expire on October 27, 2023, reflects risks to the safety of U.S. civil aviation as they existed prior to the Russian Federation's full- scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and is therefore obsolete. This action is necessary to alleviate confusion that might otherwise result from leaving an obsolete rule in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) after its scheduled expiration date of October 27, 2023. FAA Notice-to-Air-Missions (NOTAM) KICZ A0004/22 remains in effect and continues to prohibit U.S. civil flight operations in the Lviv (UKLV), Kyiv (UKBV), Dnipro (UKDV), Simferopol (UKFV), and Odesa (UKOV) FIRs, as well as the Kyiv Upper Information Region (UIR) (UKBU). NOTAM KICZ A0004/22, together with NOTAMs KICZ A0003/22 and A0005/22, reflects the FAA's current assessment of the safety-of-flight risks the Russia- Ukraine conflict presents to U.S. civil aviation operations.

BMW of North America, LLC, a subsidiary of BMW AG, Munich, Germany, (collectively ``BMW''), has determined that certain Model Year (MY) 2018-2021 BMW K 1600 motorcycles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 123, Motorcycle Controls and Displays. BMW filed an original noncompliance report dated March 18, 2021, and, subsequently, BMW petitioned NHTSA on April 9, 2021, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces the grant of BMW's petition.

Mercedes-Benz AG (``MBAG'') and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, (``MBUSA'') (collectively, ``Mercedes-Benz'') have determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. Mercedes-Benz filed a noncompliance report dated August 14, 2020. Mercedes-Benz subsequently petitioned NHTSA on September 4, 2020, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces denial of Mercedes-Benz's petition.

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice of its intent to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the information collections of the Joint Notice of Intent to Arbitrate and Notice of Availability for Arbitrator Roster, as described separately below.

FRA announces the charter renewal of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee established by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the FRA Administrator on matters relating to railroad safety. This charter renewal will be effective for two years from the date it is filed with Congress.

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.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Transportation (DOT) proposes to establish a new system of records (hereafter referred to as ``Notice'') titled, ``Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration DOT/FAA 857 Accidents, Incidents and Investigations.'' This system of records supports the FAA's mission of aviation safety by investigating and sharing accident and incident information with stakeholders, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The information maintained in this system includes several kinds of records such as toxicology reports, autopsy reports, incident and accident reports (including small Unmanned Aircraft System (small UAS) accident reports), maintenance records, responses to regulatory and statutory non-compliance determinations, data request logs, medical case reviews, and other records that support FAA accidents, incidents and investigations. Other information included are toxicology records regarding investigations of accidents or incidents for other modes of transportation and special requests from transportation entities from foreign governments.

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 in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection OMB 2133-0011 (War Risk Insurance, Applications, and Related Information) is used to determine the eligibility of the applicant and the vessel(s) for participation in the War Risk Insurance Program. There are no changes to this collection since the last renewal. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. A 60-day notice Federal Register soliciting comments on this information collection was published on August 14, 2023.

FMCSA extends the comment period for its August 29, 2023, ANPRM requesting public comment on the need for a rulemaking to revise the regulations prescribing the safety fitness determination (SFD) process; the available science or technical information to analyze regulatory alternatives for determining the safety fitness of motor carriers; feedback on the Agency's current SFD regulations, including the process and impacts; the available data and costs for regulatory alternatives reasonably likely to be considered as part of this rulemaking; and the specific questions in the ANPRM. FMCSA extends the comment period for 30 days until November 29, 2023.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes-Benz) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2021 Mercedes-Benz motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 101, Controls and Displays, and FMVSS No. 102, Transmission Shift Position. Mercedes-Benz filed a noncompliance report dated September 24, 2021, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the ``Agency'') on October 25, 2021, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Mercedes-Benz's petition.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Antone Ranch Airport, Mitchell, OR, in support of the airport's forthcoming transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

This action changes the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register on September 22, 2023, amending Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-36 and establishing Canadian Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-675 in the northcentral United States (U.S.). The FAA is delaying the effective date to coincide with the expected completion of the associated aeronautical data requirements for establishing all segments of Canadian RNAV route T-675 within U.S. airspace and to adopt the rule amendments concurrently.

This notice announces a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These ICRs describes the information collection and its expected burden. On August 8, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the two ICRs.

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice of its intent to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of approval for the information collection required from those seeking statutory licensing authority, as described below.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for an information collection, which is summarized below under Supplementary Information. 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 Epic Aircraft, LLC Model E1000 airplanes. This AD was prompted by improperly rigged flap position switches. This AD requires installing a secondary full position limit switch to the flap system, installing a switch ramp on the flap actuator, and modifying the take- off position switch rigging. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Thomasville Regional Airport, Thomasville, GA. This action would increase the exiting radius and add an extension to the northeast, as well as update the airport's name.

The Federal Aviation Administration announces the availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded Airport Traffic Control Tower Replacement Program.