Department of Transportation 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notification of determination announces FRA's minimum annual random drug and minimum annual random alcohol testing rates for covered service, maintenance-of-way (MOW), and mechanical (MECH) employees for calendar year 2024.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Lajitas, TX. The FAA is taking this action to support new public instrument procedures.

This action modifies the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport, Tanana, AK. These modifications correct administrative errors contained within a previous airspace action and support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area, modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and remove the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Mammoth Lakes Airport, Mammoth Lakes, CA. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal descriptions. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking regarding FTA's State Safety Oversight program, which was published on November 15, 2023, with the original comment period closing on January 16, 2024.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Mankato, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Mankato very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name of an airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) Update submitted by the City of Westfield, Massachusetts, through its Aviation Department, for Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. The Final Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) was submitted to FAA for review and approval on May 26, 2023. The NCP was found to be sufficient for consideration by the FAA, and a Federal Register noticed appeared on July 11, 2023. The required 60-day public comment period expired on September 9, 2023. The NEM was previously determined to be in compliance on June 13, 2019, and is still valid. The NCP contained 10 noise abatement measures, nine land use measures, and four program management measures. Of the 23 measures proposed, 12 were approved, 9 were approved as voluntary, one requires no action at this time, and one was disapproved for purposes of part 150.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of a renewal of information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on October 17, 2023. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This final rule amends the Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR) to provide needed editorial changes. DOT is publishing a technical amendment to make a minor administrative correction to a TAR clause citation.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 11 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing helicopter maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) for your helicopter and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program for your helicopter, as applicable, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action withdraws the final rule correction published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2023. That action incorrectly stated that the action would be incorporated by reference. The FAA has determined that withdrawal of the final rule correction is warranted since the action is not incorporated by reference.

This document provides the public with notice that, on December 12, 2023, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICD) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA- approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA requests FRA's approval of NICD's proposed material modifications 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 PTCSP.

This action proposes to establish restricted area R-4601 in the vicinity of Townsend, MT. The new restricted area would provide the Montana Army National Guard (MTARNG) and the 40th Helicopter Squadron with the ability to conduct aerial gunnery training.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is proposing a General Directive to address the significant and continuing national- level safety risk related to assaults on transit workers. The General Directive would require each transit agency subject to FTA's Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) regulation to conduct a safety risk assessment, identify safety risk mitigations or strategies, and provide information to FTA on how it is assessing, mitigating, and monitoring the safety risk associated with assaults on transit workers. As required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, each transit agency serving a large urbanized area must involve the joint labor-management Safety Committee when identifying safety risk mitigations.

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 collection of Demurrage Liability Disclosure Requirements, as described below.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 13 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Danville, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Danville very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-12- 07, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and - 122 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2019-12-07 required replacement of both main landing gear (MLG) shock absorbers, an identification of affected MLG sliding tubes; inspection of affected chromium plates and sliding tube axles for damage; and replacement of the sliding tube if necessary. AD 2019- 12-07 also required repetitive inspections of affected MLG sliding tubes for cracking, replacement of cracked MLG sliding tubes, and eventual replacement of each affected MLG sliding tube. This AD continues to require the actions specified in AD 2019-12-07 and requires repetitive inspections of additional MLG sliding tubes, replacement if necessary, and eventual replacement of the additional MLG sliding tubes. This AD also extends the repetitive inspection interval. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. This AD was prompted by the FAA's determination that additional MLG sliding tubes are affected by the unsafe condition and that the repetitive inspection interval may be extended. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 24, 2023. The collection involves practices that permitted certificated air carriers to operate two-engine airplanes over long range routes. The FAA uses this information collection to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

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.

The FAA published a document in the Federal Register on November 28, 2023, announcing the primary category airworthiness design criteria for type certification of the ICON Aircraft Inc., (ICON) Model A5-B airplane. The document contained incorrect references to the aircraft and engine model numbers.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by sleeve loops on some passenger oxygen mask lanyards that had improper crimping and unsealed ends. This AD requires an inspection of the passenger oxygen mask lanyards and replacement of defective oxygen mask lanyards. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on November 24, 2023, that establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) routes T-440, T-455, T-457, T-459, and T-476, and amends RNAV routes T-358, T-416, and T-445 in support of the FAA's Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a reported interference between the pilot valve fittings and their mating holes in the rear spar of the center wing box (CWB). This AD requires replacing the pilot valve fittings, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.