Department of Transportation 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the public with notice that, on November 8, 2023, Metro-North Commuter Railroad (MNR) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens.

On October 19, 2023, Van Pool Transportation LLC (Van Pool or Applicant), a noncarrier, filed an application for Van Pool to acquire control of an interstate passenger motor carrier, PLSIII LLC (PLS), by acquiring all the outstanding equity interests in PLS from Founders Mobility LLC (Founders), the sole member of PLS. The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction, and, if no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 16 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.

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

This notice announces a proposed update of the FAA's Office of Airports policy regarding the definition of ``aeronautical activity'' to include unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), advanced air mobility (AAM), and commercial space launch or re-entry vehicle operations. Under Federal law, an airport operator that has accepted Federal grants or certain Federal land conveyances is obligated to maintain the airport for public aviation use. This proposed update will add UAS, AAM, and commercial space operations to the existing definition of aeronautical activity that is included in FAA Order 5190.6B, FAA Airport Compliance Manual, Appendix Z, and subsequent revisions. This revised definition does not affect any international agreements or policies regarding commercial space operations. The FAA is seeking comments on the proposed statement of policy.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the extension of a currently approved information collection: Charter Service Operations.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $4.7 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding under the Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program. This funding opportunity seeks to improve coordination to enhance access and mobility to vital community services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people of low income. As required by Federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively as grants to finance innovative mobility management capital projects that will improve the coordination of transportation services and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services. An additional $4.8 million is authorized for FY 2024 and FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

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 revoke Colored Federal airway Blue 9 (B-9) in the Eastern United States. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Marathon, FL (MTH), Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB).

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), proposes a new system of records titled, ``DOT/FAA 858 Adjudication Docket Records in Aviation Litigation Proceedings under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 13, subparts D and G and Acquisition Dispute Proceedings under 14 CFR part 17''. This system of records allows DOT to collect and maintain case records for in-house administrative adjudications and mediations (``adjudicative records'') in accordance with FAA procedures and regulations that support its mission of aviation safety.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces a public meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS).

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-21-13 for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 1000 engines. AD 2021-21-13 required the operator to revise the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of their existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP) by incorporating the revised tasks of the applicable time limits manual (TLM) for each affected model engine. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-21-13, the manufacturer has revised the TLM, introducing new and more restrictive instructions. This AD is prompted by the manufacturer revising the engine TLM life limits of certain critical rotating parts. This AD requires revisions to the ALS of the operator's existing approved AMP, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will hold a virtual public listening session concerning the topics of hours of service and fatigue risk management for transit workers on December 5, 2023. On October 30, 2023, FTA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public input on those topics. The virtual listening session will allow all interested persons an opportunity to present comments, views, and relevant research on those topics in addition to providing written comments to the docket. A transcript will be placed in the rulemaking docket for public inspection.

The FAA is correcting a notice of availability (NOA) published on August 11, 2022 (87 FR 49520). In that NOA, the FAA provided an acceptable means of compliance (MOC) in accordance with a rule issued by the FAA on January 21, 2021, that went into effect on April 21, 2021. In that NOA, the FAA accepted ASTM International (ASTM) F3586-22, with additions identified, as an acceptable means, but not the only means of demonstrating compliance with the requirements for producing standard remote identification unmanned aircraft and remote identification broadcast modules. The FAA is correcting the means of compliance of ASTM F3586-22 by correcting a typographical reference error in Table 3 and clarifying a testing requirement by revising a heading and adding clarifying language, as noted in the ``Means of Compliance Accepted In This Policy'' section of this document. This document includes acceptance of previously accepted MOCs with the corrections described.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier Inc. Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a steering control unit (SCU) filter plate connector that does not meet the certification requirements for exposure of electronic components to high intensity radiated field environments, which could result in malfunction of the nose wheel steering (NWS) system. This proposed AD would require determining if the SCU is an affected SCU, replacing all affected SCUs, and rigging and testing the NWS control. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing an affected SCU on any airplane. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document grants parts of petitions for reconsideration of a December 29, 2021, final rule that established Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 227, ``Bus Rollover Structural Integrity.'' The standard is intended to enhance rollover structural integrity and reduce the likelihood of ejection from over-the-road buses (motorcoaches), and other buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 11,793 kilograms (kg) (26,000 pounds (lb)). This final rule adjusts the definition of ``transit bus'' and revises the maximum allowable weight of objects intruding into the survival space during the rollover test. This document denies other requests in the petitions, including petitions to expand the applicability of the standard to other bus types and extend the compliance date by 2 years.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration announces a meeting of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Board of Visitors (Board).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777-200, 777-200LR, 777-300, 777-300ER, and 777F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a ``FLAPS DRIVE'' caution message in flight due to the torque trip indicator of the No. 2 trailing edge (TE) flap transmission assembly being in the set position, which resulted in an air turn-back. This AD requires an inspection or records review to determine the serial numbers of the TE flap transmission and gearbox assemblies, and applicable on-condition corrective actions. This AD also limits the installation of affected parts. 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 for a new information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 16, 2021. The collection involves in-person sessions between researchers and certified pilots. Computerized neurocognitive tests are a non-invasive way to measure cognitive function (e.g., attention, working memory, information processing speed, reaction time) and are used as part of the FAA's overall aeromedical physical exam process to determine if a pilot is safe to operate an aircraft within the National Airspace System (NAS). Neurocognitive tests are required only for pilots with certain medical conditions associated with aeromedically significant cognitive impairments (i.e., not all pilots are tested). The FAA needs to ensure that the tests and data used to maintain the safety of the NAS are based on the most current scientific knowledge. The purpose of this IC effort is to obtain updated pilot normative data for the neurocognitive tests under consideration. The information collection (IC) effort will be used to potentially revise the FAA's Aviation Medical Examiners (AME) Guide, update clinical practices, and assure aeromedical safety. Information will be collected from representative pilots across the United States, who will complete two different 1-hour neurocognitive tests. Total IC effort/time per person will be approximately four hours (i.e., to include check-in processing, informed consent, neurocognitive test-taking, rest breaks, and participant debrief).

This document provides the public with notice that, on November 1, 2023, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA- approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) in order to update its positive train control (PTC) Onboard Computer (OBC) to Rev. 14.00 to correct two defects. As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified PTC system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on SEPTA's RFA to its PTCSP.

This document provides the public with notice that, on October 31 and November 3, 2023, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Model PW307A and PW307D engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a root cause analysis of an event involving an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy debris penetrating the engine cowling and an aborted takeoff. This proposed AD would require removing from service and replacing certain HPT disks and would also prohibit installing certain HPT disks on any engine, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is seeking comment on a Petition for a Declaratory Order (Petition).