Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces final environmental action taken for the Port of Longview Industrial Rail Corridor Expansion Project. The purpose of this notice is to advise the public of the time limit to file any claims that may challenge these decisions and other Federal permits, licenses, and approvals for the Project.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 14 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 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 operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 18 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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 FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-05- 16, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A319-115 airplanes; Model A320-214, -216, -232, -251N, and -271N airplanes; and Model A321-211, - 231, -251N, -251NX, -253N, -271N, -271NX, and -272N airplanes. AD 2020- 05-16 required a one-time detailed inspection of certain attaching points on the left-hand and right-hand wings for the correct installation of certain hardware, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions. This AD was prompted by reports of incomplete installations of the over wing panel lug attachments in the production assembly line and a determination that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-05-16 and adds airplanes to the applicability, 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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900 and - 900ER airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner bear strap. It has been determined that the cracks were caused by high operating stresses in the fuselage skin door cutout corner area due to stress concentration at the door cutout. This AD requires an inspection of the fuselage skin and the bear strap at the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner for existing repairs, and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 report of multiple occurrences of low clearance or fouling between certain wiring harnesses and a hydraulic bracket and structure in the wing trailing edge area that were detected on the production line. This AD requires inspecting certain wiring harnesses for any damage and clearance to adjacent structure and corrective actions, 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.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that applied to various airplanes modified with a certain configuration of the Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA01866WI. This action revises the NPRM by removing airplane models from and adding airplane models to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since this action would expand the applicability for the required action as proposed in the NPRM, the agency is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

This notice proposes to establish two new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) specifying performance requirements for all motor vehicles that use hydrogen as a fuel source. The proposed standards are based on Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 13. FMVSS No. 307, "Fuel system integrity of hydrogen vehicles," which would specify requirements for the integrity of the fuel system in hydrogen vehicles during normal vehicle operations and after crashes. FMVSS No. 308, "Compressed hydrogen storage system integrity," would specify requirements for the compressed hydrogen storage system to ensure the safe storage of hydrogen onboard vehicles. The two proposed standards would reduce deaths and injuries that could occur as a result of fires due to hydrogen fuel leakages and/or explosion of the hydrogen storage system.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-25-03 for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines. AD 2021-25-03 required operators to revise the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of their existing approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program by incorporating the revised tasks of the applicable time limits manual (TLM) for each affected engine model. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-25-03, the manufacturer again revised the TLM to introduce new or more restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life- limited parts, which prompted this AD. This AD requires revising the ALS of the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive tasks and limitations and associated thresholds and intervals for life-limited parts, 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 Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an exemption application to allow K & L Trucking (K & L) to transport metal coils using a single two-ply nylon- Kevlar tie down strap to secure its metal coils for transport to a metal coil carrier affixed to the bed of its trucks/trailers as an alternative to the requirements in current regulations. K & L states that its method of securing steel coils is a safe alternative to the method required in the FMCSRs for the short distance that each load is transported. K & L believes the exemption would maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.

On February 20, 2024, PHMSA published a Federal Register notice titled: "Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee," which provided an opportunity for public comment by April 29, 2024, on the proceedings of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) meeting related to the notices of proposed rulemakings (NPRMs) titled "Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair" (LDAR) and "Class Location Change Requirements" (Class Location). PHMSA received a request to extend the comment period for stakeholders to have more time to provide comments on the topics of discussion. PHMSA is denying the request to extend the comment period for the GPAC proceedings related to the LDAR NPRM, but PHMSA is granting the request to extend the comment period for the GPAC proceedings related to the Class Location NPRM to August 27, 2024.

This notice announces a meeting of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).

Consistent with a Global Technical Regulation on electric vehicle safety, NHTSA proposes to establish Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to replace FMVSS No. 305, "Electric- powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection." Among other improvements, FMVSS No. 305a would apply to light and heavy vehicles and would have performance and risk mitigation requirements for the propulsion battery. Relating to a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, FMVSS No. 305a would also require manufacturers to submit standardized emergency response information for inclusion on NHTSA's website that would assist first and second responders handling electric vehicles.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. First Responder Incident Advanced Reporting Program (FRIAR) in which first responders (e.g., law enforcement, fire department, and emergency medical services) may submit information about fatalities, injuries, or crashes that may have been caused due to a motor vehicle or equipment defect. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on June 12, 2023. No comments were received.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) DOT is seeking information from the public, and in particular multimodal freight system users, transportation providers, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, ports, airports, railroads, freight forwarders, brokers, other supply chain logisticians, scholars, and States on the best approach to identify critical freight facilities and corridors that will make up a National Multimodal Freight Network (NMFN) that is vital to achieving the national multimodal freight policy goals of the United States. DOT is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input on how to prioritize the statutory goals of, and the statutory factors for designating, the NMFN, as well as measurable thresholds, criteria, and data sources for designating the NMFN. Informed by comments received in response to this RFI, DOT will draft a proposed network map to be published for public comment in the Late Spring of 2024 and provide an opportunity for States to provide input to submit additions to the network. After the final, subsequent comment period, DOT will review and approve additional designations for the NMFN by States and designate the final NMFN by December of 2024.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that cap seals were not applied to certain fasteners in the fuel tanks during production. This proposed AD would require applying cap seals to certain fastener collars inside the fuel tanks. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is publishing a final rule for Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP). This final rule includes requirements for Agency Safety Plans (ASP), Safety Committees, cooperation with frontline transit worker representatives in the development of ASPs, safety risk reduction programs, safety performance targets, de-escalation training for certain transit workers, and addressing infectious diseases through the Safety Management System (SMS) process. This final rule also finalizes revisions to the regulation to coordinate and align with other FTA programs and safety rulemakings.

This notice announces that FRA has received and reviewed a renewal package from the State of California (State) acting through the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and California High- Speed Rail Authority (Authority) requesting renewed participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). Under the Program, FRA may assign, and the State may assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and all or part of FRA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental laws with respect to one or more railroad projects within the State. FRA has determined the renewal package to be complete, and developed a draft renewal MOU with CalSTA and the Authority outlining how the State will implement the Program with FRA oversight. The public is invited to comment on the State's request, including its renewal package and the proposed renewal MOU, which includes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation, and other activities.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of cracks found on tail rotor (TR) damper bracket assemblies. This proposed AD would require accomplishing repetitive detailed visual inspections (DVIs) of certain part-numbered TR damper bracket assemblies for corrosion and cracks and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing an affected TR damper bracket assembly unless it is new. These actions are 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.

PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to maintain alignment with international regulations and standards by adopting various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. PHMSA is also withdrawing the unpublished November 28, 2022, Notice of Enforcement Policy Regarding International Standards on the use of select updated international standards in complying with the HMR during the pendency of this rulemaking.

This notice announces that FHWA has received and reviewed a renewal package from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) requesting renewed participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This Program allows FHWA to assign, and States to assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and all or part of FHWA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental law with respect to one or more Federal highway projects within the State. The FHWA determined the renewal package to be complete and developed a draft renewal MOU with ADOT outlining how the State will implement the Program with FHWA oversight. The public is invited to comment on ADOT's renewal package, which includes the draft renewal MOU that describes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation, and other activities.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the applications from two individuals treated with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce by persons with a current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope (transient loss of consciousness), dyspnea (shortness of breath), collapse, or congestive heart failure.