Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that applied to all General Electric Company (GE) Model CF34-10E2A1, CF34-10E6, CF34-10E6A1, CF34-10E7, and CF34-10E7-B engines with certain part-numbered high-pressure turbine (HPT) shroud/low pressure turbine (LPT) nozzle assemblies installed. This action revises the NPRM by adding Model CF34-10E5 and CF34-10E5A1 engines to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM the agency is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

This action revokes the Class D and Class E airspace in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). RMI is an independent nation, and the FAA does not have regulatory authority to establish or amend domestic airspace pursuant to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 over RMI's land or territorial waters.

This action proposes to modify the Class D surface area airspace, Class E airspace area designated as surface area, Class E airspace areas designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area, and the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Bozeman, MT. These actions would support the safety and management of visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (PRAC), pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

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 October 21, 2024. The collection involves the submission of FAA Form 8710-3 for the certification process of agricultural aircraft operators, and other reporting and recordkeeping activities required of agricultural aircraft operators. The information to be collected is necessary to evaluate the applicants' qualifications for certification. This collection also involves the submission of information in petitions for exemption by agricultural aircraft operators, plans for operations over congested areas, and recordkeeping requirements for agricultural aircraft operators.

The FHWA is extending the comment period for a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and request for comments, which was published on November 13, 2024. The original comment period is set to close on January 13, 2025. The extension is based on concerns expressed by stakeholders that the January 13, 2025, closing date does not provide sufficient time to review and provide comprehensive comments. The FHWA recognizes that others interested in commenting may have similar concerns and agrees that the comment period should be extended. Therefore, the closing date for comments is changed to February 12, 2025, which will provide stakeholders and others interested in commenting additional time to discuss, evaluate, and submit responses to the docket.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion nor omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from nine 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.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is waiving the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's domestic preference requirements for certain products that Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) needs for its Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant project due to lack of availability, unreasonable cost, or public good. The waiver would exempt the following products used in PGW's project from BABA requirements on the basis of nonavailability: electro-fusion tapping tees, anodeless risers, transition fittings, lockwing valves, magnesium anodes, service adapters, curb valves, caps, couplings, and stiffeners.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is waiving the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's domestic preference requirements for certain products that City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri, (City Utilities) will use in its Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant project, due to unavailability, project cost, or public good. The waiver would exempt the following products used in City Utilities' project from BABA requirements on the basis of nonavailability: locator markers; meter stops with insulated unions; magnesium anodes; 1A meter swivels, nuts, and washers; and direct bury lugs.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of defect petition DP22-002, submitted on April 29, 2022, by Mr. Sergio Betancourt (the petitioner) to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The petition requests that the Agency investigate alleged "wrong-sized wrist pins" in Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with the M274 engine (including the Metris minivan, GLC300, and C300). After conducting a technical review of the petitioner's submissions, information provided by Mercedes-Benz in response to the Agency's Information Request, and data within its own files, NHTSA has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to warrant further action at this time. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition.

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 October 23, 2024, Customer Interactions provide the Federal Aviation Administration valuable information and connect the agency to the public. The Federal Aviation Administration would utilize a Generic Clearance for Customer Interactions that support the Agency's mission to become more accessible and transparent.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Beckley, WV. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Beckley very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

FMCSA announces its decision to provisionally renew the exemption currently held by Navistar, Inc. (Navistar) from the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations for one of its commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The provisional exemption renewal allows Mr. Thomas Nickels, Senior Vice President of the Cabin and Chassis R&D Group for Navistar's parent company, TRANTON SE, to test drive various Navistar test fleet vehicles on U.S. roads. The provisional exemption renewal is limited to six months. After a review of the public comments to this notice, FMCSA will issue a decision whether the exemption should be renewed through November 2029.

This action delays the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register on December 9, 2024, amending Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-68, V-212, and V-222, and United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-220; and revoking VOR Federal Airway V-558. The FAA is delaying the effective date to allow sufficient time for completing the update and flight inspection of a Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) instrument procedure into George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport, TX, that failed the initial flight inspection and a STAR instrument procedure into San Antonio International Airport, TX, that also failed the initial flight inspection. The STARs are being amended in support of the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Industry, TX (IDU), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC).

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Memorial Hospital Heliport, North Conway, NH. This action would accommodate a new instrument approach procedure for Memorial Hospital Heliport, North Conway, NH.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Transylvania Community Hospital, Brevard, NC, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures serving the heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this heliport.

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.

FMCSA grants a limited 5-year exemption to the American Trucking Associations (ATA) on behalf of motor carriers, intermodal equipment providers (IEPs), and individuals, from the requirements that an individual must complete 1 year of training, experience, or a combination thereof prior to being qualified to conduct annual commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspections and to conduct brake-related inspection, repair and maintenance tasks on CMVs. The exemption covers individuals who successfully complete a training program that is self- certified by the training provider as consistent with a set of recommended practices (RPs) developed by the ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) and motor carriers and IEPs who rely on these training programs and individuals to satisfy FMCSA's rules. The Agency has determined that granting the exemption from the requirements for 1 year of training, experience, or a combination thereof for individuals who successfully complete, and educators who provide, a performance- based inspector training program consistent with the TMC RPs, would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulatory requirements.

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 establish Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class E surface area at Cortez Municipal Airport, Cortez, CO. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's legal descriptions. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 13 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 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for seven 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 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on the application from Bianco Trucking Services, LLC d.b.a. CDL and Operator Training ("Bianco") for an exemption to allow drivers aged 18, 19, and 20 years with a Wisconsin State-issued commercial learners permit (CLP) and a "K" restriction on their CLP to attend its driver training facility in Michigan. Bianco is a registered entry-level driver training (ELDT) provider listed on the Agency's Training Provider Registry (TPR).