Department of Transportation January 30, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice grants the Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A. LLC (``MBUSA'') application for a temporary exemption from the requirements of S5.5.10 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. In accordance with 49 CFR Part Sec. 555.6(b), the basis for the grant is to facilitate the development and field evaluation of new motor vehicle safety feature providing a level of safety at least equal to that of the standard. Pursuant to Sec. 555.6(b)(5), MBUSA is permitted to sell not more than 2,500 exempted vehicles in any twelve-month period of the exemption. Because the exemption period is 24 months, this grant affects up to a total of 5,000 vehicles.

This action proposes to modify the boundaries of the Restricted Area R-3002 range complex at Fort Benning, GA. The U.S. Army proposed these modifications as a result of a land exchange agreement between Fort Benning and the City of Columbus, GA. Specifically, the proposal would eliminate restricted airspace over a parcel of land that has been transferred from the Army to the City of Columbus. The proposal would also add new restricted airspace over a parcel of land to the south of the current restricted area complex, that was ceded by the City to the Army. In addition, a portion of the southwest section of R-3002, within the existing restricted airspace, would be redesignated as a separate restricted area, R-3002G, to better accommodate instrument approach procedures at Lawson Army Air Field (AAF). The internal boundaries between restricted area subdivisions would also be realigned slightly to permit more efficient scheduling and utilization of the range complex. Finally, the names of the controlling agency and using agency for the restricted areas would be changed to reflect their current titles.

On July 12, 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) granted in full General Motors Corporation's (GM) petition to exempt the Chevrolet Cobalt vehicle line from the parts-marking requirements of the vehicle theft prevention standard (See 70 FR 40102). The exemption was granted because the agency determined that the antitheft device proposed to be placed on the line as standard equipment was likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard. On August 24, 2005, GM petitioned the agency to amend the exemption currently granted for the Chevrolet Cobalt vehicle line. NHTSA is granting in full GM's petition to modify the exemption because it has determined that the modified antitheft device to be placed on the Chevrolet Cobalt line as standard equipment will also likely be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements.

This advance notice of proposed rulemaking provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the characteristics and requirements proposed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for a new capital investment program. This new program, ``Small Starts'', is a discretionary grant program for public transportation capital projects that run along a dedicated corridor or a fixed guideway, have a total project cost of less than $250 million, and are seeking less than $75 million in Small Starts program funding. This Small Starts program is a component of the existing New Starts program, but will offer project sponsors an expedited and streamlined application and review process. Consistent with the intent and provisions of the new public transit statute, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity ActA Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), FTA hopes to simplify the planning and project development process for proposed Small Starts projects in a number of ways. In addition to the reduced number of evaluation measures specified in SAFETEA-LU, the process may be further simplified by allowing small projects to conduct alternatives analysis with a reduced set of alternatives, allowing evaluation measures for mobility and cost-effectiveness to be developed without having to rely on complicated travel demand modeling procedures in some cases, and possibly defining some classes of low-cost improvements that are pre- approved as effective and cost-effective in certain contexts.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed transportation improvements in Pueblo County, Otero County, Bent County and Prowers County in the State of Colorado.

This notice announces the issuance of Advisory Circular 25.856-2, ``Installation of Thermal/Acoustic Insulation for Burnthrough Protection.'' The advisory circular provides information and guidance regarding an acceptable means, but not the only means, of compliance with the portions of the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes that deal with the installation of thermal/acoustic insulation.