Department of Transportation November 2, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces a public listening session to obtain feedback from interested parties on the Agency's Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) initiative, a comprehensive review, analysis, and restructuring of FMCSA's current commercial motor carrier safety and enforcement programs. FMCSA will use the listening session to brief participants on the direction and progress of CSA 2010, and obtain feedback from its partners and stakeholders. FMCSA also requests comments on the CSA 2010 operational model described in this notice.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the petition for exemption. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

In a final rule published in August 2006, NHTSA amended its safety standard on occupant crash protection to establish the same 56 km/h (35 mph) maximum speed for frontal barrier crash tests using belted 5th percentile adult female test dummies as it had previously adopted for tests using belted 50th percentile adult male dummies. The agency adopted the amendment to help improve crash protection for small statured occupants. In this document, in response to petitions for reconsideration of that rule, we are adjusting the phase-in requirements to permit manufacturers to earn advance credits for vehicles that are certified in compliance with the new higher speed requirement one year in advance of the regulatory requirements, i.e., beginning on September 1, 2008. We are also making technical corrections regarding special phase-in provisions for small volume manufacturers included in the August 2006 rule, as well as in several other regulations.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company Model 172 and 182 series airplanes that are equipped with the BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute System. This proposed AD would require the replacement of the pick-up collar support and nylon screws for the BRS-172 and BRS-182 Parachute System. This proposed AD results from notification by Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. (BRS) that the pick-up collar assembly may prematurely move off the launch tube and adversely affect rocket trajectory during deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent premature separation of the collar. This condition could result in the parachute failing to successfully deploy.

The Surface Transportation Board is requesting comments on proposed rules to require that parties seeking to exempt, or to invoke class exemptions covering, transactions involving the sale or lease of railroad lines, identify provisions in their agreements that restrict the ability of the purchaser or tenant railroad to interchange traffic with rail carriers other than the seller or landlord railroad (interchange commitments). The proposed rules also provide a procedure whereby shippers or other affected parties may obtain access to such provisions. The Board is taking this action to facilitate the case- specific review of the reasonableness of interchange commitments and to facilitate the Board's monitoring of their usage.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Tier One Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for the Elgin O'Hare-West Bypass study in Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois.

This notice amends part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) by establishing a Class D airspace area extending upward from the surface to and including 3,300 feet above sea level within a 4.6-mile radius of Independence Municipal Airport, KS. The establishment of an air traffic control tower has made this action necessary.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Pottsville, PA to provide adequate airspace for a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Special Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) that has been developed to serve the Pottsville Hospital (91PN), Pottsville, PA.