Department of Transportation September 26, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document denies petitions for rulemaking submitted by Environmental Motors, and Porteon Electric Vehicles, Inc. and Mirox Corporation. The petitioners requested that NHTSA commence rulemaking to create a new class of motor vehicles known as medium speed vehicles, which would have a maximum speed capability of 35 mph. The petitioners contemplated that these vehicles would be subject to a set of safety standards greater than those that apply to low speed vehicles but substantially less than the full set of safety standards that apply to other light vehicles such as passenger cars. The petitioners cited a number of reasons in support of their petition, the most significant of which related to potential environmental benefits. After carefully reviewing the petitions, we are denying them because the introduction of such a class of motor vehicles without the full complement of safety features required for other light vehicles such as passenger cars would result in significantly greater risk of deaths and serious injuries. While NHTSA agrees with the importance of environmental issues, the agency believes that it is neither necessary nor appropriate to significantly increase the risk of deaths and serious injuries to save fuel.

This action confirms the effective date and makes a correction to the direct final rule that establishes Class E airspace at Pampa, Mesa Vista Ranch Airport, TX, published in the Federal Register July 7, 2008 (73 FR 38314) Docket No. FAA-2008-0610. This action corrects the final rule by adding ``Mesa Vista Ranch Airport'' to more clearly define the airport name in the airport description.

This action restructures the restricted areas and other special use airspace (SUA) located in the vicinity of Fort Drum, NY. The Air National Guard (ANG) requested redesign of existing restricted airspace R-5201, known as the Adirondack Airspace Complex, by establishing two new restricted areas: R-5202A and R-5202B, and by restructuring the military operations areas (MOA) contained in the Adirondack Airspace Complex. Unlike restricted areas, which are designated under 14 CFR part 73, MOAs are not rulemaking airspace actions. However, since these MOAs form an integral part of the Adirondack Airspace Complex, the FAA is including a description of the associated MOA changes in this rule. The MOA changes described here will also be published in the National Flight Data Digest (NFDD). The ANG requested these airspace changes to provide the additional SUA needed to conduct more realistic aircrew training in the Adirondack Airspace Complex.

The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) invites the public to comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew information collection forms, associated with OSDBU. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. On June 26, 2008, OSDBU published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 36368), Docket OST-2008-0182, informing the public of OSDBU's intention to extend this previously approved information collection. The collection involves the use of the Regional Center Intake Form (DOT F 4500), which documents the type of assistance provided to each small business that is enrolled in the program. The use of the Regional Resource Center Monthly Report Form (DOT F 4502) will highlight activities, such as counseling, marketing, meetings/conferences, and services to businesses as completed during the month. The information will be used to ascertain whether the program is providing services to its constituency, the small business community, in a fair and equitable manner. The information collected is necessary to determine whether small businesses are participating in DOT funded and DOT assisted opportunities with the DOT. The Counseling Information Form (DOT F 4640.1) has been eliminated and the information contained in that form is now consolidated into the Regional Resource Center Monthly Report Form (formerly titled Monthly Report of Operations Form) in effort to eliminate duplication and to streamline the data collection process.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed New Runway and Associated Development at Palm Beach International Airport, has been prepared and is available for public review and comment. Your written comments on the DEIS and related documents can be sent to the individual listed in the section FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. A Public Information Workshop and Public Hearing will be held on November 12, 2008. The public comment period will commence on September 26, 2008 and will close on November 24, 2008. Public Comment and Information Workshop/Public Hearing: The start of the public comment period on the DEIS and associated studies will start on September 26, 2008 and will close on November 24, 2008. A Public Information Workshop and Public Hearing will be held on November 12, 2008 in West Palm Beach. The purpose of the Public Information Workshop and Public Hearing and the public comment period is to comply with NEPA requirements to provide public disclosure and involvement concerning the scope and content of the DEIS, and to afford the public and other interested parties the opportunity to comment on the economic, social, and environmental effects of the proposed project and its consistency with the objectives of any planning that the community has carried out. The Public Information Workshop will begin at 4 p.m. (EST) and will end at 7 p.m. (EST). The Public Hearing will begin at 6 p.m. (EST) and run concurrently with the Public Information Workshop. The Public Information Workshop/Public Hearing will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, Second Floor, 650 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. You can review copies of the DEIS and related documents may be viewed during regular business hours at the following locations: 1. PBC Library Main Branch, 3650 Summit Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33406. 2. PBC Library Greenacres Branch, 3750 Jog Road, Greenacres, FL 33467. 3. PBC Library Okeechobee Boulevard Branch, 5689 West Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33417. 4. WPB Public Library, 100 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Copies of the DEIS and related documents will also be available for review by appointment only at the following FAA and Palm Beach County Department of Airports offices: Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Citadel International Building, Suite 400, Orlando, FL, (407) 812-6331; Palm Beach International Airport, Palm Beach County Department of Airports Office, 846 Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, FL, (561) 471-7412. Please schedule an appointment to review the DEIS in advance. A copy of the DEIS will also be available September 26, 2008 on the project Web site at https://www.pbia-eis.com.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the Prairie Parkway, for construction of an access-controlled, four-lane freeway on new right-of-way between 1-80 and 1-88 and the widening of IL-47 to four-lanes from 1-80 to Caton Farm Road in Grundy, Kendall and Kane Counties, Illinois. Those actions grant licenses, permits and approvals for the project.

This final rule corrects a previously published rule. In the original document, an amendment inadvertently removed two paragraphs relating to the registration of certain aircraft. This rule reinstates those two paragraphs in their original form.

This rule would establish a Special Air Traffic Rule (SATR) in the vicinity of Luke Air Force Base (Luke) which would require general aviation (GA) traffic operating under visual flight rules (VFR) to establish communication with the Luke Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) while operating in the area around Luke. This action is necessary to address reported near midair collisions in the area around Luke and would help reduce the potential for midair collisions in the vicinity of Luke.