Department of Transportation January 5, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FMCSA announces its decision to approve Isuzu Motors America, Inc.'s (Isuzu), application for an exemption for a period of 2 years for 27 of its driver-employees who are citizens and residents of Japan and hold a Japanese CDL, to enable them to test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States without a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. Isuzu requested the exemption so that these driver-employees can operate as a team, evaluating and testing production and prototype CMVs in the United States in order to assist in the design of safe vehicles for sale in the United States. FMCSA believes the knowledge and skills testing and training program that Japanese drivers must undergo to obtain a Japanese CDL ensures a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) seeks comment on whether and how it should update its accounting and financial reporting for Class I rail carriers and refine its Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS) to better capture the operating cost of transporting hazardous materials.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to rule and invites public comment on the exchange of property at the Moriarty Municipal Airport, Moriarty, New Mexico. The City of Moriarty as airport owner has requested to exchange land that was acquired for a crosswind runway. Since this acquisition, it has been determined that the planned alignment of the proposed crosswind runway does not meet FAA crosswind criteria and requires realignment. Any and all lands to be exchanged by the city require release from any and all provisions of applicable Grant Agreements and Grant Assurances, and to change forever, the lands requested to be released from aeronautical to nonaeronautical use under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21 Century (AIR 21). The City of Moriarty is requesting an exchange of 68.55 acres of land with the State of New Mexico Land Office. These lands to be exchanged are appraised at equal value and no monetary considerations are involved. The City of Moriarty will also exchange 9.63 acres of land with an individual property owner. These lands have also been appraised at equal value and no monetary considerations are involved. The acquisition of these lands by exchange and fee simple purchase of additional property will align the future runway to meet FAA criteria and user requirements.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.