Department of Transportation November 12, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves the Supplemental Discretionary Grants for a National Surface Transportation System. The information to be collected will be used to and/or is necessary in order to receive and evaluate applications for grant funds pursuant to Title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Title XII established a new program for OST to provide Supplemental Discretionary Grants for a National Surface Transportation System. OST is referring to these grants as Grants for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or ``TIGER'' Discretionary Grants. The purposes of the TIGER Discretionary Grants program include promoting economic recovery and supporting projects that have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region. A 60-day Federal Register notice was published on August 21, 2009 (FR Vol. 74, No. 161). Since the release of the initial May 18, 2009, interim Federal Register notice, a total of 145 comments were received to the Docket (DOT-OST-2009-0115) and reviewed by the Department. Many of the comments received were letters supporting applications submitted for TIGER Discretionary Grant funding. These letters of support were submitted by members of Congress and members of the public. In addition, comments were submitted by members of the public requesting changes to the program selection criteria. These comments were considered and changes were made to the selection criteria in a June 17, 2009, Federal Register notice (FR Vol. 74, No. 115). None of the comments submitted to the Docket since the initial May 18, 2009, Federal Register notice were related to the proposed approval to renew the information collection.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (PRA), gives notice that the Board will seek from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an extension of approval for the two currently approved collections described below. The Board is seeking comments regarding one or both of these collections concerning (1) Whether the collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology when appropriate. Submitted

This final rule delays the effective date of a final rule that reorganized and improved the structure and clarity of the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. The final rule reorganizing the lighting standard was published on December 4, 2007 with an effective date of September 1, 2008.\1\ The effective date was extended to December 1, 2009 in a final rule published on August 28, 2008.\2\ The agency received fourteen petitions for reconsideration of the 2007 final rule, including two that requested a delay in the effective date of the rule, and others that raised concerns that the reorganization of FMVSS No. 108 imposed new requirements. This rule delays the effective date further, from December 1, 2009 to December 1, 2012, to enable the agency to fully resolve all of the issues raised in the petitions well before manufacturers are required to certify to the new requirements.

This 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: