Department of Transportation April 1, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposes to prohibit texting by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers while operating in interstate commerce and to impose sanctions, including civil penalties and disqualification from operating CMVs in interstate commerce, for drivers who fail to comply with this rule. Additionally, motor carriers would be prohibited from requiring or allowing their drivers to engage in texting while driving. FMCSA also proposes amendments to its commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations to add to the list of disqualifying offenses a conviction under State or local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit texting by CDL drivers while operating a CMV, including school bus drivers. Recent research commissioned by FMCSA shows that the odds ratio of being involved in a safety-critical event (e.g., crash, near- crash, lane departure) is 23.2 times greater for drivers who engage in texting while driving than for those who do not. This rulemaking would increase safety on the Nation's highways by reducing the prevalence of or preventing certain truck- and bus-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries associated with distracted driving.

This supplemental NPRM revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), for certain CFM International, S.A. models CFM56-3 and -3B turbofan engines. That proposed AD would have required initial and repetitive inspections for damage to the fan blades. That proposed AD resulted from a report of a failed fan blade with severe out-of-limit wear on the underside of the blade platform where it contacts the damper. This supplemental NPRM revises the proposed AD to reduce the initial inspection compliance threshold, to correct the engine model designations affected, and to clarify some of the inspection wording in the compliance section. This supplemental NPRM results from a report of a failed fan blade with severe out-of- limit wear on the underside of the blade platform where it contacts the damper. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent failure of multiple fan blades, which could result in an uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced the first grant awards for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program. The Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 2010 (FY 2010 DOT Appropriations Act) allocated an additional $2.5 billion for the HSIPR Program, of which up to $50 million can be used for planning activities. The appropriations act permits the Secretary of Transportation to retain a portion of this planning funding to facilitate, at the Federal level, the preparation of planning documents for high-speed rail corridors that cross multiple States. This is a solicitation for proposals from groups of States that wish to be considered for this innovative approach to planning multi-state passenger rail corridors.

This action establishes a low altitude area navigation (RNAV) route, designated T-284, in the Houston, TX, terminal area, to expedite the handling of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) overflight aircraft transitioning busy terminal airspace. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace in the Houston, TX, terminal area.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Mount Pleasant, SC, to accommodate Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Mt Pleasant Regional Airport-Faison Field. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Panama City, FL, to accommodate Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Tyndall AFB. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace for Kindred, ND to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Hamry Field Airport, Kindred, ND. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E airspace for Killeen, TX, adding additional controlled airspace to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at the renamed Skylark Field Airport, Killeen, TX. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.