Department of Transportation June 24, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt twenty-four individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 14 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of discretionary Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities grant funds in support of its ``State of Good Repair'' initiative. The State of Good Repair (SGR) Bus initiative will be funded with up to $750 million in unallocated Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds, authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5309(b) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59, August 10, 2005. FTA may use additional Bus and Bus Facilities program funding that becomes available in the future to further support this initiative. The SGR Bus initiative will make funds available to public transit providers to finance capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct/rehabilitate bus- related facilities, including programs of bus and bus-related projects which may include assistance to subrecipients that are public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private non- profit organizations. This notice includes priorities established by FTA for these discretionary funds, the criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious projects for funding, and describes how to apply. This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: https:// www.fta.dot.gov. FTA will announce final selections on the Web site and in the Federal Register notice. A synopsis of this announcement will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants Web site at https://www.grants.gov. See Appendix B of this notice for information related to other discretionary program opportunities available in FY 2011.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the apportionment of the FY 2011 Capital Investment (New Starts and Small Starts) program funds. The funds will be used for construction of new fixed guideway systems, or extensions to existing fixed guideway systems, or corridor based bus systems to promote livable communities, improve mobility by providing alternatives to automobile, and reduce the impact on the environment.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

The Board has approved the third quarter 2011 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The third quarter 2011 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.206. The third quarter 2011 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.534. The third quarter 2011 RCAF-5 is 0.506.

This action announces the FAA's recommended guidance for the voluntary marking of Meteorological Evaluation Towers (METs) erected in remote and rural areas that are less than 200 feet above ground level (AGL). This guidance will enhance the conspicuity of the towers for low level agricultural operations in the vicinity of these towers.

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is providing notice that it intends to conduct a competition for University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program grants for the purpose of performing multi-modal and multidisciplinary research, education and technology transfer activities supportive of Departmental priorities. Proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process on the basis of demonstrated ability, research, technology and education resources, leadership, multi-modal research capability, commitment to transportation workforce development programs, technology transfer capability, the use of peer review, and effective partnerships to advance diversity. The Research and Innovative Technology Administration RITA will release a detailed notice for these funds.