Department of Transportation August 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA extends until September 1, 2012, the effective date for the procedural change to eliminate use of the ``registrant-only'' USDOT Number as part of the PRISM program. In an August 9, 2010, Federal Register notice, the Agency initially set September 1, 2011, as the effective date of the change. The extension will allow the Agency to provide additional implementation guidance based on feedback and information received since the August 9, 2010, notice of procedural change and will allow States and other stakeholders to make necessary changes to their systems and processes pursuant to this additional guidance.

This final rule amends the FAA's regulations concerning pilot, flight instructor, and pilot school certification. This rule will require pilot-in-command (PIC) proficiency checks for pilots who act as PIC of turbojet-powered aircraft except for pilots of single seat experimental jets and pilots of experimental jets who do not carry passengers. It allows pilot applicants to apply concurrently for a private pilot certificate and an instrument rating and permits pilot schools and provisional pilot schools to apply for a combined private pilot certification and instrument rating course. In addition, the rule will: Allow pilot schools to use internet-based training programs without requiring schools to have a physical ground training facility; revise the definition of ``complex airplane;'' and allow the use of airplanes with throwover control wheels for expanded flight training. The final rule also amends the FAA's regulations concerning pilot certificates to allow the conversion of a foreign pilot license to a U.S. pilot certificate under the provisions of a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) and Implementing Procedures for Licensing (IPL). The FAA has determined these amendments are needed to enhance safety, respond to changes in the aviation industry, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 21, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 119, page 36171-36172. Aircraft operators seeking operational approval to conduct RVSM operations within the 48 contiguous United States (U.S.), Alaska and a portion of the Gulf of Mexico must submit an application to the Certificate Holding District Office.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 21, 2011, Vol. 76, No. 119, page 36168. The information is used to determine if applicants satisfy requirements for obtaining a launch license to protect the public from risks associated with reentry operations from a site not operated by or situated on a Federal launch range.

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

This document announces decisions by NHTSA that certain motor vehicles not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturers as complying with the safety standards, and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards or because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 21, 2011, vol. 76, no. 119, page 36168. The collection is used to nominate private citizens for recognition of their significant voluntary contribution to aviation education and flight safety.

This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Kwigillingok, AK. The amendment of two standard instrument approach procedures at the Kwigillingok Airport has made this action necessary to enhance safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations.

This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Emmonak, AK. The amendment of two standard instrument approach procedures at the Emmonak Airport has made this action necessary to enhance safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD would require adding diodes to the fuel cross-feed wiring, and revising the airplane flight manual to include procedures to use when the left or right generator is selected OFF. This proposed AD was prompted by a false cross-feed command to the right-hand fuel control card, due to the cross-feed inputs on the left- and right-hand fuel control cards being connected together and causing an imbalance of fuel between the left and right wing tanks. We are proposing this AD to prevent lateral imbalance of the airplane, which can be corrected by deflecting the aileron trim, but which increases the pilot's workload. Uncontrolled fuel cross-feed results in lateral imbalance that could exceed the airplane's limitation in a short period of time. Exceeding the lateral imbalance limit could result in reduced control of the airplane.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC), pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C., App. 2).

The MUTCD is incorporated in our regulations, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and recognized as the national standard for traffic control devices used on all streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. The FHWA proposes to revise certain information relating to target compliance dates for traffic control devices. Consistent with Executive Order 13563, and in particular its emphasis on burden-reduction and on retrospective analysis of existing rules, the proposed changes are intended to reduce the costs and impacts of compliance dates on State and local highway agencies and to streamline and simplify the information.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed bridge widening and rehabilitation project, the North Spring Street Viaduct Widening and Rehabilitation in the County of Los Angeles, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 28 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.

This notice amends FMCSA's August 10, 2011, notice announcing meetings of the Agency's Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) from August 29-31, 2011. The time for the session on Tuesday, August 30 was listed incorrectly in the notice. The meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, will begin at 8:30 a.m. (E.S.T.) and will conclude at 5 p.m., with the last hour reserved for public comment. All other information contained in the notice remains valid.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the following currently approved information collection:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the following currently approved information collection:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent (NOI) published on January 13, 2004, at 69 FR 2040, to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed highway project in Ada County, Idaho is being rescinded.

This final rule amends the Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) on occupant crash protection to remove the sunset of a requirement that a vehicle's lap belt must be lockable, without the use of special tools, to tightly secure a child restraint system (CRS). We refer to this as the ``lockability'' requirement. Under the current standard, the lockability requirement ceases to apply to seating positions that are equipped with a child restraint anchorage system (commonly referred to as a ``LATCH'' system) on vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2012. Because data indicate that motorists are still using lockable belts to install CRSs even in seating positions with LATCH, there is a continuing need for the lockability requirement even in seating positions with LATCH. Thus, this final rule ensures that the lockability requirement continues in effect for all seating positions past September 1, 2012.

This action amends Class E airspace for Gary, IN, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Gary/Chicago International Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also updates the airport name.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC,\1\ on behalf of Jaguar Cars Limited \2\ (collectively referred to as ``Jaguar'') has determined that model year 2010 and certain 2011 Jaguar XJ passenger cars manufactured between September 11, 2009 and March 28, 2011, do not fully comply with paragraphs S5.2.1 and S5.5.2 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 101,\3\ Controls and displays. Jaguar has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports (dated April 15, 2011).

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Centerville, IA. Decommissioning of the Centerville non directional beacon (NDB) and cancellation of the NDB approach at Centerville Municipal Airport, as well as the addition of a new COPTER RNAV standard instrument approach procedure (SIAP) at Mercy Medical Center-Centerville Heliport, have made this action necessary to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.