Department of Transportation August 2, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (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 standards, guidance, options, and supporting information relating to traffic control devices in Part 1 (General) of the MUTCD. The proposed changes are intended to clarify the definition of Standard statements in the MUTCD and clarify the use of engineering judgment and studies in the application of traffic control devices.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by San Diego Regional Airport Authority under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (formerly the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 150''). On November 10, 2009, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by San Diego Regional Airport Authority under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On June 30, 2011, the FAA approved the San Diego International Airport noise compatibility program. Fourteen (14) of the nineteen (19) total number of recommendations of the program were approved. No program elements relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise abatement were proposed by the airport operator.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(I)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Idaho 16, I-84 to Idaho 44 in Ada and Canyon Counties in the State of Idaho [FHWA-ID-EIS-09-01-F, Federal Aid project number A-009(963), and Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Key Number 009963].

This notice announces the Nineteenth Public Meeting of members of the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network. CIREN is a collaborative effort to conduct research on crashes and injuries at six Level I Trauma Centers across the United States linked by a computer network. The current CIREN model utilizes two types of centers, medical and engineering. Medical centers are based at Level I Trauma Centers that admit large numbers of people injured in motor vehicle crashes. These teams are led by trauma surgeons and emergency physicians and also include a crash investigator and project coordinator. Engineering centers are based at academic engineering laboratories that have experience in motor vehicle crash and human injury research. Engineering teams partner with trauma centers to enroll crash victims into the CIREN program. Engineering teams are led by mechanical engineers, typically trained in the area of impact biomechanics. Engineering teams also include trauma/emergency physicians, a crash investigator, and a project coordinator. Either type of team typically includes additional physicians and/or engineers, epidemiologists, nurses, and other researchers. The CIREN process combines prospective data collection with professional multidisciplinary analysis of medical and engineering evidence to determine injury causation in every crash investigation conducted. Researchers can review data and share expertise, which may lead to a better understanding of crash injury mechanisms and the design of safer vehicles. The six centers will give presentations on current research based on CIREN data. Topics include side air bag analysis utilizing CIREN weighted data; the role of frailty in crash related injuries; fatalities and serious injuries in multiple event rollover crashes; validation of prehospital trauma triage: mechanism of injury; small overlap frontal crashes and injury causation; and brain injury analysis. The final agenda will be posted to the CIREN Web site that can be accessed by going to the NHTSA homepage https:// www.nhtsa.dot.gov/, click on Vehicle Safety Research on the right side of the top toolbar, then click on Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) in the box on the left. The agenda will be posted one week prior to the meeting.