Department of Transportation September 19, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) has been engaged for several years in an interagency discussion of its existing Cargo Preference regulations. In accordance with Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' the Maritime Administration (MarAd) is evaluating the rules' continued validity and whether they effectively address current issues. As part of this review, MarAd invites the public to participate in a comment process designed to help it provide for a more easily administered system of regulations to benefit shippers and shipper agencies in meeting cargo preference requirements pursuant to the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended (the Act) and Maritime Administration implementing regulations.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 214: Working Group 78: Standards for Air Traffic Data Communication Services.

The Department is amending its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations to require intercity, commuter, and high-speed passenger railroads to ensure, at new and altered station platforms, that passengers with disabilities can get on and off any accessible car of the train. Passenger railroads must provide level-entry boarding at new or altered stations in which no track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with existing freight rail operations. For new or altered stations in which track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with existing freight rail operations, passenger railroads will be able to choose among a variety of means to meet a performance standard to ensure that passengers with disabilities can access each accessible train car that other passengers can board at the station. These means include providing car-borne lifts, station-based lifts, or mini-high platforms. The Department will review a railroad's proposed method to ensure that it provides reliable and safe services to individuals with disabilities in an integrated manner. The rule also codifies the existing DOT mechanism for issuing ADA guidance, modifies provisions concerning the carriage of wheelchairs, and makes minor technical changes to the Department's ADA rules.