Department of Transportation April 4, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 20 individuals for exemption from the prohibition against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces information concerning the Pre-Authorization Safety Audit (PASA) for Transportes Mor SA de CV (USDOT 555687) and Adriana De Leon Amaro (USDOT 2117609), which applied to participate in the Agency's long-haul pilot program to test and demonstrate the ability of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate safely in the United States beyond the municipalities in the United States on the United States-Mexico international border or the commercial zones of such municipalities. These motor carriers did not successfully complete the PASA.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2010 BMW Z4 passenger cars that were 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 that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.- certified version of the 2010 BMW Z4) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that nonconforming 2007 Ford Escape Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles that were 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 that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the same 2007 Ford Escape Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This action extends the closing and award dates for the Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center for the Mid-South Atlantic Region published on February 26, 2013, 78 FR 13143. USDOT OSDBU is extending the Notice of Funding Availability to allow eligible entities time to adequately submit a proposal.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the aft attach lugs of the elevator tab control mechanisms, and replacement of any discrepant elevator tab control mechanism. This new AD requires replacing the left and right elevator tab control mechanisms with elevator tab control mechanisms that have the modified attach lugs, which would terminate the existing requirements. This AD was prompted by reports of failure of the aft attach lugs on the elevator tab control mechanisms, which resulted in severe elevator vibration; and reports of gaps in elevator tab control mechanisms and analysis indicating that additional elevator tab control mechanisms might have bearings that will come loose. We are issuing this AD to prevent discrepancies in the aft attach lugs of the elevator tab control mechanism, which could result in severe elevator and tab vibration. Consequent structural failure of the elevator or horizontal stabilizer could result in loss of structural integrity and aircraft control.