Department of Transportation December 18, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an application for exemption from Volvo/ Prevost LLC (Volvo/Prevost) to allow the placement of a lane departure warning (LDW) system at the bottom of the windshield on its motorcoaches within the swept area of the windshield wipers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) currently require antennas, transponders, and similar devices to be located not more than 6 inches below the upper edge of the windshield, outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals. Volvo/Prevost intends to install these devices as original equipment on its motorcoaches. Volvo/Prevost believes this mounting position will maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety achieved without the exemption.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 airplanes, Model A319-111, -112, -113, - 114, and -115 airplanes, Model A320-111, -211, -212, and -214 airplanes, and Model A321-111, -112, -211, -212, and -213 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of broken aft engine mount retainers. This proposed AD would require inspecting the aft engine mount retainers for surface finish, and for cracks and failure, and replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of retainer brackets of the aft engine mount and consequent loss of the locking feature of the nuts of the inner and outer pins. Loss of the pins will result in the aft mount engine link no longer being secured to the aft engine mount.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 16, 2013 (78 FR 56995).

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 15 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 Aviation Administration is requesting public comment on request by the City of Washington to change a portion of airport property from aeronautical to non-aeronautical use at the Warren Field Airport, Washington, North Carolina. The request consists of approximately 32 acres. This action is taken under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

FMCSA proposes changes to the eligibility requirements for the Agency's Vision Exemption Program. Obtaining an exemption enables an individual to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without satisfying all of the prescribed vision standards. The Agency has determined that these proposed changes in the eligibility criteria and conditions for the Vision Exemption Program will continue to ensure a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained under the existing criteria.