Department of Transportation January 28, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a public meeting of the National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC). The NFAC will provide information, advice, and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to U.S. freight transportation, including implementation of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141.

This NPRM proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, ``Child restraint systems,'' to adopt side impact performance requirements for all child restraint systems designed to seat children in a weight range that includes weights up to 18 kilograms (kg) (40 pounds (lb)). NHTSA is issuing this NPRM to ensure that child restraints provide a minimum level of protection in side impacts by effectively restraining the child, preventing harmful head contact with an intruding vehicle door or child restraint structure, and by attenuating crash forces to the child's head and chest. This NPRM is also issued toward fulfillment of a statutory mandate set forth in the ``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act'' (July 6, 2012), directing the Secretary of Transportation to issue a final rule amending FMVSS No. 213 to improve the protection of children seated in child restraint systems during side impacts.

The FAA announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Wayne County Airport Authority, Michigan for Willow Run Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, herein after referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``part 150'') is in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Willow Run Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before July 15, 2014.

PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to remind all onshore oil pipeline operators of the circumstances of the Marshall, Michigan, pipeline accident and the need to update FRPs every five years from the date of last submission or the last approval according to its significant and substantial designation. Plans must also be updated whenever new or different operating conditions would affect the implementation of a response plan. (See 49 CFR 194.121.) When updating their FRPs, operators should utilize Appendix A Part 194Guidelines for the Preparation of Response Plans and submit them electronically to PHMSA. This bulletin also notifies that FRPs found to meet the requirements of PHMSA's regulations at Part 194 will be posted on PHMSA's Web site for public viewing. Prior to posting, PHMSA will redact certain information, such as personally identifiable information and certain security related information, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and any other applicable Federal law. This document also alerts operators and their plan submitters to common errors in plans that require amendment prior to PHMSA's issuance of approval. Finally, onshore oil pipeline operators are encouraged to consider replacing incorporations by reference in their FRPs with a summary of referenced material or a copy of the full document.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 41 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.