Department of Transportation January 29, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

RockTenn has requested a renewal of its exemption from certain provisions of the hours-of-service (HOS) requirements for drivers of property-carrying vehicles. RockTenn currently holds an exemption for the period April 17, 2012, through April 16, 2014 for 11 shipping department employees and occasional substitute commercial driver's license (CDL) holders who transport paper mill products over a 275-foot stretch of public road between its shipping and receiving locations. RockTenn requested an exemption from the 14-hour rule and the requirement for 10 consecutive hours off duty before the start of the work day. The renewal of the exemption would allow these individuals occasionally to drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty and allow them to return to work following 8 consecutive hours off-duty. FMCSA requests public comment on the RockTenn application for exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 43 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

The FAA assigned the ARAC a new task arising from recommendations of the ARAC Airman Testing Standards and Training Working Group (ATSTWG). The ATSTWG recommended ways to ensure that the FAA's airman testing and training materials better support reduction of fatal general aviation accidents. The FAA and the Aviation Industry jointly seek to improve airman training and testing by establishing an integrated, holistic airman certification system that clearly aligns testing with certification standards, guidance, and reference materials, and maintains that alignment. The new task is to establish an Airman Certification System Working Group (ACSWG) that will provide expert assistance and industry views to the FAA's Flight Standards Service (AFS) on the development, modification, and continued alignment of the major components of the airman certification system. This action item informs the public of the new ARAC's task and solicits membership for the new ACSWG.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on certain information collections that will be expiring in summer of 2014. PHMSA will request an extension with no change for the information collections identified by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers 2137-0578, 2137-0584, and 2137-0601. In addition, PHMSA will request a revision to the information collection identified under OMB control number 2137-0618 to include the information currently collected under OMB control number 2137-0601.