Department of Transportation February 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) received a request for a waiver to permit the purchase of a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC system that is non-compliant with Buy America requirements using FTA funding. The request is from the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK) for its Rock Island Transfer Station. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5323(j)(3)(A), FTA is providing notice of the waiver request and seeks public comment before deciding whether to grant the request. If granted, the waiver would apply only to the FTA-funded procurement of a VRF HVAC system by MetroLINK.

On December 13, 2013, Rail-Term Corp. (Rail-Term) filed a petition for reconsideration of the Board's November 19, 2013 decision which found Rail-Term to be a ``rail carrier,'' as defined in the Interstate Commerce Act at 49 U.S.C. 10102(5), and, therefore, subject to the Board's jurisdiction. In response to filings by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, Inc. (NRC), the Board is allowing the public to file comments as amicus curiae and allowing AAR, ASLRRA, and NRC to participate as amicus curiae.

FRA issues this Notice of Intent (Notice) to advise the public that FRA and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will jointly prepare a Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project (Project). The EIS will evaluate environmental and related impacts of upgrading the rail system and associated infrastructure between the Chicago, IL Union Station and the Joliet, IL Union Station to implement high-speed passenger rail service, increase rail capacity, and improve reliability for identified incremental service additions. FRA issues this Notice to solicit public and agency input into the development of the scope of the EIS and to advise the public that outreach activities conducted by FRA and IDOT will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. To ensure all significant issues are identified and considered, the public, governmental agencies, and all other interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS, including the purpose and need, alternatives to be considered, impacts to be evaluated, and methodologies to be used in the evaluation.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to revise the ICR entitled ``Accident Recordkeeping Requirements.'' This ICR relates to Agency requirements that motor carriers maintain a record of certain accidents involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Motor carriers are not required to report this data to FMCSA, but must produce it upon inquiry by authorized Federal, State or local officials.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500- 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Supplemental EA and FONSI for the Blue Origin West Texas Launch Site.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-725A1-12 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of wear on the receptors of the double-ended unions in the fuel metering unit (FMU) housing on BR700-725A1-12 engines causing fuel leakage. This proposed AD would require removal of the affected FMUs. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the FMU, which could lead to damage to one or more engines and damage to the airplane.

General Motors, LLC (GM), has determined that certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Captiva and Buick Verano passenger cars manufactured between April 6, 2011 and June 4, 2011, do not fully comply with paragraph S5.2.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 101, Controls and Displays and paragraph S5.5.5 of FMVSS No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. GM has filed an appropriate report dated June 13, 2012 pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes the collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

This action proposes to modify three jet routes and four VOR Federal airways and to remove three jet routes in the northcentral United States. The FAA is proposing this action due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Peck, MI, VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR), which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected routes. The Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) facility will remain in service. This action would promote the safety and efficient management of aircraft within the National Airspace System.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Morrisville, VT, as the Morrisville-Stowe Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned, requiring airspace redesign at Morrisville-Stowe State Airport. This enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport.

This action amends Class D and E airspace at Kona International Airport at Keahole, Kailua-Kona, HI, to accommodate the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Instrument Landing System (ILS) or Localizer (LOC) standard instrument approach procedures at the airport. This action also adjusts the geographic coordinates of the airport in the respective Class D and E airspace areas, and the airport name is corrected to Kona International Airport at Keahole. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Kona airspace area, improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. In addition, a correction to the south segment extension of Class E airspace is made.

This action proposes to establish Class E Airspace at Geneva, AL, to accommodate a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) serving Geneva Municipal Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''). FRA is seeking public comments on its proposal to renew its PRA clearance to participate in the OMB program ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.'' This program was created to facilitate federal agencies' efforts to streamline the process to seek public feedback on service delivery. Current FRA clearance under this program expires July 31, 2014.

The Federal Transit Agency (FTA), as the lead federal agency, the Washington County Regional Railroad Authority (WCRRA), and the Metropolitan Council intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Gateway Corridor project. The Gateway Corridor project is a planned transitway approximately 12 miles in length located in Ramsey and Washington Counties in the eastern part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. The project is located in a corridor generally parallel to Interstate 94 (I-94) and will better connect downtown Saint Paul with its east side neighborhoods and the suburban cities of Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, and Woodbury. More broadly, the Gateway Corridor project will better connect the eastern Twin Cities Metropolitan Area to the regional transit network via the Union Depot multimodal hub in downtown Saint Paul. The project is also intended to serve and draw ridership from other portions of the metropolitan area, including portions of eastern Washington County and western St. Croix County (Wisconsin) to the east, Dakota County to the south, and the city of Minneapolis and Hennepin County to the west. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations with FTA as the lead agency. The purpose of this notice is to alert interested parties of the intent to prepare the EIS; to provide information on the nature of the proposed action and possible alternatives; to invite public participation in the EIS process, including comments on the scope of the Draft EIS proposed in this notice; and to announce that public and agency scoping meetings will be conducted.

This action proposes to amend Class D and Class E Airspace, and establish Class E airspace at Tri-Cities Regional Airport, Tri- Cities, TN. Airspace reconfiguration would alleviate traffic issues in the surrounding area for Johnson City Airport and Edwards Heliport so flights could navigate in and out of their respective airports in Visual Flight Rules conditions under 700 feet. This would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations in the area.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Greenville, ME, as the Squaw Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned, requiring airspace redesign at Greenville Municipal Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would update the geographic coordinates of airport.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-17- 18 R1, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT- 802A airplanes. AD 2010-17-18 R1 currently requires repetitively inspecting (using the eddy current method) the two outboard fastener holes in both of the wing main spar lower caps at the center splice joint for cracks; repairing or replacing any cracked spar; changing the safe life for certain serial number ranges; and sending the inspection results, only if cracks are found, to the FAA. Since we issued AD 2010- 17-18 R1, we have determined that the safe life for the wing main spar lower caps should apply to all AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes regardless of configuration or operational use. This proposed AD would retain all actions of AD 2010-17-18 R1 and expand the applicability to include all serial numbers regardless of configuration or operational use. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This final rule will prohibit flightcrew members in operations under part 121 from using a personal wireless communications device or laptop computer for personal use while at their duty station on the flight deck while the aircraft is being operated. This rule, which conforms FAA regulations with legislation, is intended to ensure that certain non-essential activities do not contribute to the challenge of task management on the flight deck or a loss of situational awareness due to attention to non-essential tasks.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the first meeting of the 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) Joint with EUROCAE WG-98 Committee.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The FAA requires that certain performance information be provided in the Rotorcraft Flight Manual in order to show compliance to the regulatory requirements. The flight manual, by regulation, must be furnished with each aircraft.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the first meeting of the Airborne Weather Detection Systems Committee.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Sixty-Third meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.