Department of Transportation April 7, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Railroad Revenue Adequacy: Petition of the Western Coal Traffic League To Institute a Rulemaking Proceeding To Abolish the Use of the Multi-Stage Discounted Cash Flow Model in Determining the Railroad Industry's Cost of Equity Capital
Document Number: 2014-07722
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation
The Surface Transportation Board will receive comments in Docket No. EP 722 to explore the Board's methodology for determining railroad revenue adequacy, as well as the revenue adequacy component used in judging the reasonableness of rail freight rates. The Board will also receive comments in Docket No. 664 (Sub-No. 2) on how it calculates the railroad industry's cost of equity capital. The Board is seeking written comments on these matters, as described below, and later will hold a hearing to address these issues.
Norfolk Southern Railway Company-Abandonment Exemption-in Prince Edward County, VA
Document Number: 2014-07719
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation
Requirements for the Secretary of Transportations Recognizing Aviation and Aerospace Innovation in Science and Engineering Awards
Document Number: 2014-07699
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Pursuant to a recommendation by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee, the Secretary of Transportation is announcing the third-annual competition to recognize students with the ability to demonstrate unique, innovative thinking in aerospace science and engineering. In its third year, the Secretary has decided to create two divisions within the award: A high school division and a university division (both undergraduate and graduate). The Secretary of Transportation intends to use the awards to incentivize students at high schools and universities to think creatively in developing innovative solutions to aviation and aerospace issues, and to share those innovations with the broader community.
Commercial Driver's License: Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles; Application for Exemption
Document Number: 2014-07695
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV) for a limited exemption from the Agency's commercial driver's license (CDL) regulation. Section 383.77(b)(1) allows a State to waive the CDL skills test described in 49 CFR 383.113 for applicants regularly employed or previously employed within the last 90 days in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Virginia DMV proposes that it be allowed to extend the 90-day timeline to one year following the driver's separation from military service. Virginia DMV believes the 90-day timeframe is too short to take advantage of the waiver for many of the qualified discharged veterans reentering and settling into civilian life. FMCSA requests public comment on Virginia DMV's application for exemption. In addition, because the issues concerning the Virginia DMV request could be applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public comment whether the exemption, if granted, should cover all State Driver's Licensing Agencies (SDLAs).
Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection Request: Hazardous Materials Safety Permits
Document Number: 2014-07690
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
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 review and approval. The FMCSA requests approval to revise and extend an ICR entitled, ``Hazardous Materials Safety Permits.'' This ICR requires companies holding permits to develop communications plans that allow for the periodic tracking of the shipments. A record of the communications that includes the time of the call and location of the shipment may be kept by either the driver (e.g., recorded in the log book) or the company. The motor carrier or driver must maintain a record of the communications for at least six months after the initial acceptance of a shipment of hazardous material for which a safety permit is required.
Ex-USNS COMET Available for Donation
Document Number: 2014-07671
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) plans to dispose of an obsolete vessel, the ex-USNS COMET (T-AK-269), which is currently located at its Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, California. MARAD, in consultation with the California State Historic Preservation Office, determined that the vessel is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion c. The ex-USNS COMET is considered to be the first purpose-built oceangoing ``roll-on/roll- off'' vessel. Roll-on/roll-off, or Ro/Ro, describes how wheeled- vehicular cargo is loaded and unloaded. MARAD is authorized to provide qualified public and non-profit organizations the opportunity to obtain, via donation, obsolete ships from the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) for use as memorials and/or in other non-commercial enterprises. Accordingly, MARAD is issuing this notice to provide the public and non-profit organizations such an opportunity. For donation application information, please see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Rear Visibility
Document Number: 2014-07469
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
To reduce the risk of devastating backover crashes involving vulnerable populations (including very young children) and to satisfy the mandate of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, NHTSA is issuing this final rule to expand the required field of view for all passenger cars, trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, buses, and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 pounds. The agency anticipates that today's final rule will significantly reduce backover crashes involving children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other pedestrians who currently have the highest risk associated with backover crashes. Specifically, today's final rule specifies an area behind the vehicle which must be visible to the driver when the vehicle is placed into reverse and other related performance requirements. The agency anticipates that, in the near term, vehicle manufacturers will use rearview video systems and in- vehicle visual displays to meet the requirements of this final rule.
Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Taylor, TX
Document Number: 2014-07461
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Taylor, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Taylor Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport. Airport coordinates would also be adjusted.
Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Services B.V. Airplanes
Document Number: 2014-07326
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-04-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review, which revealed that no controlled bonding provisions are present on a number of critical locations inside the fuel tank or connected to the fuel tank wall. This AD requires installing additional bonding provisions in the fuel tank, and revising the airplane maintenance or inspection program by incorporating fuel airworthiness limitation items and critical design configuration control limitations. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source in the fuel tank vapor space, which could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.
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