Department of Transportation September 16, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends the application requirements for the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This rulemaking is prompted by enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which converted the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program into a permanent program, allowed any State to apply for the Program, created a renewal process for Program participation, and expanded the scope of the Secretary's responsibilities that may be assigned and assumed under the Program to environmental review responsibilities for railroad, public transportation, and multimodal projects, in addition to highway projects.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for projects in San Francisco, CA; Mukilteo, WA; and Santa Clara County, CA. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject projects and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

In response to section 32709 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the FMCSA requests public comments concerning the current knowledge and skills testing requirements for a commercial driver's license (CDL) passenger endorsement to determine whether improvements to the knowledge test, the examination of driving skills, and the application of the requirements are necessary to ensure the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport passengers. Section 32709 requires the Secretary to submit a report to Congress on the issue. FMCSA has reviewed information from State licensing agencies responsible for conducting such tests and now provides an opportunity for all interested parties to share their perspectives on this issue as the Agency completes its report to Congress.

On April 26, 2013, NHTSA released the Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices (Phase 1 Guidelines) in an effort to promote safety by discouraging the introduction of excessively distracting devices in vehicles. These Guidelines cover original equipment (OE) in-vehicle (i.e., integrated) electronic devices that are operated by the driver through visual- manual means (i.e., the driver looks at a device, manipulates a device- related control with his or her hand, and/or watches for visual feedback from the device). This document clarifies some ambiguities that have been identified in these Guidelines. For some of these clarifications, revisions to the Guidelines text are indicated. A revised version of the Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices (Phase 1 Guidelines), including these revisions, will be posted on www.regulations.gov in Docket NHTSA-2014-0088.

This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was published on July 10, 2014. In that document, the FAA proposed new and updated flight simulation training device (FSTD) technical evaluation requirements that are necessary to fully implement the training requirements recently adopted in the Qualification, Service, and Use of Crewmembers and Aircraft Dispatchers final rule (Crewmember and Aircraft Dispatcher Training Final Rule) published on November 12, 2013. Additionally, the FAA proposed further changes to address several NTSB safety recommendations, aviation rulemaking committee recommendations, and to conduct a limited alignment of the part 60 FSTD technical evaluation requirements with that of the latest international FSTD evaluation guidance document. One airline, an association that represents several airlines, and an FSTD sponsor have requested that the FAA extend the comment period to allow time to adequately analyze the NPRM and prepare comments.

This action establishes Class D airspace and amends Class E airspace at Blackstone, VA, to accommodate the new air traffic control tower at Allen C Perkinson Blackstone Army Airfield. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airfield. This action updates the geographic coordinates of the airfield's Class E airspace, and adds exclusion of Restricted area airspace in Class D airspace.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Pine Knot, KY, to accommodate a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) serving Mc Creary County Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.