Department of Transportation October 8, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On July 17, 2014, the President announced the Build America Investment Initiative, a government-wide effort to increase infrastructure investment and economic growth by engaging with state and local governments and private sector investors to encourage collaboration, expand the market for public-private partnerships (P3s) and put Federal credit programs to greater use. As part of that effort, the Presidential Memorandum tasked the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to establish the Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC), a one-stop-shop for state and local governments, public and private developers and investors seeking to utilize innovative financing and P3s to deliver transportation projects. USDOT has made significant progress in its work to expand access to USDOT credit programs, spread innovation through tools that build capacity across the country, and deliver project-focused technical assistance to help high-impact projects develop plans, navigate Federal programs and requirements, and evaluate and pursue financing opportunities. This includes an effort to provide a range of technical assistance tools to project sponsors, including a series of model contract provisions for popular P3 project types. Development of these tools fulfills a requirement under Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) that FHWA to develop public-private partnership (P3) transaction model contracts for the most popular type of P3s for transportation projects. Based on public input favoring an educational, rather than prescriptive, contract model, FHWA is publishing a series of guides describing terms and conditions typically adopted in P3 concession agreements. The FHWA values public input in the development of the model contract guides, and seeks continuing input. All documents in this series share the same Docket Number (FHWA- 2014-0006). To address the most popular types of P3s, FHWA is producing separate guides to the two most common agreements for concessionaire compensation: user tolls and availability payments (APs). For the purpose of public comment, the Toll Concessions Guide was divided into two parts. The first part, addressing the highest profile (``Core'') provisions, was published in final form on September 10, 2014. The second part (the ``Addendum''), addressing additional substantive provisions, was published in draft form on January 16, 2015. As described below, FHWA is deferring publication of the final version of the Addendum in order to obtain public comment on additional material (provided with this announcement) relevant to the concessions guides. With this notice, FHWA publishes a Draft Availability Payment Concessions P3 Model Contract Guide (``AP Concessions Guide'') so that the general public and interested stakeholders may provide comments. The AP Concessions Guide can be found on the Docket (FHWA-2014-0006) and at the following link:https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/pdfs/p3/ apguide.pdf. This model contract guide has been prepared solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as a statement of DOT or FHWA policy. In addition, a separate chapter on Labor Best Practices recommended by the U.S. Department of Labor has been added to the Docket and is available at the following link: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/pdfs/p3/ laborbestpractices.pdf. This chapter discusses labor provisions recommended by the U.S. Department of Labor for all P3 concession agreements, following a collaboration with USDOT, regardless of source of funding (i.e., Federal, State, or private) or form of compensation (i.e., user tolls or APs). The FHWA intends to incorporate this chapter into the final contract guides for both user toll and AP concessions; therefore, FHWA is seeking public comment on this document prior to finalizing the Toll Concession Addendum.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program (Workforce Development Program). Under the prior authorization, the Workforce Development Program was authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5322. Under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act, the program is authorized at 49 U.S.C. 5322(b). These projects are funded with a combination of $4 million of unallocated Section 5314 Federal funds appropriated in FY 2012, and a total of $5.5 million authorized under MAP-21 and appropriated in FYs 2013, 2014, and 2015 for Section 5322. These program dollars will provide financial assistance to promote diverse and innovative workforce development models and programs that specifically target unemployment training programs, outreach to increase minority and female employment, and training for minority business opportunities.

This notice announces a public meeting of the FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Transport Airplane and Engine (TAE) Subcommittee to discuss TAE issues.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes; and Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of defective fire extinguisher tubes. It was determined the defects were caused by corrosion. This AD requires repetitive general visual inspections of the fire extinguisher tubes for cracking and corrosion, and replacement of any cracked tube with a serviceable tube, if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking and corrosion in the fire extinguisher tubes, which could impact the capability to extinguish an engine fire, and possibly result in damage to the airplane and injury to the passengers.