Department of Transportation 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has placed in the docket and on its Web site, guidance in the form of a Circular to assist grantees in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The purpose of this Circular is to provide recipients of FTA financial assistance with instructions and guidance necessary to carry out the U.S. Department of Transportation's ADA regulations.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant Daimler Trucks North America's (Daimler) application for an exemption to allow a Daimler employee to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMV) in the United States without having a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. The driver, Christian Urban, will test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements for these vehicles in ``real world'' environments and verify results. He holds a valid German commercial license but lacks the U.S. residency necessary to obtain a CDL issued by one of the States. FMCSA believes that the process for obtaining a German commercial license is comparable to or as effective as the U.S. CDL requirements and ensures that this driver will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant the R&R Transportation Group (R&R) an exemption from the minimum 30-minute rest break requirement of the Agency's hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and the public comments and has determined that the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions imposed, will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption. The exemption is available only to R&R's drivers engaged in the transportation of materials that by their nature must be attended, such as radioactive materials, pharmaceuticals, and ammunition. The exemption provides these drivers the same regulatory flexibility that the HOS regulations allow drivers transporting explosives, i.e., to use 30 minutes or more of on-duty attendance time to meet the HOS rest break requirements, provided they do not perform any other work during the break.

Under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Section 47153(d), notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority in Brunswick ME to waive the surplus property requirements for approximately 12.07 acres of airport property located at Brunswick Executive Airport in Brunswick, ME. The subject parcel is currently undeveloped and has been identified for commercial development on the current Airport Layout Plan. The airport will retain the land to generate long term lease revenue for the airport and thus, is requesting a release to change the property from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use. It has been determined through study and master planning that the subject parcel will not be needed for aeronautical purposes is not contiguous to the airport proper. Full and permanent relief of the surplus property requirements on this parcel will allow the airport to generate long term revenue through lease of the land. All lease revenue will continue to be subject to the FAAs revenue-use policy and dedicated to the maintenance and operation of the Brunswick Executive Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application for a land-use change authorization effecting approximately 12.2 acres of airport property at the Elko Regional Airport, Elko, Nevada which will provide for an amendment of the Grant Agreement Assurance obligation that requires use of airport land for aeronautical purposes. Since the City of Elko, sponsor of the Elko Regional Airport, acquired the land in 1930, the property does not have an aeronautical purpose or planned to be used for an aeronautical purpose. The land-use change will authorize the release of the aeronautical-use obligation from the Grant Assurance Agreement for a proposed long term non-aeronautical commercial development. The 12.2 acres of airport land is identified as ``future commercial'' on the FAA conditionally approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP). The approximately 12.2 acres of airport property is currently zoned as ``light industrial business park'' and the land is proposed for retail mall development. The proposed developer will pay the costs to develop, manage, and improve the property for non-aeronautical commercial businesses. The City of Elko will lease the land at fair market value (FMV) to earn revenue for the airport thereby benefiting the airport and serving the interest of civil aviation. The proposed use will be compatible with the airport and will not interfere with the airport or its operation.

The FAA proposes to amend the regulations governing the curriculum and operations of FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools. These amendments would modernize and reorganize the required curriculum subjects in the appendices of the current regulations. They would also remove the course content items currently located in the appendices and require that they be placed in each school's operations specifications so they could more easily be amended when necessary. The amendments are needed because the existing curriculums are outdated, do not meet current industry needs, and can be changed only through notice and comment rulemaking. These amendments would ensure that aviation maintenance technician students receive up- to-date foundational training to meet the demanding and consistently changing needs of the aviation industry.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain CFM International S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5B series turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a corrected lifing analysis by the engine manufacturer that shows the need to identify an initial and repetitive inspection threshold for certain part number (P/N) turbine rear frames (TRFs). This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive inspections of certain P/N TRFs on the low-pressure turbine (LPT) frame assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the TRF on the LPT frame assembly, which could lead to engine separation, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

The Department of Transportation is directing all interested persons to show cause why it should not issue an order finding Aviation Partners of Boynton Beach, LLC d/b/a Hummingbird Air fit, willing, and able, and awarding it a Commuter Air Carrier Authorization.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is announcing the availability of Advisory Circular (AC) 187-1J, which transmits an updated schedule of charges for services of FAA Flight Standards aviation safety inspectors (ASI) outside the United States. The AC has been updated in accordance with the procedures listed in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 187, Appendix A.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 65 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt 49 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces that 9 individuals have applied for a medical exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). In accordance with the statutory requirements concerning applications for exemptions, FMCSA requests public comments on these requests. The statute and implementing regulations concerning exemptions require that exemptions must provide an equivalent or greater level of safety than if they were not granted. If the Agency determines the exemptions would satisfy the statutory requirements and decides to grant theses requests after reviewing the public comments submitted in response to this notice, the exemptions would enable these 9 individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This document corrects the preamble to a proposed rule published in the Federal Register of May 21, 2015, regarding Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for Motorcycle Helmets. This correction removes language relating to the incorporation by reference of certain publications that was inadvertently and inappropriately included in the preamble to the proposed rule.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Sheridan, AR. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Sheridan Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer informing us that the inspection and repair criteria in the maintenance manual for aft bolt holes of the high-pressure compressor (HPC) cone shaft on the affected engines is incorrect. This proposed AD would require inspection of the HPC cone shaft and repair of affected parts, if needed. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC cone shaft, which could lead to uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

FMCSA amends its regulations by making technical corrections and ministerial corrections throughout title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), subtitle B, chapter III. The Agency is making minor changes to correct errors and omissions, ensure conformity with Office of the Federal Register style guidelines, update cross references, restore an inadvertent deletion of the reference to an Underwriters Laboratories' standard, and improve clarity and consistency of certain regulatory provisions. This rule does not make any substantive changes to the affected regulations, except to remove one obsolete provision.

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 777-200 airplanes. This airplane, as modified by Flight Structures, Inc., will have novel or unusual design features associated with oblique-angled, single-occupant seats equipped with airbag systems. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 747-8 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with seats with inflatable lap belts. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This final rule requires air carriers conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to make available on their Web sites information to enable passengers to determine which child restraint system can be used on airplanes in these operations. Specifically, this final rule requires air carriers to make available on their Web sites the width of the narrowest and widest passenger seats in each class of service for each make, model and series of airplane used in passenger- carrying operations.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) received a request from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) for a Buy America non-availability waiver for the procurement of a proposed innovative electronic platform track intrusion system (PTIDS). LACMTA seeks to procure the PTIDS for research and testing purposes to determine whether such a system will help to increase rail safety by identifying obstacles in the right-of-way. PTIDS uses radar transponder technology, such as sensors, to detect intrusions on rail tracks. If an object is detected, the sensors immediately send notification to personnel who may then stop the train and take appropriate action. LACMTA seeks a waiver for the PTIDS because it contains twelve components, six of which only are available from a single source and currently are not manufactured in the United States. FTA is providing notice of the non-availability waiver request and seeks public comment before deciding whether to grant the request. If granted, the waiver only would apply to this one procurement of the specific PTIDS components identified in this waiver request, and not to any future procurement by LACMTA or others. FTA also is providing notice that it will conduct a supplier scouting search for domestic alternatives to the foreign components via the process described in this Notice.

FMCSA announces the charter renewal of the MCSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee that provides the Agency with advice and recommendations on motor carrier safety programs and motor carrier safety regulations through a consensus process. This charter renewal will take effect on October 1, 2015, and will expire after 2 years.