Department of Transportation March 7, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Qualification of Drivers; Application for Exemptions; Hearing
Document Number: 2016-04973
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 25 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
Notification of Changes to the Definition of a High Risk Motor Carrier and Associated Investigation Procedures
Document Number: 2016-04972
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This notice announces the Agency's efforts to improve the carrier prioritization process to enable safety investigators to take more immediate action against carriers with the highest crash risk. Specifically, FMCSA is announcing a new High Risk Motor Carrier definition and associated investigative procedural changes. These changes correspond with the ``Blueprint for Safety Leadership: Aligning Enforcement and Risk'' report issued by a Federal Aviation Administration Independent Review Team (IRT) in July 2014. The IRT recommended that FMCSA sharpen its priority-setting focus and improve the timeliness of investigator actions on those motor carriers representing the highest risk. This notice explains the Agency's new High Risk Motor Carrier definition and associated investigative procedural changes.
Columbia Body Manufacturing Co.; Grant of Petition for Temporary Exemption From FMVSS No. 224
Document Number: 2016-04971
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 30113 and 49 CFR part 555, NHTSA is granting a petition from Columbia Body Manufacturing Co. (``Columbia Body'' or ``petitioner''), a small volume manufacturer, for a temporary exemption from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 224, Rear impact protection, for certain gravity feed dump body trailers (``dump body trailers''). This exemption is based on the agency's determination that compliance with FMVSS No. 224 would cause substantial economic hardship to a manufacturer that has tried to comply in good faith with the standard, and that such an exemption is consistent with the public interest. Columbia Body must affix certification labels to the exempted trailers stating they have been exempted from FMVSS No. 224.
Railroad Cost of Capital-2015
Document Number: 2016-04967
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation
The Board is instituting a proceeding to determine the railroad industry's cost of capital for 2015. The decision solicits comments on the following issues: The railroads' 2015 current cost of debt capital; the railroads' 2015 current cost of preferred equity capital (if any); the railroads' 2015 cost of common equity capital; and the 2015 capital structure mix of the railroad industry on a market value basis. Comments should focus on the various cost of capital components listed above using the same methodology followed in Railroad Cost of Capital2014, EP 558 (Sub-No. 18) (STB served Aug. 7, 2015).
Agency Request for Emergency Processing of Collection of Information by the Office of Management and Budget
Document Number: 2016-04882
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation
Consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, this document provides notice that FRA is submitting the following Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect information on Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation on an annual form and a quarterly form. FRA requests emergency processing and OMB authorization to collect the information on the annual form identified below five business days after publication of this Notice for a period of 180 days. FRA requests regular processing and OMB authorization to collect the information on the quarterly form identified below 90 days after publication of this Notice for a period of three years.
IFR Altitudes; Miscellaneous Amendments
Document Number: 2016-04855
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.
Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Taos, NM
Document Number: 2016-04848
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Taos Regional Airport, Taos, NM. Decommissioning of non-directional radio beacon (NDB) and cancellation of the NDB approaches due to advances in Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities have made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Taos Regional Airport.
Use of Locomotive Horns at Public Highway-Rail Grade Crossings; Notice of Safety Inquiry
Document Number: 2016-04831
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation
FRA is conducting a retrospective review of its locomotive train horn regulations in 49 CFR part 222. As part of its review, FRA is soliciting public comment on whether FRA should modify, streamline, or expand any requirements of FRA's locomotive train horn regulations to reduce paperwork and other economic burdens on the rail industry and States and local authorities while still maintaining the highest standards of safety. The list of topics at the end of this Notice highlights specific areas on which FRA would particularly encourage the rail industry, as well as State and local authorities to provide comment.
Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Little Rock, AR
Document Number: 2016-04742
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Little Rock, AR. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to closure of the air traffic control tower and associated approaches at Dennis F. Cantrell Field, Conway, AR. Dennis F. Cantrell Field would be removed from the airspace designation and legal description as it is no longer needed to describe the boundaries of Little Rock AFB. The FAA is proposing this action for continued safety within the National Airspace System (NAS). Additionally, the geographic coordinates for Little Rock AFB and Saline County Airport, Benton, AR, would be adjusted.
Proposed Modification of Federal Airway V-506; Kotzebue, AK
Document Number: 2016-04738
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action proposes to modify Alaskan VOR Federal airway V- 506 by lowering the floor of class E controlled airspace due to the establishment of a lower global navigation satellite system (GNSS) minimum enroute altitude (MEA). This action would allow maximum use of the airspace.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Document Number: 2016-04679
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a captain's seat moved uncommanded during a landing rollout due to a failure in the seat horizontal actuator. This proposed AD would require repetitive tests of the captain and first officer seat assemblies for proper operation, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would also require installing new captain and first officer seat assemblies, which would terminate the repetitive tests. We are proposing this AD to prevent a seat actuator clutch failure, which could result in a loss of seat locking and uncommanded motion of the captain's or first officer's seat; uncommanded seat movement could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
Document Number: 2016-04562
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of partial loss of no-back brake (NBB) efficiency on the trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuator (THSA). This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine THSA part number, serial numbers, and flight cycles on certain THSAs; and repetitive replacement for certain THSAs. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss of THSA NBB efficiency, which in conjunction with the power gear not able to keep the ball screw in its last commanded position, could lead to an uncommanded movement of the horizontal stabilizer, possibly resulting in loss of control of the airplane.
Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators
Document Number: 2016-03869
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-07
Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
FMCSA proposes new training standards for certain individuals applying for their initial commercial driver's license (CDL); an upgrade of their CDL (e.g., a Class B CDL holder seeking a Class A CDL); or a hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsement for their license; and a ``refresher'' training curriculum. These individuals would be subject to the proposed entry-level driver training requirements and must complete a course of instruction provided by an entity that: Meets the minimum qualifications for training providers; covers the curriculum; is listed on FMCSA's proposed Training Provider Registry; and submits electronically to FMCSA the training certificate for each individual who completes the training. This NPRM responds to a Congressional mandate imposed under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The proposed rule is based on consensus recommendations from the Agency's Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee (ELDTAC), a negotiated rulemaking committee which held a series of meetings between February and May 2015. The compliance date of this proposed rule would be three years after the effective date of the final rule.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.