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

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions of 99 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from this rule 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 CMV drivers.

FMCSA announces that it has denied the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association (NSRMCA) application to exempt its contract carrier members from the ``14-hour rule'' of the Agency's hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. NSRMCA requested that a driver of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) transporting U.S. mail be allowed to follow an alternative HOS regimen consisting of no more than 10 hours of driving following 8 consecutive hours off duty; the driver would also be prohibited from driving after having been on duty for 15 non- consecutive hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty. FMCSA reviewed NSRMCA's application and the public comments received, and denied the application because available information did not allow the Agency to conclude that the proposed exemption would achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained absent the exemption.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) seeking exemption from two provisions of the Agency's hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. SC&RA asks that motor carriers and drivers operating mobile cranes with a rated lifting capacity of greater than 30 tons be exempted from the 30-minute break requirement and the 14-hour rule. SC&RA believes that these two HOS rules uniquely affect the operational efficiency of these crane operations and unnecessarily place the driver and public at risk. FMCSA requests public comment on SC&RA's application for exemption.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 68 individuals for exemption from the prohibition against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

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.

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.

This document announces a decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that certain Model Year (MY) 2008-2010 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider passenger cars (PCs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because the 2008 and 2009 model year vehicles are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and certified to all applicable FMVSS (the U.S-certified version of the 2008-2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider PCs), and, in the case of the 2010 model year vehicles, because those vehicles have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to revise an information collection. The FAA is developing an information system to collect certain frequency information currently being collected on form 7460-1, and to revise form 7460-1 to remove frequency information requests.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given of the actions on special permits applications in (October to October 2014). The mode of transportation involved are identified by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft. Application numbers prefixed by the letters EE represent applications for Emergency Special Permits. It should be noted that some of the sections cited were those in effect at the time certain special permits were issued.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PIIMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application is provided in association with each identified application.

The policy statement clarifies the FAA's policy interpretation regarding the operation of flying clubs at federally-obligated airports. Specifically, this policy statement amends FAA Order 5190.6B, Airport Compliance Requirements, Section 10.6 Flying Clubs to allow the clubs to compensate instructors and mechanics who are club members for services rendered to the Club. This policy statement also amends the FAA's definition of flying clubs.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extension and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval concerning vehicle safety features for consumer information purposes (OMB Control number 2127-0629).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by reports of the installation of non-conforming honeycomb cartridges in the high-pressure compressor (HPC) adjacent to the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 spool and stage 7 to 9 spool. This AD requires removal and replacement of the affected HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 and stage 7 to 9 spools and adjacent honeycomb cartridges. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 and stage 7 to 9 spools, which could lead to uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

FRA proposes regulations establishing minimum requirements for the size of train crew staffs depending on the type of operation. A minimum requirement of two crewmembers is proposed for all railroad operations, with exceptions proposed for those operations that FRA believes do not pose significant safety risks to railroad employees, the general public, and the environment by using fewer than two-person crews. This proposed rule would also establish minimum requirements for the roles and responsibilities of the second train crewmember on a moving train, and promote safe and effective teamwork. Additionally, FRA co-proposes two different options for situations where a railroad wants to continue an existing operation with a one-person train crew or start up an operation with less than two crewmembers. Under both co- proposal options, a railroad that wants to continue an existing operation or start a new operation with less than a two-person train crew would be required to describe the operation and provide safety- related information to FRA; however, proposed Option 1 includes an FRA review and approval period lasting up to 90 days while Option 2 proposes permitting such operations to initiate or continue without a mandatory FRA review and approval waiting period or while such review is taking place. For start-up freight operations with less than two crewmembers, proposed Option 2 also requires a statement signed by the railroad officer in charge of the operation certifying a safety hazard analysis of the operation has been completed and that the operation provides an appropriate level of safety.

The purpose of this final rule is to establish performance measures for State departments of transportation (State DOT) to use to carry out the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and to assess the: Number of motor vehicle crash-related serious injuries and fatalities; number of serious injuries and fatalities of non-motorized users; and serious injuries and fatalities per vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The FHWA issues this final rule based on section 1203 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which identifies national transportation goals and requires the Secretary to promulgate a rulemaking to establish performance measures and standards in specified Federal-aid highway program areas. The FHWA also considered the provisions in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) in the development of this final rule. The HSIP is a Federal-aid highway program with the purpose of achieving a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non- State-owned public roads and roads on tribal lands.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB) is revising its regulations by adjusting the procedural schedule in stand-alone cost (SAC) cases to conform with the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015 (STB Reauthorization Act).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a new revision to the airworthiness limitations of the maintenance planning document based on fatigue and damage tolerance testing, and updated analysis. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program to update inspection requirements and life limits that address fatigue cracking of principal structural elements (PSEs). We are proposing this AD to ensure fatigue cracking of PSEs is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could result in reduced structural integrity of the PSEs and critical components.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the cancellation of Policy Statement Number PS-ANM111-2001-99-01 (ANM-99- 01). The policy statement is cancelled because it was superseded by an advisory circular (AC) and is no longer necessary.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking in the horizontal and vertical flanges of the rear spar upper chord of the horizontal stabilizer, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the center section of the horizontal stabilizer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the rear spar center section of the horizontal stabilizer that could lead to departure of the horizontal stabilizer from the airplane.

Pursuant to the recently enacted Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (the FAST Act), the DOT announces the availability of funding authorized in the amount of $1.435 billion ($275 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 funds, $275 million in FY 2017 funds, $285 million in FY 2018 funds, $300 million in FY 2019 funds, and $300 million in FY 2020 funds (and any funds that may be available from prior fiscal years)) to provide TIFIA credit assistance for eligible projects. The FY 2016-2020 authorized funds are subject to an annual obligation limitation that may be established in appropriations law. The amount of TIFIA funding authority available in a given year may be less than the amount authorized for that fiscal year. Under TIFIA, the DOT provides secured (direct) loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees to public and private applicants for eligible surface transportation projects. Projects must meet statutorily specified eligibility criteria to receive credit assistance. This notice outlines the process that project sponsors must follow in seeking TIFIA credit assistance. The DOT is publishing this notice to give project sponsors an opportunity to submit Letters of Interest for the newly authorized funding as soon as possible. However, in addition to authorizing funding for TIFIA credit assistance, the FAST Act made a number of changes to the TIFIA program's structure, including the terms and conditions pursuant to which the DOT can provide TIFIA credit assistance. This notice outlines certain changes made by the FAST Act and invites interested parties to submit comments about the DOT's implementation of the FAST Act and the DOT's guidance for awarding TIFIA credit assistance. Unless otherwise noted, statutory section references in this notice are to sections of title 23 of the U.S. Code, as amended by the FAST Act, which took effect as of October 1, 2015. Letter of Interest Submission: All project sponsors wishing to apply for TIFIA credit assistance must first submit a Letter of Interest, as more fully described in this notice of funding availability. Only after a project sponsor has submitted a Letter of Interest and demonstrated the satisfaction of all statutory eligibility requirements will the project sponsor be invited to submit an application. Letters of Interest will be received on a rolling basis using the form on the TIFIA Web site: https://www.transportation.gov/ tifia/applications.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the cancellation of Policy Statement Number PS-ANM100-1986-00051. The policy statement is cancelled because it was superseded by an advisory circular (AC) and is no longer necessary.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the cancellation of Policy Statement Number ANM-03-117-09. The policy statement is cancelled because it was superseded by an advisory circular (AC) and is no longer necessary.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550-K, TSIO- 550-C, TSIOF-550-D, and TSIO-550-N reciprocating engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shutdown (IFSD) resulting in injuries and significant airplane damage. This proposed AD would require replacing the oil cooler cross fitting assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the oil cooler cross fitting and engine, IFSD and loss of the airplane.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2006-18- 14 that applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 turbofan engines. AD 2006-18-14 requires calculating and re-establishing the cyclic life of stage 1 high- pressure turbine (HPT) disks, part number (P/N) JR32013 and P/N JR33838, and stage 1 low-pressure turbine (LPT) disk, P/N JR32318A. This proposed AD would require re-calculating the cyclic life, and would impose a reduced cyclic life, of stage 1 HPT disk, P/N JR32013. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of stage 1 HPT disks, P/N JR32013 and P/N JR33838, and stage 1 LPT disk, P/N JR32318A, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.