Department of Transportation August 23, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 402 of title 23 of the United States Code requires the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate uniform guidelines for State highway safety programs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking comments on one (1) new guideline that reflects program methodologies and approaches that have proven to be successful and are based on sound science and program administration. The new guideline is No. 9 Distracted and Drowsy Driving. NHTSA believes the new guideline will provide more accurate, current and effective guidance to the States regarding distracted and drowsy driving. The guideline will be made publicly available on the NHTSA Web site.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all hot air balloons to determine if BAL[Oacute]NY KUB[Iacute][Ccaron]EK spol. s r.o. Model Kub[iacute][ccaron]ek burners equipped with fuel hoses made of ``EGEFLEX'' material are installed. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as propane leaks found on burners equipped with fuel hoses made of EGEFLEX material. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FHWA is revising its regulations governing the acquisition, management, and disposal of real property for transportation programs and projects receiving funds under title 23, United States Code. The revisions are prompted by enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Section 1302 of MAP-21 includes new early acquisition flexibilities that can be used by State departments of transportation (SDOT) and other grantees of title 23 Federal-aid highway program funds. This final rule addresses the use of those new early acquisition flexibilities. The FHWA is also updating the real estate regulations to reflect the agency's experience with the Federal-aid highway program since the last comprehensive rulemaking for part 710, which occurred more than a decade ago. The update clarifies the Federal-State partnership, streamlines processes to better meet current Federal-aid highway program needs, and eliminates duplicative and outdated regulatory language. The enactment of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act had a minimal effect on this rule.