Department of Transportation 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt nine individuals from the regulatory requirement that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt eight individuals from the regulatory requirement that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FRA announces the sixth meeting of the NECSC, a Federal Advisory Committee mandated by section 212 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA). The NECSC is composed of stakeholders operating on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), and its purpose is to provide annual recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. NECSC meeting topics will include the following: Maintenance-of-way fatigue, presentations on the NEC's future and NEC construction projects, Tier III passenger equipment rulemaking, the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C\3\RS), Amtrak 160 mph waiver requests, split rail derails on track leading to the NEC, and a general discussion of safety issues.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fatigue cracking found at the left-side and right-side upper frames, at a certain area. This AD requires repetitive medium frequency eddy current (MFEC) inspections for cracking of the left-side and right-side upper frames, and repair (including open hole high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of fastener holes) if necessary. This AD also provides an optional preventive modification, which terminates the repetitive inspections at the modified location. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the upper frame, which can grow in size and result in a severed frame, leading to rapid decompression and consequent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under Supplementary Information. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on February 10, 2016. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with section 743 of Division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010, Public Law 111-117, Department of Transportation is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2015 Service Contact Inventory data, the summary spreadsheet, the supplement, the analysis of the FY 2014 data and the plan for analyzing the FY 2015 data. This inventory provides information on service contract actions over $25,000 awarded in FY 2015. The information is organized by function to show how contracted resources are distributed throughout the agency. The inventory has been developed in accordance with guidance issued on November 5, 2010 by the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). OFPP's guidance is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/procuremen t/memo/ service-contract-inventories-guidance-11052010.pdf. Department of Transportation has posted its FY 2015 Service Contact Inventory data, the summary spreadsheet, the supplement, the analysis of the FY 2014 data and the plan for analyzing the FY 2015 data on the Department of Transportation's homepage at the following link: https:// www.transportation.gov/assistant-secretary-administration/pro curement/ service-contract-inventory. Questions regarding the Service Contract Inventory should be directed to Diane Morrison in the Office of the Senior Procurement Executive at 202-366-4960 or diane.morrison@dot.gov.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Slaton, TX. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures developed at Slaton Municipal Airport, for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E en route domestic airspace in the Platte Municipal Airport, Platte, SD area, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System (NAS).

This NPRM proposes a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 217a, ``Anti-ejection glazing for bus portals,'' to drive the installation of advanced glazing in high-occupancy buses (generally, over-the-road buses (of any weight) and non-over-the-road buses with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 11,793 kilograms (26,000 pounds). The new standard would specify impactor testing of glazing material. In the tests, a 26 kilogram (57 pound) impactor would be propelled from inside a test vehicle toward the window glazing at 21.6 kilometers/hour (13.4 miles per hour). The impactor and impact speed would simulate the loading from an average size unrestrained adult male impacting a window on the opposite side of a large bus in a rollover. Performance requirements would apply to side and rear windows, and to glass panels and windows on the roof to mitigate partial and complete ejection of passengers from these windows and to ensure that emergency exits remain operable after a rollover crash. NHTSA also proposes to limit the protrusions of emergency exit latches into emergency exit openings of windows to ensure they do not unduly hinder emergency egress. This NPRM is among the rulemakings issued pursuant to NHTSA's 2007 Approach to Motorcoach Safety and DOT's Departmental Motorcoach Safety Action Plan. In addition, to the extent warranted under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, establishing advanced glazing standards for the side and rear portals of the subject buses would fulfill a statutory provision of the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2012 (incorporated and passed as part of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the availability of draft Advisory Circular, (AC) 150/5360-14A, Access to Airports by Individuals with Disabilities, for public review. This AC will provide guidance and recommendations for ensuring access to airports by individuals with disabilities. The draft AC substantially revises and incorporates regulatory updates and recommendations for Service Animal Relief Areas (SARA) at airports. The draft AC was rewritten to improve readability, and to simplify and clarify the regulations for airport operators regarding airport access by individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the FAA is interested in public input regarding the use of wayfinding technologies and other technology innovations at airports.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of airspeed indication discrepancies while flying at high altitudes in inclement weather. This AD requires replacing certain pitot probes on the captain, first officer, and standby sides with certain new pitot probes. We are issuing this AD to prevent airspeed indication discrepancies during inclement weather, which, depending on the prevailing altitude, could lead to unknown accumulation of ice crystals and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 75-26-05 for Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 204B, 205A-1 and 212 helicopters. AD 75-26-05 currently requires removing and visually inspecting each main rotor (M/R) blade and, depending on the inspection's outcome, repairing or replacing the M/R blades. This proposed AD would require more frequent inspections of certain M/R blades and would also apply to Model 205A helicopters. This proposed AD would have no requirement that helicopter blades be removed to conduct the initial visual inspections. These proposed actions are intended to detect a crack and prevent failure of an M/R blade and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

The geometric design standards for projects on the National Highway System (NHS) are incorporated by reference in FHWA regulations in 23 CFR 625 and apply regardless of funding source. These design standards are comprehensive in nature, covering a multitude of design characteristics, while allowing flexibility in application. Exceptions may be approved on a project basis for designs that do not conform to the minimum or limiting criteria set forth in the standards, policies, and standard specifications. The FHWA is updating its 1985 policy regarding controlling criteria for design, applicable to projects on the NHS, to reduce the number of controlling criteria from 13 to 10, and to apply only 2 of those criteria to low speed roadways. The FHWA is also issuing guidance to clarify when design exceptions are needed and the documentation that is expected to support such requests. The FHWA's guidance memorandum, which is available in the docket (FHWA-2015-0020), transmits this policy to FHWA field offices.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with side-facing seats. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

FMCSA announces that Daimler Trucks North America (Daimler) has requested a five-year exemption for one of its employees from the Federal requirement to hold a U.S. commercial driver's license (CDL). Mr. Sebastian Boehm, a project engineer, holds a valid German commercial license and wants to test drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements in ``real world'' environments, and verify results. Daimler believes the requirements for a German commercial license ensure that operation under the exemption will likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that model year (MY) 2009 Mercedes-Benz G Class Long Wheelbase (LWB) (463 Chassis) multipurpose vehicles (MPVs) 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 they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.- certified version of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G Class LWB MPV) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This action modifies Class D airspace, Class E surface area airspace, Class E surface area airspace designated as an extension, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Walla Walla Regional Airport, Walla Walla, WA. After a review of the airspace, the FAA found it necessary to amend the airspace areas for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for arriving and departing aircraft at the airport. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of Walla Walla Regional Airport in the respective Class D and E airspace areas above.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-8 series airplanes. This AD requires a detailed inspection for correct installation of the flex hose clamp of the occupant backup air supply and a general visual inspection for damage of the flex hose, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that flex hoses of the occupant backup air supply were found disconnected from the adjacent fiberglass duct on two airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct an incorrect clamp installation on the inboard end of the flex hose, which allows the flex hose to slowly become disconnected from the adjacent fiberglass duct, and damage to the hose. This condition, in conjunction with a cargo fire event, can potentially lead to decreased airflow to the main deck, possibly resulting in smoke and/ or toxic fumes penetrating into the main deck passenger compartment, which could result in injury to the passengers or cabin crew.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This proposed AD would require modifying the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) to prevent development of an ignition source inside the center fuel tank due to electrical fault conditions. This proposed AD would also provide optional actions for cargo airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent ignition sources inside the center fuel tank, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-214, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Airbus Model A321- 211 and -231 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of incorrect installation of jiffy joint connectors on cables connected to certain passenger service units (PSUs), which could cause the passenger oxygen container to malfunction if the connector becomes disengaged during flight due to vibration. This AD requires identification of the affected PSUs, and depending on findings, doing applicable related investigative and corrective actions. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the door of the passenger oxygen container to open in the event of airplane decompression, resulting in lack of oxygen supply and consequent injury to occupants.

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 renew a previously approved information collection. The FAA assesses the information collected and issues operations specifications to foreign air carriers. These operations specifications assure the foreign air carrier's ability to navigate and communicate safely within the U.S. National Airspace System.

The FAA proposes to amend its ``Notice of Policy Regarding the Eligibility of Airport Ground Access Transportation Projects for Funding Under the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Program,'' \1\ regarding the requirements for PFC funding of on-airport, rail access projects.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $8 Million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 and FY 2016 research funds, for a new program to demonstrate and evaluate innovative approaches to integrated ``Mobility on Demand'' (MOD) solutions within a public transportation framework. The MOD Sandbox Demonstration Program is intended to provide a platform where integrated MOD concepts and solutions are supported and demonstrated through local partnerships in a real-world setting. FTA will fund project teams to adopt innovative business models to deliver high quality, seamless and equitable mobility options for all travelers. The MOD Sandbox further emphasizes FTA's interest in transit and mobility innovation, and builds upon FTA's recent XPEDITE Innovation initiative, which sought industry input through an online dialogue on transit innovation, particularly technology trends that increase public transportation efficiency, effectiveness and enhance the quality of customer travel. This notice also includes: (1) Reference to a number of areas for demonstrations of particular interest to FTA (to be used to guide but not limit innovative proposal concepts), (2) criteria that the FTA will use to identify projects for funding, and (3) the process for applying for the funding. This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: https:// www.fta.dot.gov. A synopsis of this funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants Web site at https://www.GRANTS.GOV. FTA will announce final selections on the FTA Web site and may also announce selections in the Federal Register.

The FHWA invited public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new information collection that is summarized below under supplementary information. The FHWA also invites public comments on the design of the survey instrument and questions for the National Transportation Performance Management (TPM) Review Survey. A document containing the draft survey and survey design report is available at https:// www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/engage/docs/questions.pdf. FHWA has received a request to extend the comment period in order to provide more time to evaluate the proposed revisions. FHWA is extending the comment period to May 31, 2016. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on June 23, 2015. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.