Department of Transportation 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic galvanized strands consisting of HDPE or HDPP sheath filled corrosion inhibitor meeting FDOT specification 938, ASTM and PTI requirements for SR-836/I-395 from West of I-95 to MacArthur Causeway Bridge in the State of Florida.

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 when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is electronic flight- control-system (EFCS) mode annunciation. 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a 13.4-inch crack in the left wing front spar web inboard of pylon number 2 between front spar station inboard (FSSI) 655.75 and FSSI 660, found following a fuel leak. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed, ultrasonic, and high frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the front spar web between FSSI 628 and FSSI 713, and repairs if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 collection of information is necessary to document participation, completion, and compliance with the pilot training program for the MU-2B under the newly published subpart N of part 91 which will replace SFAR No. 108.

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's Fuel Tank Flammability rule requires manufacturers to report to the FAA every six months for up to 5 years after the flammability reduction system is incorporated into the fleet. The data is needed to assure system performance meets that predicted at the time of certification.

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. 14 CFR part 121 to ensure safety-of-flight by making certain that adequate training is obtained and maintained by those who operate under this part of the regulation.

On April 22, 2015, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) published a Notice of Proposed Policy Clarification (80 FR 22611) seeking comments on a proposed policy clarifying the application of the Cargo Preference Act of 1954 (CPA 1954), 46 U.S.C. 55305, to applications, commitments, and guarantees under MARAD's Federal Ship Financing Program (Title XI), 46 U.S.C. Chapter 537. This Notice finalizes MARAD's policy clarification.

This action proposes to modify VOR Federal airways V-16, V-94 and V-124, in the eastern United States due to the planned decommissioning of the Jacks Creek, TN, VOR/DME navigation aid.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 875-17, RB211-Trent 877-17, RB211- Trent 884-17, RB211-Trent 884B-17, RB211-Trent 892-17, RB211-Trent 892B-17, and RB211-Trent 895-17 turbofan engines. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the engine upper bifurcation fairing and repairing or replacing any fairing that fails inspection. This AD was prompted by a report of cracking and material release from an engine upper bifurcation fairing. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine fire protection system, engine fire, and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is considering a request from the Laconia Airport Authority in Gilford, NH, to dispose of 2.96 acres of airport land that is not required for aviation purposes at Laconia Municipal Airport. The subject parcel has been identified as property no longer needed for aviation use by the Laconia Airport Authority (LAA). The property, Lot 13, located along the east side of Lily Pond Road (NH Route 11C) in the Town of Gilford, is located on the northerly side of the airport's existing business park. The intended use of the property is for boat storage, which is a compatible use adjacent to the airport. Given the location of the parcel, the disposal of this property will have no effect on aviation land nor future development opportunities for the airport. The proceeds of the disposal will be placed in the airport's account and to be used for the operation and maintenance of the airport. Appropriate avigation easements will be placed on the property to ensure compatibility with the airport and the airport's airspace.

This document denies a petition for rulemaking, submitted by Ms. Scheryn Bennett, requesting that the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) require every vehicle to be equipped with an emergency glass breaking tool. The data available to the agency shows there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the actual number of occupants that may have died due solely to drowning while trapped in an immersed vehicle. The potential effectiveness of such a tool to successfully aid an occupant's safe exit from an immersed vehicle is also not known. In the absence of a requirement that each vehicle have a glass breaking tool, nothing prevents vehicle manufacturers from providing a tool or other means to allow vehicle evacuation during immersion. Additionally, consumers can purchase their own tool and locate it in the vehicle where they would be likely to access it in an emergency.

This RFI provides an outline for the potential use by the Federal Government of one or more Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies to back up signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS) and to ensure resiliency of PNT for U.S. Critical Infrastructure (CI) operations. As a co-chair and member of the National Executive Committee for Space-based PNT, and a provider and user of U.S. critical infrastructure services, the Department of Transportation is investigating opportunities by which the Federal Government may make use of service(s) which can provide the necessary backup capability or capabilities to ensure PNT continuity for U.S. CI in the event of a temporary disruption in GPS availability. Further, as the lead civil agency for PNT in the Federal Government, the Department of Transportation is interested in leveraging PNT service technology initiatives under consideration or currently undertaken by industry. The Federal Government is presently documenting civil requirements for PNT capabilities to serve as the basis for potential future acquisition activity. The initial objective is to support sustainment of domestic CI timing continuity with the capability to extend service(s) in the future to provide positioning/navigation continuity as well.

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on the proposed design criteria for the Stemme AG model Stemme S12 powered glider. The Administrator finds the proposed design criteria, which make up the certification basis for the Stemme S12, acceptable.These final design criteria will be published in the Federal Register.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published its decision in the Federal Register of April 5, 2016, to grant the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and all other State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), a limited exemption from the commercial learner's permit (CLP) requirement in 49 CFR 383.25(c). Due to an error, the exemption was not extended to include the CLP requirement in 49 CFR 383.73(a)(2)(iii). Today's correction makes it clear that the exemption granted to ODOT and other SDLAs from the CLP requirements includes 49 CFR 383.25(c) and 49 CFR 383.73(a)(2)(iii).

This action extends the comment period for an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on refunding baggage fees for delayed checked bags that was published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2016. The Department of Transportation is extending the period for persons to submit comments on this rulemaking from November 30, 2016, to January 17, 2017. This extension is in response to a petition by Airlines for America.

NHTSA is announcing a public meeting to seek input specifically on the Model State Policy and Modern Regulatory Tools sections of the recently released Federal Automated Vehicles Policy (the Policy). The Policy is guidance that seeks to speed the delivery of an initial regulatory framework for highly automated vehicles (HAVs) as well as encourage conformance with best practices to guide manufacturers and other entities in the safe design, development, testing, and deployment of HAVs. The Model State Policy builds on collective knowledge gathered from safety stakeholders, and is intended to help avoid a patchwork of inconsistent laws and regulations. It outlines States' roles in regulating HAVs and lays out model procedures and requirements for use by States that wish to enact laws governing HAVs. The Modern Regulatory Tools section includes potential new tools and authorities that could help NHTSA overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities involved in the safe and expeditious development of HAVs. Held in two distinct parts, the public meeting in the morning session will be an open listening session for the Model State Policy. In the afternoon session, there will be moderated panel discussions on the Modern Regulatory Tools. All comments during the public meeting will be oral.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501- 3521 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it is requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of an extension of the information collections required for (1) complaints filed under 49 U.S.C. 1321, 10701-10707, 11101 and 11701-11707 and 49 CFR 1111; (2) petitions for declaratory orders under 5 U.S.C. 554(e) and 49 U.S.C. 1321; and (3) catch-all petitions (for relief not otherwise specified) under 49 U.S.C. 1321 and 49 CFR part 1117. Under these statutory and regulatory sections, the Board provides procedures for persons to make a broad range of claims and to seek a broad range of remedies before the Board. The information collections relevant to these complaints and petitions are described separately below.

This final rule updates existing overflight fee rates using Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 FAA cost accounting and air traffic activity data. Overflight fees are charges for aircraft flights that transit U.S.-controlled airspace, but neither land in nor depart from the United States. Overflight fee rates were last updated in 2011. As a result, the FAA is not recovering the full cost of the services it provides. The FAA is increasing the rates for enroute and oceanic overflights based on Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 cost and air traffic activity data. The FAA is phasing in this rate increase over 3 years in equal percentage terms. This is a less burdensome approach than the alternative of phasing in the new rates in equal absolute terms, and is the same methodology used in the previous rulemaking. Finally, the FAA is making several organizational and clarifying revisions to the overflight fee requirements.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports indicating that the main landing gear (MLG) could not be extended and locked down during approach. This AD requires inspection of the restrictor check valve filter screens to detect any degraded or failed filter screens, and installation of serviceable parts. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FHWA is requesting comments on a proposed revision of form FHWA-1273``Required Contract Provisions Federal-Aid Construction Contracts.'' This form includes certain contract provisions that are required on all Federal-aid construction projects. The revisions are necessary to provide consistency with the current policies of FHWA and other Federal agencies.

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 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will forward the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal of a previously approved collection. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden hours. The OMB approved the form in 2015 with its renewal required by December 31, 2016. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the form renewal was published on September 16, 2016, [FR Vol. 81, No. 180, page 63855]. No comments were received.