Department of Transportation April 27, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is revising references in its regulations to the maximum civil penalties for violations of Federal pipeline safety laws, or any PHMSA regulations or orders issued thereunder. Under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, Federal agencies are required to adjust their civil monetary penalties effective January 15, 2017, and annually thereafter, to account for changes in inflation. PHMSA finds good cause to amend the regulations related to civil penalties without notice or opportunity for public comment. Advance public notice is unnecessary for the reasons described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions of 71 individuals from its prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions of 135 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.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $55 million in FY 2017 funds for the Low or No Emission Bus Discretionary Grant Program (Low-No Program; Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 20.526), subject to funding availability. Only $31.5 million is available under the Continuing Resolution that expires on April 28, 2017. As required by Federal transit law (49 U.S.C. 5339(c)) and subject to funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively for the purchase or lease of low or no emission vehicles that use advanced technologies for transit revenue operations, including related equipment or facilities. Projects may include costs incidental to the acquisition of buses or to the construction of facilities, such as the costs of related workforce development and training activities, and project administration expenses. FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Colorado City Municipal Airport, Colorado City, AZ, to support the implementation of new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Also, this action would update the geographic coordinates of the airport to match the FAA's current aeronautical database.