Department of Transportation 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project on the Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route 56 (SR 56) from postmile (PM) I-5: R32.7 to R34.8 and SR 56: 0.00 to 2.5 in the County of San Diego, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

FMCSA announces that the Power and Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) has requested an exemption from the requirement that a motor carrier install and require each of its drivers to use an electronic logging device (ELD) to record the driver's hours-of-service (HOS) no later than December 18, 2017. PCCA requests the exemption for all operators of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in the power and communications construction industry. Construction contractors spend considerable time working off-road on varying jobsites, and a single CMV may have several different drivers over the course of a day, moving the vehicle short distances around the jobsite. Because of the limited time within a workday that their drivers spend driving on public roads, PCCA states that ELD and record of duty status (RODS) requirements for drivers in their industries do not result in a significant safety benefit. PCCA's drivers would remain subject to the standard HOS limits and maintain a paper RODS for HOS compliance. PCCA believes that the exemption, if granted, will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent the exemption. FMCSA requests public comment on PCCA's application for exemption.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-23-20, which applied to certain Airbus Model A300, A300 B4-600, and A300 B4- 600R series airplanes; and Model A300 F4-605R and A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes. AD 2004-23-20 required, for certain airplanes, repetitive inspections for cracking around certain attachment holes, installation of new fasteners for certain airplanes, and follow-on corrective actions if necessary. AD 2004-23-20 also required modifying certain fuselage frames, which terminated certain repetitive inspections. This new AD reduces certain compliance times, expands the applicability, and requires an additional repair on certain modified airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the material used to manufacture the upper frame feet was changed and negatively affected the fatigue life of the frame feet. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600R and Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes; Model A300 B4-603, B4-622, and C4-605R Variant F airplanes; and Model A310-203, -221, -222, -304, -322, -324, and -325 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder indicating that a section of the fuselage structure above the forward cargo door is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires an inspection for cracks of the fastener and tooling holes at certain locations and a check of the diameter of the holes, and repair or modification of the affected fuselage structure if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 19, 2017.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the currently approved information collection activities listed below. Before submitting these information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities, which are identified in this notice.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1 Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

The FHWA, on behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by FHWA and other Federal Agencies, since May 8, 2015, that are final within the meaning of Federal law. These actions relate to a proposed highway project, the State Road (SR) 7 extension from SR 704/Okeechobee Boulevard to County Road (CR) 809/North Lake Boulevard, Federal Project No: 4752-030-P, in Palm Beach County, State of Florida. These actions grant license, permits, and approvals for the project.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), Model CL-600- 2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a smoke-in-cabin event due to a non-sustaining electrical fire. This proposed AD would require installation of protective sleeves on the bonding jumper wires of affected galleys and lavatories. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80A, -80A1, -80A2, and -80A3 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by high cycle fatigue (HCF) cracking of the low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 3 nozzles. This proposed AD would require replacement of the LPT stage 3 nozzles. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 this notice announces the Department of Transportation's (Department) intention to reinstate an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number as related to the Disclosure of Code-Sharing Arrangements and Long-Term Wet Leases. The growth in the use of code-sharing, wet- leasing, and similar marketing tools, particularly in international air transportation, led the Department on March 15, 1999, to adopt specific regulations requiring the disclosure of code-sharing arrangements and long-term wet leases by air carriers (U.S. and foreign) and ticket agents via oral, written, and internet communications. In a recent final rule published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2016, titled ``Enhancing Airline Passenger Protections'', the Department, among other things, amended the code-share disclosure regulation to require that carriers and ticket agents must disclose any code-share arrangements on their Web sites, including mobile Web sites and applications; clarify the format in which that information must be displayed; and specify that verbal code-share disclosures should be made the first time a flight involving a code-share arrangement is offered to consumers or the first time a consumer inquiries about such a flight whether by telephone or in person conversations.

The FAA is correcting a final rule published on August 29, 2017. In that final rule, which became effective on the date of publication, the FAA reissued a prohibition of certain flight operations in the Damascus (OSTT) Flight Information Region (FIR) by all U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except such persons operating a U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except where the operator is a foreign air carrier. The FAA inadvertently failed to include an Amendment Number for that final rule. This document corrects that error.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The information collection is for midshipmen or graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) or cadets or graduates of a State Maritime Academy (SMA) who received Student Incentive Payment (SIP) Program payments to determine if: (1) A waiver should be granted of all or a portion of the service obligation contract in cases where there would be undue hardship or impossibility of performance due to accident, illness or other justifiable reasons; (2) a deferment of all or a portion of the service obligation should be granted for the purpose of entering a marine or maritime-related graduate course of study; or (3) an original decision of items 1 or 2 should be overturned based on a student or graduate's appeal. Their service obligation is required by law. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the procedures, Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen, or Petitioner) has petitioned the agency for a temporary exemption from certain headlamp requirements of FMVSS No. 108 to allow the use of adaptive driving beam headlights. Volkswagen requests the exemption on the basis that it would facilitate the development or field evaluation of a new motor vehicle safety feature providing a safety level at least equal to that of the standard. NHTSA has made no judgment on the merits of the application. This notice of receipt of an application for a temporary exemption is published in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A350-941 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive on-ground power cycles to reset the internal timer. This AD was prompted by the in-service loss of communication between some avionics systems and the avionics network. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-11-20 for certain B/E Aerospace protective breathing equipment (PBE) that is installed on airplanes. AD 2016-11-20 required replacing part number (P/N) 119003-11 PBE units. Since we issued AD 2016-11-20, we received a report that PBE units, P/N 119003-21, within a certain serial number range are made with candle tube material determined to have a low yield strength and may be volatile upon use or disposal. This AD retains the actions required in AD 2016-11-20 and requires inspecting and replacing P/N 119003-11 and 119003-21 PBE units. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 24 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) renewed approval for an existing information collection. The collection involves labeling information from manufacturers of brake hoses, end fittings, and brake hose assemblies. The information to be collected will be used to and/or is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 106, Brake Hoses. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections.

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 extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.