Department of Transportation 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to grant an exemption to Daimler Trucks North America (Daimler) for one of its commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. Daimler requested a 5-year exemption from the Federal requirement to hold a U.S. commercial driver's license (CDL) for Mr. Kai Zeuner, a project engineer for the Daimler Trucks and Bus Division. Mr. Zeuner holds a valid German commercial license and wants to test- drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements for these systems in ``real world'' environments, and verify results. Daimler believes the requirements for a German commercial license ensure that holders of the license will likely achieve a level of safety equal to or greater than that of drivers who hold a U.S. State-issued CDL.

These special conditions are issued for Garmin International (Garmin) for modifications to Learjet, Inc., (Learjet) Model 35 and 36 airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Garmin, 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 incorporates the Garmin Flight Stream 210 and GTN 6XX/7XX Navigator system into the airplanes. 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.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it is requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an extension of approval for the collection of the Report of Fuel Cost, Consumption, and Surcharge Revenue. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register on March 8, 2017. That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the web lap splices in the aft pressure bulkhead are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires repetitive inspections of the web lap splices in the aft pressure bulkhead for cracking of the fastener holes, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, and -200C series airplanes. This AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. This AD requires various repetitive inspections for cracking of certain lugs on the rear spar and horizontal stabilizer, related investigative and corrective actions if necessary, and replacement of the center section rear spar upper chord as applicable. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack in the left wing front spar web, found following a fuel leak. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the front spar web, and repairs if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model MD-90-30 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracking in a horizontal stabilizer rear spar cap. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any crack in the left and right side horizontal stabilizer rear spar upper caps, and repair or replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Presidential directive as expressed in the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' this action temporarily delays until June 5, 2017, the effective date of the final rule titled ``Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles,'' initially scheduled to become effective on February 13, 2017.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the ARAC.

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 for the collection and posting of certain aviation consumer protection-related information from U.S. carriers and foreign carriers. On April 25, 2011, the DOT issued a final rule that, among other things, extended existing consumer protection requirements that previously applied only to U.S. carriers to foreign carriers and required that certain U.S. and foreign air carriers report tarmac delay information to the DOT for passenger operations that experience a tarmac delay time of 3 hours or more at a U.S. airport (See, DOT-OST- 2010-0140). This request seeks to reinstate the control number that is associated with the information collection requirements in that rule, OMB Control Number 2105-0561.

This notice announces and outlines the purpose and contents of Project Management Plans, when they are required, and the preferred form and procedure for submission of these Plans to FHWA. The Guidance clarifies prior Guidance, including when to prepare plan updates.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by cracking in the door sill area of the aft cargo door. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the aft cargo door lower torsion box area, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233, airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracks on frame forks and outer skin on the forward and aft cargo compartment doors. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the frame forks, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also include optional modifications that constitute terminating action. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are revising an earlier notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, and -100 IGW airplanes; and Model ERJ 190-200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by adding a requirement to revise the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new airworthiness limitations and adding certain airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions impose an additional burden over those proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Research, Engineering & Development Advisory Committee meeting.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Abilene Regional Airport, Abilene, Texas under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

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 collections of information was published on January 17, 2017.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-08- 01, for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2014-08-01 currently requires an inspection for part numbers of the interconnecting struts and, for affected interconnecting struts, identification of the part and serial numbers of the associated target and proximity sensors and replacement or re-identification of the flap interconnecting strut if necessary. Since we issued AD 2014-08-01, we have determined that certain airplanes must be inspected to verify the interconnecting strut part number. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as a surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and remove Class E airspace designated as an extension of Class D airspace at Kenosha Regional Airport, Kenosha, WI. The FAA is proposing this action due to the decommissioning of the Kenosha VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) facilities, which provided navigation guidance for portions of the affected routes. This action would enhance the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. Additionally, the airport name and geographic coordinates would be adjusted in the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

We are revising an earlier notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for certain Airbus Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, and -300 series airplanes; and Model A340-500 and -600 series airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by including new inspection locations for certain airplanes, and removing incorrect part numbers. We are proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions impose an additional burden over those proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF, and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking found at a certain fuselage frame inner chord. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for any cracking of a certain fuselage frame inner chord; for certain airplanes, an identification of the material of a certain fuselage frame inner chord; and applicable corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2013-2017 Volkswagen CC and MY 2012-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 126, Electronic Stability Control Systems for Light Vehicles. Volkswagen filed a noncompliance report dated March 1, 2017. Volkswagen also petitioned NHTSA on March 2, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.