Department of Transportation 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 30 days of public comment. FMCSA proposes a pilot program to allow temporary regulatory relief from the Agency's sleeper berth regulation for a limited number of commercial drivers who have a valid commercial driver's license (CDL), and who regularly use a sleeper berth to accumulate their required 10 hours of non-duty work status. During the pilot program, participating drivers would have the option to split their sleeper berth time within parameters specified by FMCSA. Driver metrics would be collected for the duration of the study, and participants' safety performance and fatigue levels would be analyzed. This pilot program seeks to produce statistically reliable evidence on the question as to whether split sleeper berth time affects driver safety performance and fatigue levels.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 41 individuals from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 777-300ER airplanes with high-wall suites installed in the passenger cabin. This installation is novel or unusual, and the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this interior configuration. 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 are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of skin doublers that disbonded from their skin panels. This AD requires repetitive inspections of fuselage skin panels, and applicable on-condition actions. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), on behalf of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG (PAG), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo and Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 101, Controls and Displays, and FMVSS No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. PCNA filed a noncompliance report dated March 16, 2017. PCNA also petitioned NHTSA on March 17, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.

NHTSA is announcing a public meeting to seek input regarding the recently released Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety. In this document, NHTSA provides Voluntary Guidance to support the automotive industry and other key stakeholders as they consider and design best practices for the testing and deployment of Automated Driving Systems (ADSs), Best Practices for Legislatures, as well as a framework for States to develop procedures and considerations for the safe operation of ADSs on public roadways. The objective of the public meeting is to identify if further clarification is necessary to support voluntary implementation of the new Voluntary Guidance. The public meeting will be an open listening session style to provide as great an opportunity for comment as possible. All comments will be oral and any presentations should be submitted to the docket for consideration.

The Office of the Secretary of Transportation invites the public to comment on the draft DOT Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is adopting a final action to update one of the screening criteria used to create the ``composite railroad'' for the Board's annual cost-of-capital determination. This final action requires a company's stock to be listed on either the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ), rather than on either the NYSE or American Stock Exchange (AMEX), as the AMEX no longer exists.

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, this aspect of the FAA's regulatory activities. 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.

The FHWA and the State of Arizona, acting by and through its Department of Transportation (State), propose participation of the State in the Categorical Exclusion Assignment program. This Program allows FHWA to assign to States its authority and responsibility for determining whether certain designated activities within the geographic boundaries of the State, as specified in the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), are categorically excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900, FALCON 900EX, FALCON 2000, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a loose screw on certain slat mechanical stop assemblies, and punctures in certain fuel caps. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This AD requires adding operating limitations to a rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD is prompted by test results showing decoupling of the flight director (FD) in certain flight conditions. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-08- 06 for British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Models HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200 and 3101, and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as the need for airworthiness limitations for critical components in the main and nose landing gear assemblies. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document revises the list of vehicles not originally manufactured to conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that NHTSA has decided to be eligible for importation. This list is published in an appendix to the agency's regulations that prescribe procedures for import eligibility decisions. The list has been revised to add all vehicles that NHTSA has decided to be eligible for importation since October 1, 2016, and to remove all previously listed vehicles that are now more than 25 years old and need no longer comply with all applicable FMVSS to be lawfully imported. NHTSA is required by statute to publish this list annually in the Federal Register.

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 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a revision of certain airworthiness limitation items (ALI) documents, which require more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate the maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Rosebud, SD. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new special instrument approach procedures developed at Rosebud Sioux Tribal Airport, for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

We are adopting 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 AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the door sill area of the aft cargo door. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the aft cargo door lower torsion box area, and corrective actions 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 Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream 100, Astra SPX, and 1125 Westwind Astra airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that the main entrance door (MED) opened during flight, and by the determination that the ``CABIN DOOR UNLOCK'' crew alerting system (CAS) message may extinguish before the handle latch pin is fully engaged. This AD requires accomplishing an updated rigging procedure for the adjustment of the MED microswitch. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to re-affirm renewal of an exemption granted to C.R. England from the regulation that requires a commercial learner's permit (CLP) holder to be accompanied by a commercial driver's license (CDL) holder with the proper CDL class and endorsements, seated in the front seat of the vehicle while the CLP holder performs behind-the-wheel training on public roads or highways. Under this exemption, a CLP holder who has documentation of passing the CDL skills test may drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for C.R. England without being accompanied by a CDL holder in the front seat of the vehicle. The exemption enables CLP holders to drive as part of a team like other C.R. England team drivers. FMCSA has analyzed the public comments in response to the exemption renewal and has determined that the renewed exemption, subject to the terms and conditions imposed, will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant part of United Parcel Service Inc.'s (UPS) application for a limited 5-year exemption from various provisions of the mandate to use electronic logging devices (ELD). FMCSA published a final rule in December 2015 that requires most motor carriers and drivers who are currently required to prepare and retain paper records of duty status (RODS) to use ELDs for hours-of-service (HOS) compliance effective December 18, 2017. Among other things, the December 2015 rule requires (1) certain data elements to be automatically recorded when an authorized user logs in or out of an ELD or changes duty status, and (2) a driver's indication of special driving status to reset to none (except in the case of personal use) if the ELD or commercial motor vehicle's (CMV) engine goes through a power-off cycle. FMCSA grants exemptions to allow (1) all motor carriers and drivers that use portable, driver-based ELDs to record engine data only when the driver is in a CMV and the engine is powered, and (2) all motor carriers to configure an ELD with a yard-move mode that does not require a driver to re-input yard-move status every time the tractor is powered off. The Agency has determined that granting these temporary exemptions would not have an adverse impact on safety, and that a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulation would be maintained.