Department of Transportation August 24, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration is requesting public comment on a request by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA), to release approximately 59.093 acres of land at McGhee Tyson Airport from federal obligations. This release is being issued for the relocation of the existing alignment of State Route 115 (U.S. 129/Alcoa Highway) at the location commonly referred to as the Hunt Road interchange.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) proposes to modify its rules pertaining to certain payment, filing, and service procedures. Many of these rules are outdated and do not reflect current technology. As explained in this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Board proposes updating its regulations relating to methods of payment, filing procedures, electronic service of Board decisions, and fees for copying, printing, and related services. The proposed updates are intended to promote increased use of electronic filing and payment systems and result in cost savings to both the Board and the public, while enhancing the accessibility of information relating to proceedings and functions of the Board.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. 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 propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50, MYSTERE-FALCON 900, and FALCON 900EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked reinforcing straps (doublers) on the ailerons of airplanes equipped with blended winglets. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the upper and lower reinforcing straps on the ailerons, and replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final. The action relates to the approval of the Re-Evaluation for the State Route (SR) 509 Completion Project in King County, State of Washington.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are proposing the ``Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021- 2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks'' (SAFE Vehicles Rule). The SAFE Vehicles Rule, if finalized, would amend certain existing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks and establish new standards, all covering model years 2021 through 2026. More specifically, NHTSA is proposing new CAFE standards for model years 2022 through 2026 and amending its 2021 model year CAFE standards because they are no longer maximum feasible standards, and EPA is proposing to amend its carbon dioxide emissions standards for model years 2021 through 2025 because they are no longer appropriate and reasonable in addition to establishing new standards for model year 2026. The preferred alternative is to retain the model year 2020 standards (specifically, the footprint target curves for passenger cars and light trucks) for both programs through model year 2026, but comment is sought on a range of alternatives discussed throughout this document. Compared to maintaining the post-2020 standards set forth in 2012, current estimates indicate that the proposed SAFE Vehicles Rule would save over 500 billion dollars in societal costs and reduce highway fatalities by 12,700 lives (over the lifetimes of vehicles through MY 2029). U.S. fuel consumption would increase by about half a million barrels per day (2-3 percent of total daily consumption, according to the Energy Information Administration) and would impact the global climate by 3/1000th of one degree Celsius by 2100, also when compared to the standards set forth in 2012.