Department of Transportation March 28, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on Charles Machine Works, Inc.'s (CMW) application for an exemption from the Agency's prohibition against the use of gravity or syphon-fed fuel systems for auxiliary equipment installed on or used in connection with commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). CMW believes that the use of gravity or syphon-fed fuel systems for auxiliary equipment that operates only when the CMV is parked would maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that it would achieve without the requested exemption.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from nine individuals for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for eight individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA requests public comment on an application for exemption from Laydon Composites Ltd. (Laydon) to allow motor carriers to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) that are equipped with Laydon's OptiTail\TM\ aerodynamic device with rear identification lamps and rear clearance lamps that are mounted lower than currently permitted by the Agency's regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) require rear identification lamps and rear clearance lamps to be located ``as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle.'' While the OptiTail\TM\ aerodynamic device is currently mounted slightly below the roof of the vehicle, Laydon states that this offset prevents the device from delivering the maximum available fuel economy benefit as opposed to mounting it flush with the top of the vehicle which may block the visibility of the rear identification lamps and rear clearance lamps. Laydon believes that locating the rear identification lamps and rear clearance lamps lower on the vehicle, on a horizontal plane with other required lamps (stop, turn, and tail lamps) as is done on a flatbed trailer or an intermodal chassis, will maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-22-05 for certain Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4164, PW4164-1D, PW4168, PW4168-1D, PW4168A, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 model turbofan engines. AD 2016-22-05 required initial and repetitive inspections of the affected fuel nozzles and their replacement with parts eligible for installation. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the affected fuel nozzles and fuel nozzle supply manifold assemblies, replacement of the affected fuel nozzles with parts eligible for installation, and the installation of new brackets and clamps on the fuel nozzle supply manifold assemblies. This AD was prompted by several instances of fuel leaks on PW engines with the Talon IIB combustion chamber configuration installed. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice announces that PHMSA will host four public meetings during 2019 in advance of certain international meetings. For each of these meetings, PHMSA will solicit public input on current proposals. The first meeting will be held in preparation to the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) Working Group 19 meeting (WG/19) being held April 1-5, 2019, in Montreal, Canada. The second meeting will be held in preparation to the 55th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) being held July 1-5, 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland. The third meeting will be held in preparation to the 27th meeting of the ICAO DGP (DGP/27) being held September 9-20, 2019, in Montreal, Canada. Finally, the fourth meeting will be held in preparation to the 56th session of the UNSCOE TDG being held December 2-11, 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland. Time and Location: Each public meeting will take place approximately two weeks preceding the international meeting at DOT Headquarters, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Specific information for each meeting will be posted when available on the PHMSA website at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/ international-program/international-program-overview under ``Upcoming Events.'' This information will include the public meeting date, time, conference call-in number, and details for advanced registration.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500 turbofan engine models. This AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections (BSIs) of the diffuser case M-flange and, if it fails the inspection, replacement of the diffuser case with a part eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by a crack found at the diffuser case M-flange during overhaul inspection. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Hemphill Brothers Leasing Company, LLC (Hemphill) has submitted a petition, dated April 5, 2018, for a temporary exemption from a shoulder belt requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection,'' for side- facing seats on motorcoaches. NHTSA is publishing this document in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions, and requests comments on the petition and this notice. NHTSA has made no judgment on the merits of Hemphill's petition, except to note a few aspects of the petition that appear not to accord with the provisions of Part 555.