Department of Transportation August 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by FHWA that are final. This notice announces to the public that FHWA, as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) lead agency, circulated a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Section De Minimis Determination (October 19, 2018) for the US 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project (project) and issued a Record of Decision (ROD) (August 2, 2019). The actions relate to a proposed highway realignment project on US Highway 50 (US 50) in the City of South Lake Tahoe, California and Stateline, Nevada. The project would realign US 50 in the Stateline casino corridor area (postmile 79.00 to postmile 80.44) and convert the existing US 50 roadway, between a location southwest of Pioneer Trail in the City of South Lake Tahoe, California and Lake Parkway in Stateline, Nevada, into a two[hyphen]lane local street (one travel lane in each direction). Realigned US 50 would be four lanes (two travel lanes in each direction) with left-turn pockets at intersections; it would begin at a relocated Pioneer Trail intersection to the west of the existing intersection, and proceed south along existing Moss and Echo Roads. The realigned highway would then turn east onto the Montreal Road alignment, passing behind (southeast of) the Heavenly Village Center shopping complex, and continuing along the existing Montreal Road and Lake Parkway alignments. The proposed action includes a new, two-lane roundabout at the intersection of US 50 and Lake Parkway in Stateline, Nevada. The affected segment of existing US 50 is approximately 1.1 miles long. The existing right-of-way of the segment of US 50 between Pioneer Trail and Lake Parkwaythe new ``Main Street''would be relinquished to the City of South Lake Tahoe in California, and Douglas County in Nevada. Realigned US 50 would become California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) right-of-way. Between Park Avenue and Lake Parkway, the new ``Main Street'' would be reduced to one travel lane in each direction, with landscaped medians, and turn pockets at major intersections and driveways. Expanded sidewalks, a Class IV bicycle route (i.e., cycle track), and a transit circulator are proposed to be implemented in this section within the tourist core to improve pedestrian safety and encourage use of alternative transportation modes. A pedestrian bridge would be constructed over realigned US 50 approximately 250 feet south of the proposed new intersection at the Harrah's entrance driveway near the California/Nevada state line connecting Van Sickle Bi-State Park to the Stateline area. The proposed action would result in displacing residents and would construct replacement housing for those residents before removing existing housing and constructing the roadway improvements in California so that residents displaced by the project may be relocated to the newly constructed housing if they so choose during the relocation process. The action taken by FHWA includes approval of the project.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to seek public comments on a request for a special permit, seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about their intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of a new web-based tool to assist aircraft operators in achieving regulatory compliance. Depending on the specific nature of the operator's route of flight, varying levels of information are necessary for the FAA to process pre-flight availability predictions for navigation and surveillance, and, if needed, an ATC authorization request via this web-based tool. This collection involves planned routes of flight, aircraft avionics equipment, and may require identifying information about the requester. The information collected will be used to predict whether an aircraft flying the proposed route of flight will have sufficient position accuracy and integrity for:

The Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program allows a State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for review, consultation, and compliance for Federal highway projects. When a State assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely responsible and liable for the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu of FHWA. This program mandates annual audits during each of the first 4 years to ensure the State's compliance with program requirements. This is the second audit of the Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) performance of its responsibilities under the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Assignment Program). This notice announces and solicits comments on the second audit report for the FDOT.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a new information collection. The collection involves an aircraft operator's request for a privacy ICAO address through a web-based application process. The information to be collected is necessary to qualify for the authorized use of the privacy ICAO address services and for monitoring to support continued airworthiness and enforcement activities.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-07- 12, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2016-07-12 required repetitive inspections for damage and cracking of the aft fixed fairing (AFF) of the pylons, and repair if necessary. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2016- 07-12 and requires additional repetitive inspections at the upper spar at a certain rib area and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in an European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking of the AFF of the pylons due to fatigue damage of the structure and reports of cracks on a certain rib of a modified AFF of the pylons. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a front engine mount primary pin which moved axially out of place; investigation revealed that incorrect washers had been installed on the engine mount pins. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the washers installed on the front and rear engine mount primary pins and thrust link pins of both engines, depending on configuration, and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA proposes amendments to the Agency's financial assistance programs resulting from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, including amendments based on the funding formula recommendations derived from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Formula Working Group (working group). This proposal would reorganize the Agency's regulations to create a standalone subpart for the High Priority Program. It would also include other programmatic changes to reduce redundancies, require the use of 3-year MCSAP commercial vehicle safety plans (CVSPs), and align the financial assistance programs with FMCSA's current enforcement and compliance programs.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burden. On June 14, 2019, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., (Volkswagen) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019 Audi A6 and Audi A7 motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. Volkswagen filed a noncompliance report dated March 27, 2019, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on April 17, 2019, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces receipt of Volkswagen's petition.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) is issuing a final statement of enforcement priorities to apprise the public of its enforcement focus with respect to the transportation of service animals in the cabin of aircraft. The Department regulates the transportation of service animals under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and its implementing regulations.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-02-06 for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. AD 2016-02-06 requires inspecting certain tail rotor (T/R) pitch link bearing bores for corrosion and pitting. AD 2016-02-06 also requires a repetitive inspection of the sealant and repeating the inspections for corrosion and pitting if any sealant is missing. Since the FAA issued AD 2016-02-06, the FAA determined additional part-numbered T/R pitch link assemblies (links) are affected by the same unsafe condition and an additional repetitive inspection is necessary to address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2016-02-06, expand the applicability, and add a repetitive inspection. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Marion Municipal Airport, Marion, OH. This action is due to an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Marion localizer/distance measuring equipment (LOC/DME) navigation aid, which provided navigation information to the instrument procedures at this airport. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

These special conditions are issued for the The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 747-8 series airplane. This airplane, as modified by Boeing 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 is associated with the replacement and re-certification of existing cooktops with advanced technology induction coil cooktops in the main deck galleys on a Boeing Model 747-8 series airplane. The proposed modification is limited to removing the existing cooktops and replacing them with new technology cooktops. No changes to the galley surfaces, smoke detection system, ventilation system, warning systems, and fire suppression systems are included in this modification. 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants collection of information was published on June 12, 2019. The collection involves information demonstrating that a launch or reentry operation involving a human participant will meet the risk criteria and requirements to ensure public safety. The information to be collected is necessary for the FAA to assess crew qualification and training; for operators to inform space flight participants and crew members of the risks associated with launch and reentry activities; for the implementation of waiver of claims; and to ensure environmental control and life support systems and other systems adequately protect public health and safety.

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant \1\ funding for eligible projects under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. CRISI Program funding under this notice is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (2019 Appropriation). The opportunities described in this notice are made available under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 20.325, ``Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements.''