Department of Transportation September 6, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In a notice of applications for exemption; request for comments published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2019, FMCSA announced receipt of applications from five individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle to drive in interstate commerce. The notice contained an error in the Addresses and Supplementary Information sections.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 13 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions 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 104 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirements in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 14 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 announces its decision to exempt 12 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 29 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

By Federal Register notice of Wednesday, July 3, 2019, titled Deepwater Port License Application: Texas GulfLink LLC, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in coordination with the Maritime Administration (MARAD), announced the intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of the Texas GulfLink LLC (Texas GulfLink) deepwater port license application. Publication of that notice began a 30-day scoping process, announced the date and location of a public scoping meeting as well as requested public participation to assist in the identification and determination of the environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. In a Federal Register notice dated Wednesday, August 14, 2019, USCG and MARAD previously advised that the public scoping period for Texas GulfLink would be extended until August 30, 2019. MARAD and USCG have determined that a second extension of the public scoping period for the GulfLink application is necessary to allow the public and interested parties a full 30 days to review the application and provide written feedback to the agencies. This second extension is due to delays in getting the application properly posted on the docket. This Federal Register Notice announces the date of the extended scoping period.

This action proposes to remove VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-61 in its entirety and extend area navigation (RNAV) route T-286 in its place. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the Robinson, KS (RBA), VOR portion of the Robinson VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). The Robinson VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C(M), and S-70C(M1) helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by four incidents of disbonding between the tail rotor (T/R) blade pitch horn and the torque tube. This proposed AD would require recurring visual and tap inspections of the T/R blade, and depending on the outcome, replacing the T/R blade. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of fatigue cracking in the lug root radius of a main landing gear (MLG) aft hanger link lug fitting. This proposed AD would require surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the left and right side MLG aft hanger link lug fitting for cracking, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA proposes to extend the compliance date for the requirement established by the Commercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) final rule that States request information from the Clearinghouse (``query'') before completing certain commercial driver's license (CDL) transactions. The States' compliance with this requirement, currently due to begin on January 6, 2020, would be delayed until January 6, 2023. This proposal would, however, allow States the option to voluntarily request Clearinghouse information beginning on January 6, 2020. As explained further below, the proposed delay of the State query requirement would have no impact on highway safety. The compliance date of January 6, 2020 would remain in place for all other requirements set forth in the Clearinghouse final rule.