Department of Transportation 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1 Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

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, the FAA's exemption process. 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 FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-20- 02, which applied to all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. AD 2019-20-02 required repetitive inspections for cracking of the left- and right-hand side outboard chords of frame fittings and failsafe straps at a certain station around two fasteners, and repair if any cracking is found. This AD also requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the left- and right-hand side outboard chords of frame fittings and failsafe straps at a certain station, but expands the inspection to the area around eight fasteners, and also requires repair if any cracking is found. This AD was prompted by a determination that the inspection area needs to be expanded. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) established the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program that allows a State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, and compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Federal highway projects. When a State assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely responsible and liable for carrying out the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu of FHWA. This program mandates annual audits during each of the first 4 years of State participation to ensure compliance with program requirements. This notice makes available the final report of Ohio Department of Transportation's (ODOT) third audit under the program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Aviointeriors S.p.A. (Aviointeriors) Centaurus passenger seats with a specific life vest pouch assembly installed. This AD was prompted by reports of life vest pouches that were installed incorrectly on certain seats. This AD requires inspection of the life vest pouch assembly and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacement of the life vest pouch assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-22- 18, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A330-243, -243F, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes. AD 2012-22-18 required repetitive inspections of the three inner acoustic panels of both engine air inlet (intake) cowls to detect disbonding, and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD continues to require all actions required by AD 2012-22-18, with a reduced initial compliance time and reduced repetitive inspection intervals. These actions are specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by additional reports of engine air inlet cowl collapse. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-243, A330-243F, A330-341, A330-342, and A330-343 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of thrust reverser unit (TRU) beams found with evidence of thermally caused material degradation in the rearmost section of the TRU beam at certain latches. This AD requires an inspection for heat damage of each left-hand and right-hand TRU beam as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. Depending on findings, this AD might also require inspections of the TRU beam latches, the TRU beam clevises, and the thrust reverser outer fixed structure rear area; corrective actions; and replacement of TRU beams. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA proposes to rescind the requirement that drivers of passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) operating in interstate commerce, submit, and motor carriers retain, driver-vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) when the driver has neither found nor been made aware of any vehicle defects or deficiencies (no-defect DVIRs). This proposed rule would remove an information collection burden without adversely impacting safety.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440), CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of power control unit (PCU) rod end fractures due to pitting corrosion. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new maintenance tasks. This AD also requires detailed inspections of the elevator PCU rod ends and applicable corrective actions. This AD also prohibits using certain aircraft maintenance manual tasks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) required the Secretary to update the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). Through this NPRM, FHWA proposes to update the NBIS to address MAP-21 requirements, incorporate technological advancements including the use of unmanned aerial systems, and address ambiguities identified since the last update to the regulation in 2009. The FHWA also proposes to repeal two outdated regulations: The Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program and the Discretionary Bridge Candidate Rating Factor.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is accepting for consideration the application filed on October 11, 2019, by Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company (B&LE or Applicant).\1\ The application seeks Board approval for B&LE, an indirect wholly owned rail carrier subsidiary of Canadian National Railway Company (CNR), to acquire from CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), and to operate approximately 236.3 miles of rail line in New York. This proposal is referred to as the Transaction.

On October 9, 2019, Transportation Demand Management Holdings, LLC (Holdings), a noncarrier, filed an application for Holdings to acquire control of Badger Bus Transportation Group, Inc. (Badger Group), a noncarrier that controls, among other entities, an interstate and intrastate motor carrier, Badger Coaches, Inc. (Badger Coaches), from Badger Group's shareholders, David H. Meier, John R. Meier, and James A. Meier, and the various family trusts they control (collectively, Sellers). The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction, and, if no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action. Persons wishing to oppose the application must follow the rules at 49 CFR 1182.5 and 1182.8.

This action proposes to remove Class E airspace at Grundy, VA, as Grundy Municipal Airport has been abandoned, and controlled airspace is no longer required. This action would enhance the safety and management of controlled airspace within the national airspace system.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the attachment screws of each main gearbox (MGB) suspension bar rear attachment fitting, and depending on the outcome, applying a sealing compound, performing further inspections, and replacing affected parts. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of an elongated attachment screw and loss of tightening torque of the nut. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FHWA is issuing this notice of intent to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Charleston County, South Carolina.

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 following collection of information was published on August 13, 2019. The collection involves information applicants must provide on an application for an FAA medical certificate. The information to be collected will be used to evaluate an applicant's medical fitness.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Models E33, E33A, E33C, F33, G33, 35- C33, 35-C33A, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, 36, and certain Models F33A, F33C, V35B, and A36 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the right aileron flight control cable end fittings (terminal attachment fittings) and replacing any damaged cable assembly. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked and fractured right aileron flight control cable end fittings. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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, the FAA's exemption process. 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.

Great Dane, LLC (Great Dane) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019 Great Dane Freedom Platform trailers do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 223, Rear Impact Guards, and FMVSS No. 224, Rear Impact Protection. Great Dane filed a noncompliance report dated January 2, 2019, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on January 2, 2019, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Great Dane's petition.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A318-112, A319-111, A319-112, A319-113, A319-114, A319-115, A319-131, A319-132, A319-133, A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320-216, A320-231, A320-232, A320-233, A320-251N, and A320- 271N airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of marginal clearance between certain fuel sensor covers on both left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) wings. This proposed AD would require the replacement of certain fuel level sensor brackets, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 its review and approval and invites public comment. The FMCSA requests approval to revise and extend an existing ICR titled, ``Hazardous Materials Safety Permits.'' This ICR requires companies holding permits to develop and implement communications plans that allow for the periodic tracking of the shipments. A record of the communications that includes the name of the driver, identification of the vehicle, permitted material(s) being transported, and the date, time and location of each contact may be kept by either the driver (e.g., recorded in the log book) or the company. These records must be kept, either physically or electronically, for at least six months at the company's principal place of business or readily available to the employees at the company's principal place of business. This ICR is being revised only to the extent that the number of motor carriers with an active Hazardous Materials (HM) Safety Permit has decreased from 1,304 to 987.

With this notice, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informs applicants for airman medical certification with insulin- treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) of a new protocol available to evaluate pilots seeking to exercise pilot privileges as airline transport, commercial, or private pilots. The FAA may only certificate pilots with ITDM through the special-issuance process with case-by-case assessment of overall risk and available risk mitigation. Previously available medical science, treatment, and monitoring have allowed the FAA to safely provide special issue third-class medical certificates for private pilot privileges since 1996, but was not sufficient to meet the higher levels of safety demanded for applicants considered for airline transport or commercial pilot duties. The new FAA risk assessment protocol, based on established advances in medical science since 1996, makes it possible to mitigate flight safety risk so that applicants seeking first- or second-class special-issuance medical certification may be considered for the exercise of either airline transport or commercial pilot privileges. Applicants for third-class special issuance may apply under the existing third-class-only protocol or the new protocol.