Department of Transportation January 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document announces the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) receipt of a petition for a decision that model year (MY) 2015 Ford Fusion SE passenger cars (PCs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2015 Ford Fusion SE PCs) and are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This document announces the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) receipt of a petition for a decision that model year (MY) 2015 A. Smith GT Bentley/Bodex Model: T5 trailers that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the United States because they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Thales AVS France SAS (Thales) Global Positioning System/ Satellite Based Augmentation System (GPS/SBAS) receivers installed on airplanes and helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that Thales GPS/SBAS receivers provided, under certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. This proposed AD would require the installation of a software update to the aircraft navigation database and insertion of a change to the applicable airplane flight manual (AFM). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from McKee Foods Transportation, LLC (MFT) for a renewal of its exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) regulation pertaining to the use of a sleeper berth. The exemption renewal would allow MFT team drivers to take the equivalent of 10 consecutive hours off duty by splitting sleeper berth time into two periods totaling 10 hours, provided neither of the two periods is less than 3 hours. MFT currently holds an exemption for the period March 27, 2015, through March 27, 2020. FMCSA requests public comment on MFT's application for exemption. The application for a renewal is available for review in the docket referenced at the beginning of this notice.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-19- 26, which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes. AD 2018-19-26 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD continues to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. 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 A318 series airplanes; Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320 series airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during airplane boarding a loud bang was heard. A subsequent inspection revealed that one emergency escape slide/raft was found with zero reservoir pressure, due to a burst rupture disk assembly in the inflation reservoir, which was probably caused by a manufacturing defect. This AD requires repetitive checks of the pressure gauges on the inflation reservoir of each emergency escape slide/raft to determine the amount of pressure and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions, 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.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to announce a public meeting for the Pipeline Research and Development (R&D) Forum. PHMSA periodically holds this forum to generate a national research agenda that identifies technical challenges and fosters solutions to improve pipeline safety and protect the environment.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $454.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020 funds under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (CFDA#20.526). As required by federal public transportation law and subject to funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively to assist in the financing of capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, purchase or lease buses and related equipment, and to rehabilitate, purchase, construct or lease bus-related facilities. Projects may include costs incidental to the acquisition of buses or to the construction of facilities, such as the costs of related workforce development and training activities, and project administration expenses. FTA may award additional funds if they are made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

This action proposes to amend the Class D airspace at Fort Worth Spinks Airport, Fort Worth, TX, and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Bourland Field, Fort Worth, TX, and Mesquite Metro Airport, Mesquite, TX, which are contained within the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, airspace legal description, and Stephenville Clark Regional Airport, Stephenville, TX. The FAA is proposing these actions as the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Glen Rose VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at Bourland Field and Stephenville Clark Regional Airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program, and to bring the airspace legal description for Mesquite Metro Airport into compliance with FAA Order 7400.2M, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. The geographic coordinates for Fort Worth Spinks Airport; Bridgeport Municipal Airport, Bridgeport, TX; and Stephenville Clark Regional Airport and the names of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX; Lancaster Regional Airport, Lancaster, TX; Bourland Field, and Stephenville Clark Regional Airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ada Regional Airport, Ada, OK. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of the decommissioning of the Ada VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at this airport. The name of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This action proposes to amend the Class E surface area airspace and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ely Municipal Airport, Ely, MN. The FAA is proposing these actions as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Ely VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-148 and V-345 in the vicinity of Hayward, WI, and removes V- 177 in the vicinity of Ely, MN, and Hayward, WI. The VOR Federal airways modifications and removal are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Ely, MN, and Hayward, WI, VOR navigation aids (NAVAIDs), which provide navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The Ely and Hayward VORs are being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action amends the Class E surface airspace and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface airspace legal descriptions for Huntsville, AL, by updating the airport reference for Redstone AAF, AL, to include the state identifier ``AL'' to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database and comply with FAA Order 7400.2M, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. This action does not change the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the airspace.

This document announces a public meeting for Pipeline Safety officials to discuss with pipeline safety stakeholders the implementation of the gas transmission and the hazardous liquid pipeline final rules published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2019. PHMSA is making available for comment draft frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers for both final rules that will be used to facilitate the implementation of the final rules. PHMSA will also discuss the benefits of pipeline operators developing an effective safety culture, including safety management systems.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew an exemption for one individual 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 exemption enables this individual who has had one or more seizures and is taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 130 individuals who requested an exemption from the vision standard in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all SAP Model IO-360-series and O-360-series reciprocating engines and certain Lycoming Engines (Lycoming) Model AEIO-360-, IO-360-, and O-360-series reciprocating engines with a certain SAP crankshaft assembly installed. This SAP crankshaft assembly is installed as original equipment on the affected SAP engines and as a replacement part under parts manufacturer approval (PMA) on the affected Lycoming engines. This proposed AD was prompted by three crankshaft assembly failures that resulted in the loss of engine power and immediate or emergency landings. This proposed AD would require the removal from service of all affected crankshaft assemblies. 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 Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Hamilton Sundstrand) 54H60 model propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by the failure of a propeller blade that resulted in the loss of the airplane. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive eddy current inspections (ECI) of the affected propeller blades and replacement of the propeller blades that fail the inspection. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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.