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

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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for two individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 77 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 requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for seven 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 renew exemptions for seven 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 renew exemptions for 11 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by occurrences of smoke in the flight deck and flap extension difficulties due to wire chafing on the electrical harness under a certain panel. This proposed AD would require modifying the clamp installation of the electrical routing on a certain rib of the left- and right-hand side of the wing rear spars, 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.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) program requires that a notice of the time, place, and nature of each VISA Joint Planning Advisory Group (JPAG) meeting be published in the Federal Register. On January 14, 2020, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) co-hosted a classified VISA JPAG meeting at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The JPAG is co-chaired by MARAD and USTRANSCOM and is convened jointly. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission were informed of the JPAG meeting prior to its occurrence, in accordance with VISA program requirements. Participants in the JPAG meeting were required to possess a secret clearance due to the classified nature of the event and attendance at the meeting was by invitation only. MARAD and USTRANSCOM invited participating VISA carriers and representatives of maritime labor organizations to attend the meeting. In addition, representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation, MARAD, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Department of Defense (DOD) to include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, USTRANSCOM, the U.S. Navy, the Military Sealift Command, and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, as well as operational elements of Geographic Combatant Commands, were in attendance.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, and 382G airplanes, type certificated in any category; and Model C-130A, C-130B, C-130BL, C-130E, C-130H, C-130H-30, C-130J, C-130J-30, EC-130Q, HC-130H, KC-130H, NC-130B, NC-130, and WC- 130H airplanes, type certificated in the restricted or amateur category. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that two elevator booster assemblies experienced significant hydraulic fluid leaks, caused by fatigue cracks in the actuator cylinder. This AD requires an inspection to determine the part number of the elevator booster actuator, repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the actuator to detect cracking, and replacement of cracked elevator booster assemblies. 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 A300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that indicated that bleed and air conditioning systems were contaminated by hydraulic fluid, and by an investigation that revealed that hydraulic fluid contaminations caused the failure of check valves installed on the hydraulic reservoir air pressurization system. This AD requires repetitive functional tests of the hydraulic reservoir air pressurization lines, and repair or replacement 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.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tahlequah Municipal Airport in Tahlequah, OK. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Tahlequah non- directional radio beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates for the airport in the associated airspace would 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 notification of determination announces FRA's minimum annual random drug and minimum annual random alcohol testing rates for covered employees and for maintenance-of-way (MOW) employees for calendar year 2020.

This action amends low altitude area navigation (RNAV) route T-217 in the vicinity of Springfield, OH, to update the facility type listed for the Springfield, OH (SGH), route point in the T-route description. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) portion of the Springfield VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). No existing route structure or air traffic services are affected by this action.

This action modifies 3 jet routes, 2 high altitude area navigation (RNAV) Q-routes, and 8 VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, and establishes 4 low altitude RNAV T-routes in the vicinity of Houston, TX. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the Hobby, TX, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected ATS routes.

This action modifies the Lansing, MI, Class C airspace area by amending the effective hours to coincide with the associated radar approach control facility hours of operation. The designated boundaries and altitudes of the Lansing, MI, Class C airspace area are not changed. Class C airspace areas are predicated on an operational air traffic control tower serviced by a radar approach control facility. Additionally, this action establishes Class D airspace at Capital Region International Airport, MI, when the associated radar approach control facility is not in operation.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received written notice, dated November 26, 2019, from the Town of Grove Hill Alabama requesting the permanent closure of Grove Hill Municipal Airport (3A0) and the removal of the airport from the NPIAS. The FAA hereby publishes the intent of the Town of Grove Hill's notice of permanent closure of Grove Hill Municipal Airport in accordance with U.S.C. 46319(b).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an in-flight event where a flightcrew observed a SPOILER FAIL message and had difficulty maintaining roll control of the airplane. This proposed AD would require revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with procedures related to roll spoiler failures that reduce the flightcrew workload during this type of failure scenario. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the NOI for the preparation of an EIS to study a proposed intermodal highway project in Washington and Benton Counties, Arkansas is being rescinded. The NOI was published in the Federal Register on February 4, 2000, and a draft EIS was released in October 2012. This rescission is based on important changes in the existing infrastructure that allows for a substantially reduced scope of work.

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on October 7, 2019.