Department of Transportation April 13, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the Small Business in Transportation Coalition's (SBTC) request for reconsideration of its application for exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) rule that was denied by the Agency on July 17, 2019. SBTC has resubmitted its application for exemption from the ELD requirements for all motor carriers with fewer than 50 employees, including, but not limited to, one-person private and for-hire owner-operators of commercial motor vehicles used in interstate commerce. SBTC believes that the exemption would not have any adverse impacts on operational safety as motor carriers and drivers would remain subject to the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations, as well as the requirements to maintain paper records of duty status (RODs). FMCSA has analyzed SBTC's petition for reconsideration and the public comments received and has determined that neither the applicant nor the commenters provided information that would change the Agency's previous decision to deny the exemption.

This action proposes to amend the Class D airspace at the Mountain Home Air Force Base Airport by removing the extensions to the northwest and southeast of the airport. This action also proposes to amend the Class E surface area to match the new dimensions of the Class D. Additionally, this action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface by properly sizing the area to contain arriving IFR aircraft descending below 1,500 feet above the surface and departing IFR aircraft until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface. This action also proposes to properly size the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface to contain IFR aircraft transitioning to/ from the en route environment. Further, this action proposes to remove Mountain Home Municipal Airport from the Class E airspace legal description for the area extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface. A notice of proposed rulemaking and Final Rule, FAA-2019- 0972, have been published to establish Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface, for Mountain Home Municipal Airport. Lastly, this action proposes two administrative corrections to the airspace legal descriptions.

This action establishes Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface, at Owyhee Airport, Owyhee, NV. Class E airspace facilitates the airport's transition from visual flight rules to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. The airspace, to the extent possible, contains IFR arrival and departure procedures at the airport. The first area extends upward from 700 feet above the surface. The second area extends upward from 1,200 feet above the surface.

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 February 7, 2020.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-22-24 for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (RRD) RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-B-75 model turbofan engines. AD 2008- 22-24 required initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections (USIs), both on-wing and during overhaul, to detect cracks on the installed low-pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade roots. AD 2008-22-24 also required re-lubrication of the fan blade roots according to accumulated life cycles. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2008-22-24 and extends these requirements to engines operating under additional flight profiles and adds the RB211-535E4-C-37 model turbofan engines to the applicability of this AD. This AD requires initial and repetitive USIs to detect cracks on the installed LPC fan blade roots, both on-wing and at engine overhaul, and replacement of certain blades that exceed the criteria established by the manufacturer. This AD was prompted by small cracks found in the LPC fan blade roots on the concave root flank during an engine overhaul. 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 ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 airplanes and Model ATR72 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of interference and chafing between a propeller brake hydraulic pipe and an electrical wire bundle bracket screw installed in the underwing box of the right-hand (RH) engine nacelle. This AD requires modification of the electrical wiring routing in the engine nacelles, a one-time detailed visual inspection (DVI) of the propeller brake hydraulic pipe and electrical wire bundle bracket screw head in the underwing box of the RH engine nacelle 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.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-16-09 and AD 2019-03-20, which applied to Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. Those ADs required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new and more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations for airplane structures and systems. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by the FAA's 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 certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during ALTS CAP or (V) ALTS CAP mode, the flight guidance/autopilot does not account for engine failure while capturing an altitude. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with new warnings for ``Autoflight'' and ``Engine Failure in Climb During ALTS CAP.'' The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

On March 31, 2020, FRA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed metrics and minimum standards for measuring the performance and service quality of intercity passenger train operations. FRA is announcing a public hearing to provide members of the public an opportunity to provide oral comments on the proposal. The public hearing will be held telephonically, instead of in-person.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

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.