Department of Transportation May 6, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Mercedes-Benz AG (``MBAG'') and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (``MBUSA'') (collectively, ``Mercedes-Benz'') has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, A-Class, GLA-Class, and GLB-Class motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. Mercedes-Benz filed a noncompliance report dated January 27, 2020, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on February 10, 2020, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces receipt of Mercedes-Benz's petition.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) adopts a final rule that requires Class I carriers to directly bill the shipper for demurrage when the shipper and warehouseman agree to that arrangement and so notify the rail carrier.

On July 27, 2017, FMCSA announced a demonstration program to evaluate the preventability of eight categories of crashes through submissions of Requests for Data Review to its national data correction system known as DataQs. On August 5, 2019, based on experiences with the demonstration program, FMCSA proposed a Crash Preventability Determination Program with a streamlined process. FMCSA proposed to modify the Safety Measurement System to exclude crashes with not preventable determinations from the prioritization algorithm and proposed noting the not preventable determinations in the Pre- Employment Screening Program. This notice responds to comments received on the proposal and announces the start of the Agency's new Crash Preventability Determination Program.

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.

This action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2020, amending the Class D airspace at Joe Williams NOLF, Meridian, MS; Key Field, Meridian, MS; and NAS Meridian/ McCain Field, Meridian, MS; the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to Class D airspace at Key Field; and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Key Field, Joe Williams NOLF, and NAS Meridian/McCain Field. A cardinal direction was inadvertently omitted from the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Key Field. This action corrects that omission.

This action proposes to amend the Class D airspace and the Class E surface airspace at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, St. Louis, MO, and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, St. Louis, MO, Spirit of St. Louis Airport, and St. Charles County Smartt Airport, St. Charles, MO, which is contained within the St. Louis, MO, airspace legal description, and removing St. Louis Regional Airport, Alton/St. Louis, IL, which is contained within the St. Louis, MO, airspace legal description. The FAA is proposing these actions as the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Cardinal VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program; and the decommissioning of the outer markers for runways 12R, 24, and 30L at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The names of St. Louis Lambert International Airport and the Spirit of St. Louis: RWY 25L-LOC would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the necessary sealant was not applied to the side of body (SOB) slot as a result of a production drawing that provided unclear SOB slot sealant application instructions. This proposed AD would require a general visual inspection for insufficient sealant in the SOB slot, and related investigative and corrective actions. 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 Airbus SAS Model A330-202, -203, -223, -223F, -243, -243F, -302, -303, -323, -343, and -941 airplanes; and Model A340-313, -541, and -642 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the results of laboratory tests on non-rechargeable lithium batteries installed in emergency locator transmitters (ELT), which highlighted a lack of protection against currents of 28 volts DC or 115 volts AC that could lead to thermal runaway and a battery fire. This proposed AD would require modifying a certain ELT by installing a diode between the ELT and the terminal block, 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.