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

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 214ST helicopters. This AD was prompted by the discovery of bolts with nonconforming external thread root radii. This AD requires removing the affected bolts from service and prohibits installing an affected bolt on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document responds to a joint Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) that was submitted on October 31, 2019, by the American Gas Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Public Gas Association, and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (the Associations). In the Petition, the Associations requested that PHMSA amend the final rule titled ``Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines: MAOP Reconfirmation, Expansion of Assessment Requirements, and Other Related Amendments'' (Gas Transmission Final Rule) published in the Federal Register on October 1, 2019. In response to the Petition, PHMSA is amending the Gas Transmission Final Rule to address the requirements for recordkeeping and the applicability of maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) reconfirmation. The amendments are intended to clarify the regulatory requirements identified in the Petition without adversely affecting safety.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, at Hermiston Municipal Airport. This action would ensure the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

This action establishes seven new high altitude area navigation (RNAV) routes (Q-routes), and modifies one existing Q-route, in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route (NEC ACR) Project. This action improves the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) by expanding the availability of RNAV routing and reducing the dependency on ground-based navigational systems.

This notice provides program information and guidance for implementation of the supplemental fiscal year (FY) 2020 apportionments and allocations appropriated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information. This document describes a collection of information for NHTSA's planned Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (AV TEST) Initiative for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval. The AV TEST Initiative involves the voluntary collection of information from entities testing vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) and from States and local authorities involved in the regulation of ADS testing. The purpose of this collection is to provide information to the public about ADS testing operations in the U.S. and applicable State and local laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Nissan North America, Inc., (Nissan) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019 Nissan Armada motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Nissan filed a noncompliance report dated July 1, 2019. Nissan also petitioned NHTSA on July 24, 2019, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the grant of Nissan's petition.

Kia Motors America, Inc., and Kia Motors Corporation (collectively ``Kia''), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2020 Kia Telluride motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. Kia filed a noncompliance report dated April 12, 2019, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on April 18, 2019, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces the grant of Kia's petition.

FCA US, LLC, f/k/a Chrysler Group, LLC (FCA) has determined that the rear liftgate privacy glass equipped in certain model year (MY) 2013-2017 Jeep Compass and certain MY 2018 Jeep Wrangler motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials. Similarly, AGC Glass Company North America, d.b.a. AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC) determined that the same liftgate privacy glass sold as replacement parts for MY 2013-2017 Jeep Compass motor vehicles do not fully comply with FMVSS No. 205. The petitioners have requested that NHTSA deem the subject noncompliance inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. As the issues involved in both petitions are identical, NHTSA is addressing both petitions in this single notice, which announces the grant of both petitions.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition, DP19-003, submitted by Mr. Kevin O'Brien to the Administrator of NHTSA (the ``Agency'') by a letter dated August 12, 2019. The petition requests that the agency initiate a safety defect investigation into an alleged ``excessive stalling problem'' experienced by operators of 2019 Model Year (MY) Volkswagen GTI, Jetta GLI, and Golf GTI manual transmission vehicles (the ``subject vehicles'') ``as the vehicles slow to a stop or prepare to make a turn across traffic with the clutch pressed in and the car in neutral.'' After conducting a technical review of: (1) Consumer complaints submitted by the petitioner; (2) consumer complaint information in NHTSA's databases; and (3) information provided by Volkswagen in response to our information requests regarding vehicle stalling and complaints received by Volkswagen, NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has concluded that it is unlikely that additional investigation would result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists. As a result, no further investigation of the issue raised by the petition is warranted and the agency, accordingly, has denied the petition.

This action modifies Class E airspace, designated as a surface area, at Durango-La Plata County Airport, CO. This action also modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Additionally, this action revokes the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. Further, this action removes the Durango VOR/DME from the airspace legal descriptions. Lastly, this action makes several administrative amendments to the airspace legal descriptions.

This action establishes a Class E surface area, Class E airspace as an extension to the surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Port Angeles CGAS, Port Angeles, WA. Following a review of the airspace serving Port Angeles CGAS and William R Fairchild International Airport, the FAA found it necessary to provide Port Angeles CGAS with airspace independent of the airspace for William R Fairchild Airport. A microclimate at Port Angeles CGAS causes weather patterns to vary from the weather at William R Fairchild Airport. The difference in weather between the two locations can negatively impact operations at Port Angeles CGAS, impeding training and mission accomplishment. This action will establish new airspace for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Port Angeles CGAS, Port Angeles, WA.

This action modifies the Class E surface area, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and creates Class E airspace as an extension to the Class E surface area at William R Fairchild International Airport, Port Angeles, WA. Following a review of the airspace, the FAA found it necessary to modify the existing airspace for William R Fairchild Airport for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the Airport.