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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 22, 2020. The collection involves protection of voluntarily submitted information. Part 193 of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations provides that certain information submitted to the FAA on a voluntary basis is not to be disclosed. This part implements a statutory provision. The purpose of Part 193 is to encourage the aviation community to voluntarily share information with the FAA so that the agency may work cooperatively with industry to identify modifications to rules, policies, and procedures needed to improve safety, security, and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). The information collection associated with Part 193 also supports the Department of Transportation's Strategic Goal of Safety and Security.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB) opens a rulemaking proceeding to consider a petition by several Class I railroads to change the Board's procedures for annually determining whether Class I rail carriers are revenue adequate. The Board seeks public comment on the petition and several specific related issues.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this Notice confirms the Department of Transportation's (Department) intention to renew and revise an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number as related to the Department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Form 251, Report of Passengers Denied Confirmed Space. A 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information collection was published on March 3, 2020. Three comments were received. The Department addresses those comments in this Notice and is seeking to renew the current OMB control number by forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to OMB. The ICR renames Form 251 to Form 250 and revises the form to reduce the burden on airlines, better clarify the instructions for completing the form, and provide more relevant information to consumers.

FMCSA amends its rulemaking procedures by revising the process for preparing and adopting rules and petitions. Also, the Agency adds new definitions, and makes general administrative corrections throughout its rulemaking procedures. These actions are authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during installation on the final assembly line, a foreign object damage (FOD) protective end cap was not removed from an extraction duct of the crew oxygen system. The protective end cap must be removed to prevent a build-up of oxygen under the flight deck floor, which is a fire risk. This AD requires inspecting the air extraction duct installation to determine if a protective end cap is installed, and removing any protective end cap found. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Executive Order 12862 directs Federal agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. These principles were reaffirmed in Executive Order 13571. In order to work continuously to ensure that our programs are effective and meet our customers' needs, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) seeks to obtain OMB approval of a currently approved generic clearance to continue collecting feedback on our service delivery. By feedback we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On October 16, 2020, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the information collection request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew the ICR titled ``Licensing Applications for Motor Carrier Operating Authority,'' OMB Control No. 2126-0016. This ICR applies to: (1) Existing registrants (i.e., entities that already have a USDOT number and/or operating authority) that are subject to FMCSA's licensing, registration, and certification regulations that wish to apply for additional authorities; and (2) Mexico-domiciled carriers that wish to operate beyond the U.S. municipalities on the U.S.-Mexico border and their commercial zones. Existing registrants seeking additional authorities must use forms OP-1, OP-1(P), OP-1(FF), and OP- 1(NNA), to apply for such authority. Mexico-domiciled carriers seeking the authority described above must apply for such authority using Form OP-1(MX).

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.

Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the Secretary of Transportation, the Maritime Administrator is authorized to issue waivers allowing documented vessels with only registry endorsements or foreign flag vessels to be used in operations that treat aquaculture fish or protect aquaculture fish from disease, parasitic infestation, or other threats to their health when suitable vessels of the United States are not available that could perform those services. A request for such a waiver has been received by the Maritime Administration (MARAD). This notice is being published to solicit comments intended to assist MARAD in determining whether suitable vessels of the United States are available that could perform the required services. If no suitable U.S.-flag vessels are available, the Maritime Administrator may issue a waiver necessary to comply with USCG Aquaculture Support regulations. A brief description of the proposed aquaculture support service is listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB) clarifies and updates its rules regarding requests to waive or reduce certain filing fees.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 22, 2020. The collection is an application form, and collection frequency is on occasion, depending on how often requests for National Airspace System (NAS) data are submitted to the FAA. The information to be collected will be used to evaluate the validity of a user's request for NAS data from FAA systems and equipment.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracks found in fastener holes at a certain station of the center wing box. This AD requires repetitive external surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections and repetitive external surface ultrasonic inspections; or repetitive internal detailed inspections; of a certain station of the center wing box for any cracking, and repair if 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 The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes powered by Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines. This AD was prompted by reports of damage to the inner fixed structure (IFS) forward upper fire seal and damage to thermal insulation blankets in the forward upper area of the thrust reverser (TR). This AD requires repetitive inspections of the IFS forward upper fire seal and thermal insulation blankets in the forward upper area of the TR for damage and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Warroad International Memorial Airport, Warroad, MN. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Baudette VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to remove VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-242 in the northcentral United States to reflect changes being made by NAV CANADA in Canadian airspace. The airway removal is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Atikokan, Ontario (ON), Canada, NDB navigation aid (NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for V-242. The Atikokan NDB is being decommissioned as part of NAV CANADA's NAVAID Modernization Program.

Due to ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related impacts on demand for air travel, the FAA seeks comment on providing additional relief at slot-controlled and designated International Air Transport Association (IATA) Level 2 airports in the United States with regard to the Summer 2021 scheduling season ending on October 30, 2021. Two options are presented for comment: Continuation of the existing relief that the FAA has provided at these airports through March 27, 2021, on the same terms currently in effect; and a proposal by the Worldwide Airport Slot Board (WASB), which includes representatives of IATA, the Airports Council International-World (ACI World), and the Worldwide Airport Coordinators Group (WWACG). The FAA invites comment on these two different approaches for the Summer 2021 scheduling season and anticipates subsequently providing notice of its final decision. Commenters may also propose different or additional options for relief. The FAA further invites comment on whether the proposal adopted by the FAA should make relief available for the full duration of the Summer 2021 scheduling season, which ends on October 30, 2021.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 21, 2020.