Department of Transportation 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 July 30, 2020.

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2011-2019 DTNA motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. DTNA filed a noncompliance report dated September 19, 2018. DTNA subsequently petitioned NHTSA on October 11, 2018, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces and explains the denial of DTNA's petition.

The FAA, Eastern Service Center, is issuing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the Record of Decision (ROD) for the South-Central Florida Metroplex Project.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, and MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the tail gearbox (TGB) bellcrank attachment arm (arm) for a crack. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a cracked TGB arm. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-63 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Texoma, OK, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). The Texoma VOR provides navigation guidance for a portion of V-63 and is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

Mercedes-Benz AG and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, (collectively, ``Mercedes-Benz'') have determined that certain model year (MY) 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, Power-operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems. Mercedes-Benz filed a noncompliance report dated May 11, 2020, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on June 3, 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.

This notice invites eligible and qualified training entities to apply to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for designation as a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE). The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 (the Act) provided the Secretary of Transportation with the discretionary authority to designate eligible and qualified entities as CoEs. CoE designations will serve to assist the maritime industry in obtaining and maintaining the highest quality workforce. On March 6, 2020, the agency published a final notice in the Federal Register announcing its voluntary program to identify and recommend qualified training providers for CoE designation and the agency intent to obtain a current Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number for the information collection requirements resulting from this action. OMB has since approved an information collection control number for collecting CoE applications. The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible and qualified training entities for CoE designation.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a welding quality issue has been identified in the gimbal joint of the air bleed duct located at each wing-to-pylon interface; the inner ring of a gimbal had deformed to an oval shape, which could lead to cracking caused by direct contact between metal parts. This proposed AD would require replacing affected bleed duct assemblies and bleed gimbals at the wing-to-pylon interface with a serviceable part, 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 action establishes area navigation (RNAV) routes T-301 and T-305 in the northcentral United States. The new RNAV routes expand the availability of RNAV routing in support of transitioning the National Airspace System (NAS) from ground-based to satellite-based navigation. Additionally, a portion of the new RNAV routes provide enroute structure where VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway segments were removed due to the Cape Girardeau, MO, VOR being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation (Dassault) Model Falcon 900 airplane. This airplane, as modified by Chicago Jet Group, will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is Midcontinent Instrument TS835 Standby Batteries that contain rechargeable lithium batteries. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 737-300, -400, -700, -800, -8, and -9 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Archeion Holdings, LLC (Archeion), will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is a digital systems architecture for the installation of a system with wireless network and hosted application functionality that allows access, from sources internal to the airplane, to the airplane's internal electronic components. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This interim final rule amends Maritime Administration (MARAD) regulations governing admission to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). These amendments allow the MARAD Administrator to waive the requirement for USMMA applicants to have taken the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing Program (ACT) examination in the event of a State or national emergency. The ability to waive SAT and ACT requirements for prospective students is necessary to address testing disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.

This action incorporates certain airspace designation amendments into FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, for incorporation by reference.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, EC 155B, EC155B1, EC225LP, and SA330J helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the snap fasteners on the windows. This proposed AD was prompted by incidents of difficulty unbuttoning the extraction tape on the windows. The proposed actions are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mineola Wisener Field, Mineola, TX, and Kenedy Regional Airport, Kenedy, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Quitman and Three Rivers VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aids as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The name of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Warroad International Memorial Airport, Warroad, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as 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 would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Prairie Du Chien Municipal Airport, Prairie Du Chien, WI. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Waukon VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

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 collection involves the noise certification regulations for aircraft. This includes information collection requirements for the noise certification of subsonic aircraftjet airplanes and subsonic transport category large airplanes, small propeller driven airplanes and rotorcraft. The information collected are the results of noise certification tests that demonstrate compliance with 14 CFR part 36. The original information collection was implemented to show compliance in accordance with the Aircraft Noise Abatement Act of 1968; that statute is now part of the overall codification of the FAA's regulatory authority over aircraft noise. The noise compliance report is used by the FAA in making a finding that the airplane is in noise compliance with the regulations. These compliance reports are required only once when an applicant wants to certificate an aircraft type. Without this data collection, the FAA would be unable to make the required noise certification compliance finding.

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to all The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400F, 747-8F, and 747-8 series airplanes. The NPRM was prompted by reports of dual flight management computer (FMC) cold starts during a critical flight phase such as takeoff and approach. The NPRM would have required an inspection to determine if certain software is installed, installation of FMC operational program software (OPS) and a software configuration check, and applicable concurrent requirements. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA determined that the installation of new software, as proposed in the NPRM, does not resolve the unsafe condition identified in the NPRM. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing a Launch Operator License to Virgin Orbit, LLC for LauncherOne Operations from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (Draft EA).

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 July 22, 2020, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to the proposed Better Market Street Project (Federal-aid project number BUILDL-5934(180)) in the City of San Francisco, County of San Francisco, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This action amends and extends, with modifications to reflect conditions in Iraq and the risks to U.S. civil aviation, the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) prohibiting certain flight operations in the Baghdad Flight Information Region (FIR) (ORBB) by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action necessary to address the risks to the safety of persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations. Specifically, this action amends the SFAR to prohibit U.S. civil aviation operations in the Baghdad FIR (ORBB) at altitudes below Flight Level (FL) 320. This rule amends the SFAR prohibition from altitudes below FL260 to altitudes below FL320, based on an assessment of the current aviation safety risks. This action also extends the expiration date of the SFAR from October 26, 2020, to October 26, 2022. Additionally, the FAA republishes the approval process and exemption information for this SFAR, consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs, and makes minor administrative revisions.