Department of Transportation 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-08-01 for Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2018- 08-01 requires inspecting the control rod attachment yokes (yoke) of certain main rotor rotating swashplates (swashplate). Since the FAA issued AD 2018-08-01, Airbus Helicopters has identified additional swashplate serial numbers affected by the unsafe condition and has established a life limit for the swashplates. This proposed AD would retain the inspection requirements of AD 2018-08-01, expand the applicability, establish a life limit, and add a one-time inspection of stripped yokes. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that corrosion was found on the shock strut cylinders during unscheduled maintenance of the nose landing gear (NLG). This proposed AD would require a modification of the NLG shock strut cylinder. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 114 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is soliciting proposals under FTA's Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program, to select an entity to administer the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). The NADTC will carry out activities to promote the availability and accessibility of transportation options that serve the needs of people with disabilities, seniors, and their caregivers, with a focus on effectively leveraging the program funds of the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula grants and other transit investments. The NADTC provides effective solutions that improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout the country by helping systems remove barriers to transportation services and expanding community transportation mobility options. The FTA intends to fund the NADTC up to $1,900,000, for the first year, subject to availability of funds. The FTA may extend funding for this center for up to five (5) years; however, subsequent funding will depend upon: (1) Future authorizations and appropriations; (2) decisions and program priorities established by the Secretary of Transportation related to the implementation of provisions set forth in 49 U.S.C. 5314; and (3) annual performance reviews.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt eight individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from Gulf South Pipeline Company, LLC (GSPC). The special permit request is seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

This action proposes to amend Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Boone County Airport, Harrison, AR, due to the decommissioning of the (HRO) RWY 36 Outer Marker (OM) and Compass Locator and cancellation of associated approaches. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area. This action also would update the airport's designator by removing the city from the second line of the header.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Schuylkill County (Joe Zerbey) Airport, Pottsville, PA due to the extension of runway 11. This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the airport, and Schuylkill Medical Center Heliport, (formerly Pottsville Hospital). Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-08-13 for Textron Aviation, Inc. (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Models 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes with Tamarack active load alleviation system (ATLAS) winglets installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA03842NY. AD 2019- 08-13 resulted from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as malfunction of the ATLAS. This AD results from the identification of corrective actions that, if implemented, allow operators to reactivate the ATLAS and restore operations to normal procedures. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant Motion Picture Compliance Solutions (MPCS) an exemption from the requirement that an employer must not employ a driver who is subject to drug and alcohol testing to perform safety-sensitive functions prior to conducting a full query of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) on behalf of its members that employ commercial driver's license (CDL) holders. Under the exemption, MPCS may conduct a limited query of the Clearinghouse before one of its member employers hires a driver for a project, rather than conducting a full pre-employment query as required. If the limited query indicates that information about the driver exists in the Clearinghouse, the driver would not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions unless and until a full query subsequently shows that the driver is not prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Absent the exemption, a limited query would be available only to satisfy the employer's duty to make an annual query, not a pre-employment query. The Agency has determined that the terms and conditions of the exemption, coupled with MPCS's unique safety protocols, will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to the level of safety that would be achieved through compliance with the applicable regulation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) is issuing this final rule to establish and implement the Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program (TTSGP or Program) pursuant to section 1121 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Representatives of Tribes and the Federal Government negotiated the rule in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act. The Program will afford Tribes participating in the Program greater control and decision-making authority over their use of certain DOT funding for which they are eligible recipients while reducing administrative burdens. These regulations include eligibility criteria, describe the contents of and process for negotiating self-governance compacts and funding agreements with the Department, and set forth the roles and responsibilities of and limitations on the Department and Tribes that participate in the Program.

FMCSA revises the hours of service (HOS) regulations to provide greater flexibility for drivers subject to those rules without adversely affecting safety. The Agency expands the short-haul exception to 150 air-miles and allows a 14-hour work shift to take place as part of the exception; expands the driving window during adverse driving conditions by up to an additional 2 hours; requires a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time (instead of on-duty time) and allows an on-duty/not driving period to qualify as the required break; and modifies the sleeper berth exception to allow a driver to meet the 10- hour minimum off-duty requirement by spending at least 7, rather than at least 8 hours of that period in the berth and a minimum off-duty period of at least 2 hours spent inside or outside of the berth, provided the two periods total at least 10 hours, and that neither qualifying period counts against the 14-hour driving window.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice of its intent to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the collection of the Report of Fuel Cost, Consumption, and Surcharge Revenue, as described below. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register on April 17, 2020 (85 FR 21496). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 21 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the State Route 74 Lower Ortega Highway Widening Project within the City of San Juan Capistrano and unincorporated Orange County (12-ORA-74 p.m. 1.0/2.1), in the State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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 March 16, 2020.

This action amends Class E airspace, designated as a surface area, at Dillon Airport, Dillon, MT. This action reduces the radius of the airspace and adds an extension to the northeast of the airport. This action also amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, the action reduces the circular radius around the airport and adds an extension to the southwest of the airport and an extension to the north of the airport. Additionally, this action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. The action significantly reduces the dimensions of the area to properly size it to contain IFR aircraft transitioning to/from the terminal or en route environments. Lastly, this action implements an administrative correction to the Class E airspace designated as a surface area.

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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters Inc., (MDHI) Model 369D, 369E, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of non-conforming main rotor (M/R) hub lead-lag bolts (bolts). This AD requires removing certain bolts from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $1.25 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Public Transportation Innovation Program funds to demonstrate and evaluate innovative technologies and designs to improve the state of good repair for transit agencies. Public transit is an essential and integral part of America's transportation infrastructure. When transit assets are not in a state of good repair, the consequences include increased safety risks, decreased system reliability, higher maintenance costs, and lower system performance. The Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Demonstration Program supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Infrastructure strategic goal, and the strategic objective of life cycle and preventive maintenance to field asset management planning and innovative maintenance strategies to keep public transit assets in a state of good repair. This demonstration program will fund innovative approaches to eliminate or mitigate known infrastructure deficiencies in public transportation via innovative technologies and designs. FTA is seeking applications for demonstration projects that deploy cutting edge technologies to provide real-time condition assessment of transit infrastructure and rolling stock conditions. An eligible lead applicant under this notice must be an existing FTA grant recipient and eligible project partners and sub-recipients under this program may include, but are not limited to, providers of public transportation; State and local governmental entities; departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government, including Federal laboratories; private or non-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and technical and community colleges. This notice solicits competitive proposals addressing priorities established by FTA for these research areas, provides instructions for submitting proposals, and describes criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious proposals for funding, and the process to apply for funding. This announcement is also available on the FTA website at: https://www.transit.dot.gov/grants. A synopsis of this funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants website at https:// www.grants.gov. The funding Opportunity ID is FTA-2020-013-TRI-TIR and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number FTA's Public Transportation Innovation Program, (49 U.S.C. 5312) is 20.530.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of recurrent loss of tightening torque on several attachment bolts of the tail rotor hub body. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the tail rotor hub body for cracks and applicable corrective actions if necessary, and repetitive replacement of the attachment bolts, washers, and nuts of the tail rotor hub body. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.