Department of Transportation January 2021 – 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 collection involves the gathering of information necessary for the FAA to ensure proposed outdoor laser operations will not interfere with air traffic operations. The information to be collected will be used to and/or is necessary because the FAA must evaluate proposed outdoor laser operations requiring a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) variance from a laser light show, display, or device.

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.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

The annual Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award (the award) incentivizes an increase in human trafficking awareness, training, and prevention among transportation stakeholders. The award is a component of the Department's Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative. Additional information regarding the Department's counter-trafficking activities can be found at www.transportation.gov/stophumantrafficking. The award serves as a platform for transportation stakeholders to unlock their creativity, and to empower them to develop impactful and innovative counter-trafficking tools, initiatives, campaigns, and technologies that can help defeat this heinous crime. The award is open to individuals and entities, including non-governmental organizations, transportation industry associations, research institutions, and State and local government organizations. Entrants compete for a cash award of up to $50,000 to be awarded to the individual(s) or entity selected for creating the most impactful counter-trafficking initiative or technology. The U.S. Department of Transportation intends to incentivize individuals and entities to think creatively in developing innovative solutions to combat human trafficking in the transportation industry, and to share those innovations with the broader community.

The FHWA, on behalf of UDOT, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by UDOT that are final Federal agency actions. The final agency actions relate to a proposed highway project that includes modifications to the existing interchange on Interstate 15 (I- 15) between approximate mileposts 337.5 and 339, at State Route 97 (5600 South); and roadway widening of 5600 South in Roy City, Weber County, Utah. Those actions grant licenses, permits and/or approvals for the project. UDOT's Finding of No Significant Impact provides details on the Selected Alternative for the proposed improvements.

Under the Small Shipyard Grant Program, $19,600,000 is currently available for grants to: (1) Make capital and related improvements to qualified shipyard facilities that will be effective in fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration, and (2) provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries. This notice announces the intention of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to provide for grants to small shipyards. Federal Assistance Listing Number: 20.814 (formerly known as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number). Potential applicants are advised that it is expected, based on experience, that the number of applications will far exceed the funds available and that only a small percentage of applications will be funded. Historically, the program has selected roughly 15-30 applications for funding with an average grant amount of about $1 million.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from the Southern Natural Gas Company, L.L.C. (SNG). 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.

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 May 19, 2020. The information collected is used to determine program compliance or non-compliance of regulated aviation employers, conduct oversight planning, determine employers required to provide annual Management Information System testing information, and communicate with entities subject to the program regulations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-9 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of missing sealant on the left and right wing leading edge outboard blowout door. This proposed AD would require doing a fluid seal contact inspection and a detailed inspection for missing sealant on the blowout door and applying sealant if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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, I-10 Pavement Rehabilitation Project in the County of Riverside, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposal for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This action revises the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by reducing the compliance time for certain airplanes. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over that in the NPRM, the FAA is reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these changes.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace and revokes the Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D and Class E surface areas at Muskegon County Airport, Muskegon, MI. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Muskegon VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710A1-10, BR700-710A2-20 and BR700-710C4-11 model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by an investigation by RRD, which revealed a quality escape during the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 disk rim cooling air hole manufacturing process. This proposed AD would require removing affected HPT disks from service prior to reaching specified compliance times or at the next engine shop visit, whichever occurs first. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, L.L.C. (TGP). 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 11 VOR Federal airways, remove 10 VOR Federal airways; amend four low altitude RNAV routes (T-routes), establish seven T-routes; amend one high altitude RNAV route (Q-route), and establish one Q-route. This action would support the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project and the VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) Program to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) and reduce dependency on ground-based navigational systems.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a reassessment of the flight control system. This proposed AD would require modification of the cyclic stick, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Department is proposing to update the method of collecting and processing aviation traffic data in the Origin-Destination Survey of Airline Passenger Traffic (O&D Survey), as well as to expand the number of reporting air carriers, the sample size collected, and the scope of the data reported. These changes would align the current O&D Survey with modern industry business and accounting practices, enable cost savings, reduce burden through automation, and provide enhanced utility for users of the data. In addition, DOT is proposing to change the timing of the release of the Form 41, Schedule T-100(f) ``Foreign Air Carrier Traffic Data by Nonstop Segment and On-flight Market'' from a 6-month delay to a 3-month delay to match that of Form 41, Schedule T-100 ``Air Carrier Traffic and Capacity Data by Non-Stop Segment and On-Flight Market.''