Department of Transportation June 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an application for exemption from Intellistop, Inc (Intellistop) to allow motor carriers to operate all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), including flatbed trailers and straight trucks, equipped with Intellistop's module which pulses the rear clearance, identification and brake lamps from a lower level lighting intensity to a higher-level lighting intensity 4 times in 2 seconds.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of cracking of the main landing gear (MLG) shock strut lower pin. This proposed AD would require repetitive lubrication and repetitive detailed visual inspections (DVI) and non-destructive test (NDT) inspections of the MLG shock strut lower pins, and replacement if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 59 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.

On May 25, 2021, DOT published in the Federal Register a request for information (RFI) regarding an potential data and assessment tools that could assist in the ongoing and continuous evaluation of Federal policies and programs concerning equitable services and safety in the transportation sector. The RFI is assisting the DOT in responding to the Executive Order 13985, ``Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government'' (Equity E.O.). This notice extends the deadline date for receiving comments until July 22, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. (ET).

This document provides the public with notice that three host railroads recently submitted requests for amendments (RFA) to their FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP). As these RFAs may involve requests for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) systems, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on railroads' RFAs to their PTCSPs.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at MSP GHQ Heliport, Framingham, MA, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPs) serving this heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA, as an airspace evaluation of the area determined additional airspace is necessary. Also, this action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus Heliport, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPs) serving this heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure map submitted by City of San Antonio Aviation Department for San Antonio International Airport is in compliance with applicable statuary and regulatory requirements.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Textron Canada Limited (type certificate previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) (Bell) Model 505 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the discovery of a gap between the transmission restraint assembly aft attachment hardware lower washer and mating airframe truss assembly (truss assembly) clevis lower lug. This AD requires inspecting the transmission restraint aft attachment hardware installation for a gap and corrective action depending on the inspection results. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of increased control force in the collective axis. This AD requires a one-time visual inspection of the main rotor actuator (MRA), as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Sioux Gateway Airport/Brigadier General Bud Day Field, Sioux City, IA. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Sioux City 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 amends the Class E airspace at Neosho Hugh Robinson Airport, Neosho, MO. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Neosho VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.

This action amends the Class E airspace area extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan and removes overlapping and redundant enroute domestic airspace areas within these boundaries. This action corrects, simplifies, and closes gaps in the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface over the State of Michigan; provides transitional airspace to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations to and from the terminal and enroute environments within the state; and improves air traffic control services over the state.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03- 10, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A300 series airplanes; and Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). AD 2019-03-10 required repetitive detailed visual inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) leg components and replacement of the MLG leg if cracked components are found. This AD continues to require the actions required by AD 2019-03-10. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires modification of the MLG hinge arm by installing improved MLG hinge arm/barrel pins; an out-of-roundness check of removed pins; repetitive inspections of any affected pins and the associated connecting rod bushes, and replacement of the MLG leg if cracked components are found; and installation of an improved spacer; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in MLG leg components and a determination that additional actions (including inspections, modifications, and checks) are needed to address the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-243, A330-243F, A330-341, A330-342, and A330-343 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of an in-flight turnback due to loss of green and blue hydraulic systems in cruise. This AD requires inspecting for discrepancies of the hydraulic pressure switch harnesses of affected engines, and applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to remind each owner and operator of a pipeline facility that the ``Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020'' (PIPES Act of 2020) contains a self-executing mandate requiring operators to update their inspection and maintenance plans to address eliminating hazardous leaks and minimizing releases of natural gas (including intentional venting during normal operations) from their pipeline facilities. Operators must also revise their plans to address the replacement or remediation of pipeline facilities that are known to leak based on their material, design, or past operating and maintenance history. The statute requires pipeline operators to complete these updates by December 27, 2021.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-24 airplanes. This AD results 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 identifies the unsafe condition as the need to revise certain airworthiness limitations and certification maintenance instructions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 79-01-03, which applied to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-36-285 airplanes, and AD 83-20-03, which applied to Piper Models PA-36-285, PA-36-300, and PA-36-375 airplanes. AD 79-01-03 required repetitive inspections of the spar carry through assembly until replaced with a different part numbered spar carry through assembly. AD 83-20-03 established life limits for the wing spar structural components. This AD retains the requirements in AD 79-01-03 and AD 83-20-03 and requires the spar carry through assembly inspection from AD 79-01-03 for additional airplanes and adds life limits for certain wing structural components previously omitted from AD 83-20-03 for certain serial numbered airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.