Department of Transportation August 31, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for four individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 25 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This notice details the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding for eligible projects under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, and related Trespass Prevention projects. The opportunities described in this notice are made available under Assistance Listings Number 20.325, ``Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements.''

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action revokes the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Standish Industrial Airport, Standish, MI. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the closing of the Standish Industrial Airport and associated instrument procedures are no longer required.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Pocahontas Municipal Airport, Pocahontas, IA. This action is the result of an airspace review due to the decommissioning of the Pocahontas non-directional beacon (NDB). Additionally, the geographical coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database, which was inadvertently omitted in the NPRM docket.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-23- 13, which applied to all ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes. AD 2020-23-13 required a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the wire bundles between the left- and right-hand angle of attack (AOA) probes and the crew alerting computer, and, depending on findings, applicable corrective actions. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-23-13, and also requires for certain airplanes, modifying the captain stick shaker wiring, and for all airplanes, revising the existing aircraft flight manual (AFM) and applicable corresponding operational procedures to incorporate procedures for the stick pusher/shaker, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by false activation of the stall warning system due to wiring damage on the wire bundle between an AOA probe and the crew alerting computer, and the development of a wiring modification and AFM update to address the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-12- 13, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A320-212, -214, -232, and -233 airplanes. AD 2017-12-13 required repetitive low frequency eddy current inspections or repetitive high frequency eddy current inspections of the pocket radius at certain areas of the fuselage frame, and repair if necessary. This AD requires new repetitive inspections at the left- (LH) and right-hand (RH) sides of the fuselage skin at certain frames for any cracking, and repair if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack found during an inspection of the pocket radius of the fuselage frame, and a determination that similar cracks may develop in nearby areas of the fuselage frame and that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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, FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion nor omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This document amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 109, ``New pneumatic and certain specialty tires,'' in response to a petition for rulemaking from the Tire and Rim Association, to clarify the applicability of the FMVSSs to certain types of tires intended for use on trailers. Based on a review of prior amendments to FMVSS Nos. 109 and 119, ``New pneumatic tires for motor vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) and motorcycles.'' NHTSA concludes that it inadvertently made these tires subject to both FMVSS Nos. 109 and 119, when it was the Agency's intent to make them subject only to FMVSS No. 119. This document corrects that error, and also includes nonsubstantive technical corrections to tire and rim regulations.