Department of Transportation November 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 FAA Regional Administrators' Offices and the FAA Noise Ombudsman will use the information voluntarily reported, on the occasion of a complaint, by the public in the FAA Noise Portal to prepare responses to their noise complaints or inquiries. The required FAA Noise Portal fields represent the minimum amount of information the FAA needs to address the public's noise complaint or question and includes: Name, email, address or cross street and a description of the noise complaint or inquiry. It is important to know the person's name and email address to respond and track the complaint. The FAA will not respond to the same complaint from the same person more than once. The address or cross street is needed for the FAA to determine potential sources of the aircraft noise issues as most people complain about aircraft in the vicinity of their residence. The description is used to provide additional details for the FAA to better address the complaint or question.

This action amends the Columbus, Port Columbus International Airport, OH, Class C airspace description to update the airport name and airport reference point (ARP) information to match the FAA's aeronautical database. Additionally, minor administrative edits to the legal description title and header information are made for readability. This action does not change the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the Class C airspace area.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended) this notice announces that DOT is submitting a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal of OMB Control Number 2138-0041 covering Airline Service Quality Performance, On-time Performance, and Mishandled Baggage reports that the largest U.S. air carriers file with DOT under part 234 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). On August 11, 2021, the Director, Office of Airline Information (OAI), published a Federal Register notice announcing DOT's intent to renew the information collections and providing a 60-day comment period regarding the information collections. See 86 FR 44137. DOT did not receive any comments in response to the August 11, 2021 notice. This notice announces an additional 30 days of public comment.

The recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure as one of many important ways to confront the climate crisis. Through a National Electric Vehicle Formula Program (EV Charging Program), the law provides funding to States to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. The law also establishes a discretionary grant program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program) to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors or in certain other locations that are accessible to all drivers of such vehicles. The law directs DOT, in coordination or consultation with the Department of Energy (DOE), to develop guidance for both programs. Through this notice, FHWA invites public comments to inform the development of the guidance. FHWA is especially interested in comments suggesting ways that the guidance could promote equity in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure under these programs.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is accepting for consideration the application filed on October 29, 2021 (Application), by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (Canadian Pacific), Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CPRC), and their U.S. rail carrier subsidiaries, Soo Line Railroad Company (Soo Line), Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc., Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation, and Delaware & Hudson Railway Company, Inc. (collectively, CP) and Kansas City Southern and its U.S. rail carrier subsidiaries, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCSR), Gateway Eastern Railway Company, and The Texas Mexican Railway Company (Tex Mex) (collectively, KCS) (CP and KCS collectively, Applicants). The Application seeks Board approval for the acquisition of control by Canadian Pacific, through its indirect, wholly owned subsidiary Cygnus Merger Sub 2 Corporation (Cygnus Merger Sub 2 Corp.), of Kansas City Southern, and through it, of KCSR and its railroad affiliates, and for the resulting common control by Canadian Pacific of its U.S. railroad subsidiaries, and KCSR and its railroad affiliates. This proposal is referred to as the Transaction. The Board finds that the Application is complete as it contains all information required by the Board's regulations. Accordingly, the Application is accepted. The Board adopts a procedural schedule for consideration of the Application.

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. This collection involves FAA Form 8400-3, Application for an Airman Certificate and/or Rating, (for flight engineer and flight navigator) and applications for approval of related training courses that are submitted to FAA for evaluation. The information collection is necessary to determine applicant eligibility for flight engineer or flight navigator certificates. This collection is also necessary to determine training course acceptability for those schools training flight engineers or navigators.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the failure of a main gearbox (MGB) second stage planet gear. This AD requires replacing the MGB, or as an alternative, replacing the epicyclic reduction gear module for certain serial numbered planet gear assemblies installed on the MGB. This AD also requires inspecting the MGB magnetic plugs and MGB filter for particles, and for certain serial-numbered planet gear assemblies, inspecting the oil sump for particles. Depending on the outcome of these inspections, this AD requires further inspections and replacing certain parts. This AD also prohibits installing certain parts. 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 Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of abnormal play on the collective torque tube on two Model AW119 MKII helicopters. This AD requires repetitive inspections of affected torque tube assemblies for any deficiency and corrective action if necessary; and the replacement of any affected part with a serviceable part, which is terminating action for the repetitive inspections, 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a design deficiency. This AD requires modifying the hoist control power supply, 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.

The FAA proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-7, V-341, and V-493, in the vicinity of Menominee, MI. The airway amendments are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Menominee, MI, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) which these airways utilize for navigation guidance. The Menominee VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program.

This action proposes to amend five high altitude area navigation (RNAV) routes (Q-routes), and establish a new Q- route in the southeastern United States in support of the VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This proposal would improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) by expanding the availability of RNAV routing and reducing the dependency on ground-based navigational systems.

This action proposes to modify six existing high altitude area navigation (RNAV) routes (Q-routes), and establish one new Q-route, in support of the FAA's VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This proposal would improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) by expanding the availability of RNAV routing and reducing the dependency on ground- based navigational systems.

In response to a joint petition for rulemaking filed by five Class I rail carriers, the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) proposes to modify its regulations to establish a voluntary arbitration program for small rate disputes.

Reshaping the United States transportation system with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is an important part of the solution to the climate crisis. EV charger manufacturing, assembly, installation, and maintenance all have the potential to not only support policies on sustainability and climate, but also to create good-paying, union jobs in the United States. This RFI is intended to gather information on shifting manufacturing and assembly processes to the United States considering the bold investment planned in EV charging. DOT and DOE (the Agencies) are interested in hearing from the public, including stakeholders (such as State and local agencies, the EV charger manufacturing industry, component suppliers, labor unions, related associations, and transportation advocates), on the availability of EV chargers manufactured and assembled in the United States, including whether they comply with applicable Buy America requirements.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a broken forward guide arm found during a passenger door emergency opening test. Investigation results indicated that the opening speed of the door was higher than expected, likely caused by a reduced damping due to oil leakage of the passenger door damper emergency opening actuator (DEOA). This AD requires repetitively replacing certain forward and aft guide arms on the passenger door, inspecting the forward and aft guide arm support brackets for damage, modifying certain DEOAs, and repairing damage if necessary, and also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive replacements, 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracking in certain components on left and right sides of the aft wing-to-body fairing (WTBF) structure near the tie-rod attachment at a certain fuselage station; this cracking likely resulted from excessive tie-rod preload. This AD requires inspecting the aft WTBF structure for any cracking or damage, adjusting the load on the two tie-rods at a certain fuselage station, and repair if necessary, as specified in two Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) ADs, which are incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 the Huntsville International Airport Reentry Site Operator License and Sierra Space Corporation Vehicle Operator License (Draft EA).

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-07-02 for all Pratt & Whitney (P&W) JT8D-209, JT8D-217, JT8D-217A, JT8D-217C, and JT8D-219 model turbofan engines. AD 2011-07-02 required initial and repetitive torque inspections of the 3rd-stage and 4th-stage low- pressure turbine (LPT) blades. AD 2011-07-02 also required replacement of the LPT blade if wear limits are exceeded, replacement of the LPT- to-exhaust case bolts and nuts, and installation of crushable sleeve spacers on the bolts. This AD was prompted by a report of an MD-82 airplane, equipped with a JT8D-217C model turbofan engine, experiencing an engine surge that resulted in the fracture of the LPT blade and uncontained release of the LPT blade. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2011-07-02, while revising the inspection thresholds and replacement intervals for the 3rd-stage and 4th-stage LPT blades. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-36 and V-316; and revokes VOR Federal airway V-180, in the northeastern United States. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada, NDB and the Dryden, Ontario, Canada, NDB. Both NDBs are being decommissioned as part of NAV CANADA's navigational aid (NAVAID) Modernization Program.

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 Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) applicants and certificate holders. The information to be collected will be used to ensure AMTS applicants and certificate holder meet the requirements of part 147 prior to being certificated, and on an ongoing basis following FAA certification.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-12-08, which applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146-100A, -200A, and -300A airplanes; and Model Avro 146-RJ70A, 146-RJ85A, and 146-RJ100A airplanes. AD 2017-12-08 requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or revised structural inspection requirements. Since the FAA issued AD 2017-12-08, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.