Department of Transportation January 3, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) will hold a public hearing on March 15 and 16, 2022, concerning the reciprocal switching regulations it proposed in this proceeding. The hearing will be held in the Hearing Room of the Board's headquarters, located at 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. All interested persons are invited to appear. In addition, the Board will pause the period for ex parte discussions, beginning January 24, 2022, and modify the instructions for ex parte communications in this proceeding to permit ex parte discussions with up to two Board members in the same meeting.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cameron Balloons Ltd. (Cameron) fuel cylinders installed on hot air balloons. 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 quick shut-off (QSO) flanged adaptors manufactured with non-conforming (undersized) threads. This AD immediately requires either replacing the QSO flange adapter or inspecting the fuel cylinder for leakage and taking corrective action, and replacing the QSO flange adapter within 4 months. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FHWA amends its regulations governing design standards and standard specifications applicable to new construction, reconstruction, resurfacing (except for maintenance resurfacing), restoration, and rehabilitation projects on the National Highway System (NHS). In issuing this final rule, FHWA will allow State departments of transportation (State DOT) to adopt procedures or design criteria, as approved by FHWA, that enable the State to undertake resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation (RRR) projects on freeways, including Interstate highways, without utilizing design exceptions as long as the RRR procedures or criteria are met. In addition, FHWA incorporates by reference the latest versions of design standards and standard specifications previously adopted and incorporated by reference and removes from its regulations the corresponding outdated or superseded versions of these standards and specifications.