Department of Transportation March 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

After consulting with operators of commercial vessels and other Sea Year stakeholders, on December 15, 2021, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) released on its website agency guidance entitled Every Mariner Builds a Respectful Culture (EMBARC). The EMBARC standards enumerate sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) prevention and response safety criteria for commercial vessel operators approved to carry cadets from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) for training purposes. EMBARC includes compliance procedures, and sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) prevention and response standards that all commercial vessel operators should implement before the USMMA entrusts them with the at-sea training of midshipmen. EMBARC will help strengthen the maritime industry's efforts to prevent and respond to incidents of SASH and other forms of misconduct and help ensure a safer training environment for all cadets. By this notice, MARAD is seeking public comment on its EMBARC policy.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted on September 27, 2021, by Mr. James Lamb to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The petition requests that the Agency initiate an investigation into alleged ``defects in the 2006 J1939 databus,'' citing a 2016 research paper published through the University of Michigan. On December 23, 2021, NHTSA opened Defect Petition DP21-005 to evaluate the petitioner's request. After reviewing the information provided by the petitioner regarding the alleged defect and conducting searches of complaints from vehicle owners, operators, and fleet supervisors, NHTSA has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to warrant further action at this time. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition.

This final rule amends the occupant protection Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSSs) to account for future vehicles that do not have the traditional manual controls associated with a human driver because they are equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS). This final rule makes clear that, despite their innovative designs, vehicles with ADS technology must continue to provide the same high levels of occupant protection that current passenger vehicles provide. The occupant protection standards are currently written for traditionally designed vehicles and use terms such as ``driver's seat'' and ``steering wheel,'' that are not meaningful to vehicle designs that, for example, lack a steering wheel or other driver controls. This final rule updates the standards in a manner that clarifies existing terminology while avoiding unnecessary terminology, and, in doing so, resolves ambiguities in applying the standards to ADS-equipped vehicles without traditional manual controls. In addition, this final rule amends the standards in a manner that maintains the existing regulatory text whenever possible, to make clear that this rule maintains the level of crash protection currently provided occupants in more traditionally designed vehicles. This final rule is limited to the crashworthiness standards to provide a unified set of regulatory text applicable to vehicles with and without ADS functionality.

FRA is providing this notice to advise the public that it is issuing a Final General Conformity Determination (FCD) for the San Jose to Merced Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) System.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS 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). This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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.

This document provides the public with notice that, on March 22, 2022, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS- 365N2, AS 365 N3, SA-365N, SA-365N1, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by investigation results from an engine compartment fire, which determined some of the internal parts of the engine upper fixed cowling (engine cowling) were painted with finish paint on top of the primer layer. This proposed AD would require a one- time inspection of certain part-numbered engine cowlings, and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in a European Union 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.

FHWA, on behalf of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), is issuing this notice to advise the public that an EIS will be prepared for proposed transportation improvements on the Interstate 15 corridor from Farmington to Salt Lake City, Utah. Persons or agencies who might be affected by the proposed project are encouraged to comment on the information in this Notice of Intent (NOI). All comments received in response to this NOI will be considered, and any information presented in this NOI, including the preliminary purpose and need, preliminary alternatives, and identified impacts, might be revised in consideration of the comments.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-15-06, which applies to British Aerospace Regional Aircraft Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200 and 3101, and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes. AD 2017-15-06 requires repetitively inspecting the main landing gear (MLG) for cracks and, if cracks are found, replacing the MLG with an airworthy part. Since the FAA issued AD 2017- 15-06, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the United Kingdom superseded the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to correct an unsafe condition on these products. This proposed AD would retain the initial inspection and the calculation of hours time-in-service to flight cycle (FC) actions required by AD 2017-15-06, but would decrease the repetitive inspection interval time from 1,200 flight cycles to 900 flight cycles. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) proposes in this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to require airlines to ensure that at least one lavatory on new single-aisle aircraft with 125 or more passenger seats is large enough to permit a passenger with a disability (with the help of an assistant, if necessary) to approach, enter, and maneuver within the aircraft lavatory, as necessary, to use all lavatory facilities and leave by means of the aircraft's on-board wheelchair.

The FAA announces the special class airworthiness criteria for the Flytrex, Inc. Model FTX-M600P unmanned aircraft (UA). This document sets forth the airworthiness criteria the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the UA design.

The Federal Aviation Administration is requesting public comment on Lancaster Airport Authority's (LAA) request to change 5 acres of airport property from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use. The parcel was purchased as part of a larger parcel with AIP grants 3-42-0049-022-2002 and 3-42-0049-023-2002. The property was purchased as part of a road relocation for the Runway 8-26 extension project and is located in an area that would be difficult for future aeronautical development. The LAA is requesting approval to release the parcel for permanent non-aeronautical use to erect a vehicle maintenance garage facility. The parcel is identified as 3E on the Airport Layout Plan (ALP). The proposed facility is not currently noted on the ALP, however, if approved, the ALP will be updated to reflect the facility. Documents reflecting the Sponsor's request are available, by appointment only, for inspection at the Airport Manager's office and the FAA Airport District Office.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes, Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A330-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that certain service information specified in AD 2018-20-19 contained instructions that could be misleading, resulting in a necessary inspection not being accomplished on certain airplanes. This proposed AD would require a rototest for certain modified airplanes for any crack around the right- side upper and lower bulk door support or door latch fitting holes at certain bulk cargo door frames, or repetitive inspections for any crack at certain fittings, and on-condition actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS requiring certificated air carriers to preserve accounting records, consumer complaint letters, reservation reports and records, system reports of aircraft movements, etc. Also, public charter operators and overseas military personnel charter operators are required to retain certain contracts, invoices, receipts, bank records and reservation records.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD 2021-06-03, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 777F series airplanes. AD 2021-06-03 requires deactivating the potable water system. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-06-03, Boeing developed new actions to address the unsafe condition, which terminate the action required by AD 2021-06-03. This proposed AD would retain the actions required by AD 2021-06-03 and would require installing a shroud to the water supply line in the forward cargo compartment, and performing a leak test of the potable water system. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require replacing tubes and hoses from the water supply line and installing a shroud to the water return line. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to amend four VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways and establish a new RNAV T-route in the vicinity of Watertown, South Dakota. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Watertown, SD, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC), which provides navigational guidance to portions of the affected VOR Federal airways. The Watertown VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a crack found in a front spar lower chord undergoing an underwing longeron replacement. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the left and right side ring chords, repair angles, front spar lower chords, and front spar webs (depending on configuration) common to the underwing longeron located at station (STA) 1035; modification of the front spar lower chord for some airplanes; repetitive post-modification inspections; and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on March 4, 2022, establishing Class E airspace for Falmouth Airpark, Falmouth, MA. This action corrects the legal description of the Class E airspace by correcting a typographical error in the geographic coordinates.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-12-03, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. AD 2015-12-03 requires repetitive freeplay inspections and lubrication of the right and left elevators, rudder, and rudder tab, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. Since the FAA issued AD 2015-12-03, engineering testing revealed that the force being applied to the elevator to detect excessive freeplay was insufficient. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2015-12-03 for certain airplanes, and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, for certain other airplanes, to incorporate a revised or new elevator freeplay maintenance procedure, as applicable. This proposed AD would also add airplanes to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation (Dassault) Model Falcon 6X airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is a digital systems architecture for the installation of a system with wireless and hardwired network and hosted application functionality that allows access, from sources internal to the airplane, to the airplane's internal electronic components. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-377 in the vicinity of Sitka, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-230 in the vicinity of St. Paul Island, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-386 in the vicinity of Fairbanks, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.