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

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-04-20, which applies to certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by including an additional retained requirement and revising the terminating action to apply to additional airplanes. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these changes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection to study ways to help improve Officers' performance and Law Enforcement programs for Drug Recognition Experts (DRE). Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Strategies to Improve DRE Officers' Performance and Law Enforcement Agencies' DRE Programs.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is seeking comments on a proposal under its Buy America waiver authorities to: modify its existing general applicability waiver for manufactured products to remove electric vehicle (EV) chargers; and waive certain Buy America requirements under FHWA regulations and the Build America, Buy America Act for the steel, iron, manufactured products, and construction materials in EV chargers in a manner that, over a deliberate transitional period, reduces the scope of that waiver. The proposed new waiver would initially waive all Buy America requirements for EV chargers and all components of EV chargers that are installed in a project and then phase-out the waiver with two changes during calendar year 2023 and one change in January 2024.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding the Chicago Red Line Extension (RLE) Project in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

These special conditions are issued for the Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model AW139 helicopter. This helicopter as modified by The Boeing Company (Boeing) will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for helicopters. This design feature incorporates a 2.5-minute all engines operating (AEO) power restricted for use at helicopter operating speeds below 60 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), and hovering out of ground effect (HOGE). This power is referred to as 2.5-minute HOGE utility power (HUP), or 2.5-minute HUP. The 2.5-minute HUP is greater than the transmission power limitations associated with takeoff and AEO. 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.

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC, (DTNA), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2022 Thomas Built school buses do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 217, Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release. DTNA filed an original noncompliance report dated February 9, 2022, and amended the report on April 13, 2022. DTNA petitioned NHTSA on March 1, 2022, and later amended the petition on April 13, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of DTNA's petition.

This notice announces publication by NHTSA of calendar year 2022 text and data for the Insurance Cost Information Booklet. This information is intended to assist prospective purchasers in comparing differences in passenger vehicle collision loss experience that could affect auto insurance costs.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) is issuing a guidance document to inform the public and regulated entities about DOT's interpretation of the terms unfair, deceptive, and practices as it relates to its statutory authority to prohibit unfair or deceptive practices. The Department is taking this action to better define the terms unfair and deceptive in response to an Executive order issued by President Biden on July 9, 2021, on promoting competition in the American economy.

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-382 in the vicinity of Hooper Bay, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to modify VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-5, V-20, V-155, V-241, and V-321; and to remove jet routes J-37, J-55, J-79, J-121, J-174, J-191, and J-209. These changes support the VOR Minimum Operation Network (MON) project in the eastern United States.

On July 11, 2022, PHMSA announced a request for information seeking input on the potential use of electronic communication as an alternative to current, physical documentation requirements for hazard communication. In this notice, PHMSA is extending the comment period from September 9, 2022, until October 24, 2022.

This document provides the public with notice that, on August 16, 2022, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) 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 certain Airbus SAS Model A350-1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of rejected take-offs after transient engine N1 shaft speed exceedance. This proposed AD would require replacing certain hydro-mechanical units (HMUs) with serviceable HMUs before reaching a reduced life limit, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. This proposed AD would also limit the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on July 14, 2022, that establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-381 in the vicinity of Big Lake, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. The final rule identified the GLOWS, AK, route point as a waypoint (WP), in error. This action makes an editorial correction to the reference of the GLOWS, AK, WP to change it to be reflected as a Fix and match the FAA's aeronautical database information.

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-369 in the vicinity of Bethel, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-235 in the vicinity of Atqasuk, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action removes the Class E airspace at Coalgate, OK. The FAA is taking this action due to the cancellation of the instrument procedures at the associated airport, and the airspace no longer being required.

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Mansfield, OH. The FAA is taking this action due to a biennial airspace review. The geographic coordinates of the Mansfield VORTAC are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA hereby provides notice of intent to release 6.71 acres at the Gainesville Regional Airport, Gainesville, FL from the conditions, reservations, and restrictions as contained in a Quitclaim Deed agreement between the FAA and the City of Gainesville , dated October 15, 1948. The release of property will allow the City of Gainesville to dispose of the property for other than aeronautical purposes. The property is located on the in the North one-half of Section 23 and 24, Township 9 South, Range 20 East, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida. The parcel is currently designated as surplus property. The property will be released of its federal obligations for the purpose of selling the property at fair market value for light industrial future commercial development. The fair market value lease of this parcel has been determined to be $216,000. Documents reflecting the Sponsor's request are available, by appointment only, for inspection at the Gainesville Regional Airport and the FAA Airports District Office.

The FAA is considering a proposal to change 18.23 Acres of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of airport property located at French Lick Municipal Airport, French Lick, IN. The aforementioned land is not needed for aeronautical use. The current county road adjacent to the subject property was constructed on previous airport property sold by the Airport to Orange County; however, due to unforeseen geological conditions, the road has failed multiple times. As a corrective action, Orange County, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation seek to realign a portion of the road to a location to avoid the region with the geologic issues. In order to facilitate this realignment, the Airport was approached with a second request to transfer additional land to Orange County. This land is located on the opposite side of the new road that was recently constructed and is not contiguous with the airport land that supports aeronautical use. Therefore, the French Lick Municipal Airport Board of Aviation Commissioners (BOAC) would like to release 18.23 acres of land to the Orange County Commissioners, for the purpose of allowing Orange County to construct a realigned County Road 300 South.

Columbus Trading-Partners USA, Inc., (CTP), has determined that certain Cybex child restraint systems distributed by CTP do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, Child Restraint Systems. CTP filed an original noncompliance report dated June 30, 2022. CTP petitioned NHTSA on July 5, 2022, and amended the petition on August 4, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of CTP's petition.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Borger, TX; Pampa, TX; and Spearman, TX. These actions are due to airspace reviews conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Borger very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The names and geographic coordinates of some airports are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends Class D airspace and removes Class E airspace area designated as an extension to Class D airspace in Fort Pierce, FL, as the Fort Pierce non-directional beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and associated approaches into Treasure Coast International Airport canceled. This action also updates the airport's name and geographic coordinates. This action enhances the safety and management of controlled airspace within the national airspace system.