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

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC (NGPL). The special permit request is seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $6,000,000 of fiscal year (FY) 2021 funds under the Public Transportation Innovation Program to serve as the Program Lead for the Mobility, Access, & Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Demonstration Research Program (``Program''). The Program Lead is responsible for the planning, deployment and evaluation of research demonstrations that provide the transportation resources necessary to implement targeted strategies that mitigate transportation insecurity for a defined population and determine the value of that mitigation to individuals and communities. FTA seeks to enter into a cooperative agreement with an experienced program management or research organization to coordinate all aspects of the Program. The FTA may award additional funds, if they are made available to the Program prior to the announcement of project selection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR entitled ``Designation of Agents, Motor Carriers, Brokers and Freight Forwarders,'' OMB control number 2126-0015. This is necessary to provide motor carriers, property brokers, and freight forwarders a means of meeting process agent requirements.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) invite interested persons to apply to fill one current and one upcoming vacancy on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notice invites interested persons to apply for the current and upcoming openings. The current opening is for a representative of Native American tribes. The upcoming opening is for a representative of environmental concerns.

DOT published the names of the persons selected to serve on Departmental PRBs.

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

The Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board is publishing the Regulatory Flexibility Agenda for spring 2022.

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 document corrects an interim final rule with request for comment that intended to extend the expiration date of the rule requiring pilots operating civil helicopters under Visual Flight Rules to use the New York North Shore Helicopter Route when operating along the northern shoreline of Long Island, New York. This correction effectuates that extension.

This Notice announces the public meeting of the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC), to be held virtually on the topic of airline ticket refunds and related consumer protection matters.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requests public comment on how its regulations for conducting workplace drug and alcohol testing for the federally regulated transportation industry could be amended to allow electronic signatures on documents required to be created and utilized under the regulations, to be able to use electronic versions of forms, and to electronically store forms and data. The regulatory changes would apply to DOT-regulated employers and their contractors (``service agents'') who administer their DOT- regulated drug and alcohol testing programs. Currently, employers and their service agents must use, sign and store paper documents exclusively, unless the employer is utilizing a laboratory's electronic Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (electronic CCF) system that has been approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). DOT is required by statute to amend its regulations to authorize, to the extent practicable, the use of electronic signatures or digital signatures executed to electronic forms instead of traditional handwritten signatures executed on paper forms. This rulemaking also responds to an April 2, 2020, petition for rulemaking from DISA Global Solutions, Inc. (DISA), requesting that part 40 be amended to allow the use of an electronic version of the alcohol testing form (ATF) for DOT-authorized alcohol testing. The information received in response to this ANPRM will assist DOT in the development of proposed regulatory amendments intended to provide additional flexibility and reduced costs for the industry while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality requirements of the drug and alcohol testing regulations.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) created several new programs at the US Department of Transportation (DOT) that allow local governments, non-profit organizations, tribal governments, and other political subdivisions of state or local governments to apply directly for DOT discretionary grant funding. In response to President Biden's Executive Orders, ``Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,'' and ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,'' DOT has included criteria in its notices of funding opportunity to prioritize the needs of disadvantaged communities for many of these new programs. Through this Request for Information (RFI) for the newly created Thriving Communities Initiative, DOT is looking to gain information on the technical assistance, planning, and capacity building needs faced by disadvantaged communities that are seeking to advance local transportation projects within the existing Federal, state, and regional transportation planning and project delivery methods including to access innovative finance programs offered through DOT.

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, the 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.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Duluth Airport Authority (DAA) for Duluth International Airport (DLH) under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act and FAA regulations are in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for DLH in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before October 8, 2022.

The Surface Transportation Board adopts a final rule to codify a longstanding voluntary practice whereby Class I carriers, through the Association of American Railroads (AAR), have annually reported tare weight and loss and damage data for use in the Board's Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS). Under the final rule, Class I carriers may choose to provide tare weight and loss and damage data through AAR or to file the data with the Board individually.

This document provides the public with notice that, on July 26, 2022, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 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.

This action removes Class E airspace in Milford, PA, as Myer Airport has been abandoned, and controlled airspace is no longer required. This action enhances the safety and management of controlled airspace within the national airspace system.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of the Secretary (OST) announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. The Executive Order, ``Setting Customer Service Standards,'' directs Federal agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. In order to work continuously to ensure that our programs are effective and meet our customers' needs, the Department of Transportation (DOT) seeks a renewal without revision to a fast track generic clearance information collection request already approved by OMB. OST requests renewal without revision of ICR with OMB Control Number: 2105-0573 as described below. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on May 24, 2022. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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 high speed protection system that limits nose-down pilot authority at speeds above VC/ MC. 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.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces the availability of the Combined Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation, (FEIS/ROD) for the Port of Long Beach (POLB or Port) Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility Project (Project) to support an application to DOT for Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) and potentially other federal funding programs. MARAD has issued a single document that consists of a FEIS/ROD. Therefore, the 30-day wait/review period under NEPA does not apply to this action.