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

This action proposes special conditions for the Airbus A320- 200 Series Model -251N, -252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, -273N (known as A320neo) airplanes and A321-200 Series Model -251NX, -252NX, -253NX, - 271NX, -272NX (known as A321neo) airplanes. The airplanes 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 flight attendant seats mounted on movable lavatory doors. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

Spartan Motors USA, Inc (Spartan), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2015-2019 Spartan Specialty MM and K2 motorhome chassis do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 121, Air Brake Systems. Spartan filed a noncompliance report dated December 18, 2017, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on January 15, 2018, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the denial of Spartan's petition.

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. 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 Child Passenger Safety Perceptions and Practices in Ridesharing and Autonomous Vehicles.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 40 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below, regarding the reinstatement of a previously approved collection of information on Federal Motor vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 125, will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. The ICR describes the labeling requirement for warning devices and its expected burden. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on May 3, 2022. No comments were received.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as amended, the Department is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to OMB for review. DOT published a Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information on May 10, 2022 (87 FR 28101). DOT received two comments on the 60-day notice which are addressed below. DOT considered the comments and concluded that it will not make any changes to the information collections based on the comments before it submits the ICR to OMB for review. This notice is to allow the public an additional 30 days from the date of this notice to submit comments to the recently published application to reinstate OMB Control Number: 2105-0551, ``Reporting Requirements for Disability- Related Complaints.''

On August 18, 2022, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing project selections for the Fiscal Year 2022 Low or No Emission (Low-No) Vehicle Program. This notice provides a correction to eight project descriptions.

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 FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to submit one information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on June 2, 2022. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Transportation (DOT) intends to rename, modify and re-issue a DOT Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system of records notice titled, ``DOT/FAA 845 Administrators Correspondence Control and Hotline Information System, ACCIS, Administrator's Hotline Information System, AHIS, and Consumer Hotline Information System, CHIS.'' The name of this SORN will be changed to ``DOT/FAA 845 Complaint Intake System.'' The modification of the system of records notice (hereafter referred to as ``Notice'') will include the intake records for additional types of allegations that need to be identified in the Notice for purposes of transparency and accountability by FAA. These expanded reports are of actual or perceived aviation safety hazards and potential violations of criminal, civil and administrative laws and regulations, and aviation safety related orders under the regulatory oversight of the FAA. The Suspected Unapproved Program (SUP) complaint intake records covered by the former DOT/FAA 852 SUP Program SORN will be subsumed by this Notice. The records of the complaint investigations and resolutions will be covered by the updated DOT/FAA 852 Complaint Investigations System (formerly SUP Program) SORN, while the complaint intake will be covered by this Notice.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $600 million in competitive grants under the fiscal year (FY) 2022 and FY 2023 Competitive Grants for Rail Vehicle Replacement Program. As required by Federal public transportation law, Competitive Grants for Rail Vehicle Replacement Program funds will be awarded competitively to assist in the funding of capital projects to replace rail rolling stock. FTA may award additional funding made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Inc. Model 204B, 205A, and 205A-1 helicopters and various restricted category helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of cracked main rotor blades (MRBs). This AD requires repetitive inspections of each MRB and removing any cracked MRB from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FCA US LLC (f/k/a Chrysler Group LLC) (``FCA US'') has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 4500/5500 Cab Chassis motor vehicles equipped with Mopar rear brake hoses and replacement brake hoses sold to FCA US dealers do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 106, Brake Hoses. FCA US filed two noncompliance reports with NHTSA (the ``Agency''), both dated October 22, 2020. FCA US subsequently petitioned NHTSA on November 13, 2020, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces and explains the denial of FCA US's petition.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the request to release and sell a 3.62 acre parcel of federally obligated airport property at the Malden Regional Airport & Industrial Park (MAW), Malden, Missouri.

FHWA amends its regulation governing each State's certification of whether they choose to enact and enforce drug offender's driver's license requirements or choose to oppose enacting or enforcing the drug offender's driver's license requirement. The regulation applies to each State and specifies the steps that States must take to avoid the withholding of Federal-aid highway funds for noncompliance with the certification requirements. Highway Safety is the top priority of both DOT and FHWA. The changes that FHWA is making to the regulation will not negatively impact safety, efforts to combat substance abuse, or the substantive protections provided by the State certification requirements. Rather, they update the regulation to align with the wording of the relevant statute, increase clarity, and reduce administrative burden on States. Reducing fatalities and serious injuries will continue to be a top priority of the Department and FHWA.

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 review and approval. This ICR will enable FMCSA to document the burden associated with the for-hire truck leasing regulations and passenger carrier regulations. These regulations require certain for-hire property carriers and certain for-hire and private passenger carriers to have a formal lease when leasing equipment from other motor carriers. FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR titled, ``Lease and Interchange of Vehicles.''

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on September 8, 2021, amending airspace for several airports in the south Florida area. This action corrects the dividing line between Pompano Beach Airpark and Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, by updating the geographic coordinates that define the line. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model 680A Latitude airplane, as modified by Aerospace Quality Research and Development (AQRD). These airplanes 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 the installation of two rechargeable lithium batteries and battery system that will replace two nickel-cadmium batteries previously installed on the airplane. 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 FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to a proposed project, to construct a new bridge over the Sacramento River south of Pioneer Bridge (US 50), in the County of Yolo, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, replacing rock slope protection for four bridges at Three Star Ditch (PM R87.96R/L) and Determination Ditch (PM R90.98 R/L) on Interstate 10, in the County of Riverside, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.