Department of Transportation 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 16, 2020, FHWA published an interim final rule (IFR) amending FHWA's regulations to allow States the ability to use the Indefinite Delivery and Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) method of contracting, including job order contracting (JOC), on Federal-aid highway projects, under certain circumstances, on a permanent basis. This action adopts the IFR with a few minor changes and technical amendments. Most provisions from the IFR remain unchanged. This action also restores a missing provision inadvertently removed during an earlier, unrelated rulemaking.

This notice announces the calendar year 2023 drug and alcohol random testing rates for specific recipients of FTA financial assistance. The minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 50 percent, and the random alcohol testing rate will remain at 10 percent.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH (DAI) Model DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. This AD is prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a loose rudder T-yoke axle nut. This AD requires replacing the rudder T-yoke axle with an improved rudder T-yoke axle. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the engine feed pressure switches were installed with no secondary locking mechanism and can become loose and cause a fuel leak. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections at the engine feed pressure switch locations and installation of a flange adaptor with lockwire to terminate the repetitive inspections, as specified in a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) 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 October 26, 2022, Central Florida Rail Corridor (CFRC) submitted its Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP), Version 4.1, dated October 21, 2022, to FRA's Secure Information Repository. CFRC asks FRA to approve its updated PTCSP and certify CFRC's Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) as a mixed PTC system.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 model reciprocating engines. This proposed AD was prompted by manufacturer reports of fractured main bearing studs. This proposed AD would require the removal and replacement of certain main bearing studs. 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 October 31, 2022, that amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-26 and V-63; establishes Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-464; and revokes the Wausau, WI, Low Altitude Reporting Point in the vicinity of Wausau, WI. In the new RNAV route T-464, the final rule identified the TONOC, WI, route point as a waypoint (WP), in error. This action makes editorial corrections to the reference of the TONOC, WI, WP to change it to be reflected as a Fix. This correction is necessary to match the FAA National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database information.

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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a potential interference between the ram air turbine (RAT) blade tip and the belly fairing (BF) RAT inboard door. This AD requires replacing the BF inboard RAT door and BF adjacent panels, and prohibits the installation of affected parts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and A350-1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that in the event of rapid decompression at a specific location of the airplane, possible deflections of the passenger floor cross beams may result in wiring damages, leading to potential system losses. This AD requires amending the operator's existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to update the landing performance database, 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Inc., Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters; certain Erickson 214 Holdings, LLC, Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters; certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB412 and AB412 EP helicopters; and certain various restricted category helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of two in-service failures of forward crosstubes due to fatigue damage and the issuance of newly established life limits. This AD requires determining the total number of landings on certain part-numbered forward crosstubes and incorporating requirements (airworthiness limitations) into existing maintenance records. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Foothills Regional Airport, Morganton, NC, by updating the airport's name and geographic coordinates. Additionally, the geographic coordinates of Fiddlers NDB would be updated. Also, Grace Hospital would be removed from the descriptor, as all instrument approaches into the hospital have been canceled. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Eagle Lake, TX. This action is due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Eagle Lake very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

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 FHWA, on behalf of the FDOT, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by FDOT and other Federal Agencies that are final agency actions. These actions relate to the proposed State Road (S.R.) 85 Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study (Financial Management Number 220171-2-22-01). The proposed S.R. 85 project will add capacity to S.R. 85 from S.R. 123 (Roger J. Clary Highway) to Mirage Avenue, a distance of approximately 12.2 miles. Improvements consist of roadway widening from four to six lanes, bridge replacements, improvements at signalized intersections, reconstruction of the interchange at I-10 as a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI), and the construction of stormwater management facilities. These actions grant licenses, permits, or approvals for the project.

On July 18, 2022, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) announced its intention in a Federal Register Notice (87 FR 42796) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the following information collection: The Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) Project. Over the past several years, the U.S. supply chain has struggled with unprecedented congestion under COVID-induced surges of containerized cargo through our ports and intermodal networks. In March of this year, the White House announced the launch of the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) initiative with the Department of Transportation and the freight industry to facilitate a collaboration and sharing of intermodal trade data. This collaboration would help improve supply chain efficiencies and reduce overall costs to U.S. consumers. The FLOW initiative builds on previous work by the Administration's Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force to ensure the expeditious movement of cargo from ship to shelf. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, BTS 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. BTS encouraged interested parties to submit comments to docket number 2022- 15247, during the 60-day comment period. No comments were received.

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.

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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12/47E airplanes. This proposed 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 corrosion of the actuator attachment lug areas underneath the anti-rotation pads of the main landing gear (MLG) and nose landing gear (NLG). This proposed AD would require replacing certain MLG and NLG electro-mechanical actuators. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of corrosion on the horizontal stabilizer lower center skin panel, including a finding of corrosion where the skin thickness had been substantially reduced, which affected design margins. This proposed AD would require inspecting the horizontal stabilizer lower center skin panel for corrosion, and reworking, repairing, or replacing the lower center skin panel if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Mount Sterling and Pittsfield, IL. The FAA is proposing this action due to airspace reviews conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Quincy very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of Pittsfield Penstone Municipal Airport, Pittsfield, IL, would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Marshalltown, IA. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review as part of the decommissioning of the Elmwood very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program.