Department of Transportation January 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 24 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.

This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-156 and V-285. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Kalamazoo, MI (AZO), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Kalamazoo VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The annual Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award (the award) seeks to raise awareness among transportation stakeholders about human trafficking and increase training and prevention to combat it. The award is a component of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative. Additional information regarding the Department's counter- trafficking activities can be found at www.transportation.gov/ stophumantrafficking. The award serves as a platform for transportation stakeholders to creatively develop impactful and innovative counter- trafficking tools, initiatives, campaigns, and technologies that can help stop these heinous crimes. The award is open to individuals and entities, including non-governmental organizations, transportation industry associations, research institutions, and state and local government organizations. Entrants compete for a cash award of up to $50,000 to be awarded to the individual(s) or entity selected for creating the most impactful counter-trafficking initiative or technology. DOT intends to incentivize individuals and entities to think creatively in developing innovative solutions to combat human trafficking in the transportation industry, and to share those innovations with the broader community.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for special permit received from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (TGP). 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.

This notice announces recent statutory changes affecting the monetary thresholds for the limited Federal financial assistance categorical exclusions (CE) established by FHWA and FTA in regulations. This notice also announces an amendment to the timeframe that FHWA and FTA will use for the annual index for inflation of the monetary thresholds for those CEs, from January (calendar year) to October (fiscal year) of each year.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to use the approved OMB Number 2138-0044, and continue to collect the following information: Confidential Close Call Transit Data for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA or the Authority), which includes but is not limited to the collection of data from Rail, Bus, Information Technology, and Command Center personnel. This data collection effort supports a multi-year program focused on improving the Authority in its entirety, by collecting and analyzing data and information on close calls and other unsafe occurrences within WMATA. The program is co- sponsored by WMATA and labor leadership including: the President/ Business Agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 922 and Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2. The Close Call program is designed to identify safety issues and propose preventive actions based on voluntary reports of a close call submitted confidentially to BTS, an Agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. This information collection is necessary for systematically analyzing data to identify root causes of potentially unsafe events.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ness City Municipal Airport, Ness City, KS. This action is the result of new public instrument procedures being developed at this airport.

This action removes the Class E airspace at Marfa, TX. This action is due to the closure of the airport.

This action proposes to amend the Class D and Class E airspace at Bloomington/Normal, IL. The FAA is proposing this action due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Bloomington very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran) Makila 1A and Makila 1A1 model turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by reports of false engine fire warnings. This AD requires replacing the affected fire detectors, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected fire detectors. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA will seek approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the extension of a currently approved information collection: National Transit Asset Management (TAM) System.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the application from Ronnie Brown III requesting an exemption from five provisions of the Federal hours of service (HOS) regulations and the electronic logging device (ELD) regulations. FMCSA analyzed the application and public comments and determined that the exemption would not achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The information collection OMB 2133-0530 (Requirements for Eligibility of U.S.-Flag Vessels of 100 Feet or Greater in Registered Length to Obtain a Fishery Endorsement) is necessary for MARAD to determine if a particular vessel is owned and controlled by United Sates citizens and is eligible to receive a fishery endorsement to its documentation. A minor change request to include privacy act statements for the collection of personally identifiable information will be added to the affidavits for this collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Rantoul, IL. The FAA is proposing this action due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Danville very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, OR 34: Van Buren Bridge Project, over the Willamette River, in City of Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon. Those actions grant 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.

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.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Antlers, OK. The FAA is proposing this action due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Paris very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.