Department of Transportation June 27, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 17, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a request for information (RFI) seeking public input on the development of a national strategy on Advanced Air Mobility as required by the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act. The comment period for the RFI was scheduled to end on July 17, 2023. DOT received several requests to extend the comment period. DOT is extending the comment period for the RFI by 30 days.

PHMSA proposes amendments to its Hazardous Materials Regulations to require all railroads to generate in electronic form, maintain, and provide to first responders, emergency response officials, and law enforcement personnel, certain information regarding hazardous materials in rail transportation to enhance emergency response and investigative efforts. The proposal responds to a safety recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board and statutory mandates in The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, as amended, and complements existing regulatory requirements pertaining to the generation, maintenance, and provision of similar information in hard copy form, as well as other hazard communication requirements.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-06-10, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2020-06-10 requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the vertical stiffeners of the left- and right-hand sides of the window frames and corrective actions if necessary. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-06-10, it was determined that certain compliance times need to be reduced. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2020-06-10, with amended compliance times, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-23- 01, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2008-23-01 required inspecting to determine the part number and serial number of the fuel tank boost pumps and, for airplanes with affected pumps, revising the operator's airplane flight manual (AFM) and FAA-approved maintenance program. AD 2008-23-01 also required modifying or replacing certain fuel tank boost pumps, which terminated the AFM limitations and the maintenance program revisions. Since the FAA issued AD 2008-23-01, it has been determined that airplanes fitted with a different fuel pump can be subject to cavitation erosion on the wiring conduit. This AD requires inspecting affected fuel pumps for discrepancies and replacement if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This AD also requires replacing certain other fuel pumps. This AD also limits the installation of affected fuel pumps under certain conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document provides the public with notice that, on June 2 and 7, 2023, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTC system.