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

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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of corrosion detected on certain part- numbered landing gear assemblies. This AD requires, for helicopters with certain part-numbered landing gear assemblies installed, visually inspecting for cracks and corrosion; borescope inspecting; and if required, removing corrosion, measuring thickness, interpreting results of the measurements, applying chemical conversion coating and primer, and removing affected parts (landing gear assembly) and affected part sub-assemblies (front or rear crossbeam or left-hand or right-hand skid assembly) from service and replacing with airworthy parts. This AD will allow an affected part or affected part sub-assembly to be installed on a helicopter if certain actions in this AD are accomplished. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracks found at the main deck cargo door forward and aft hinge attachment holes. This proposed AD would require a maintenance records check for repairs at the forward and aft hinge areas of the main deck cargo door cutout; repetitive open-hole high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracks in the unrepaired areas of the bear strap, skin, doubler, and upper sill chord at the main deck cargo door forward and aft hinge attachment holes; and corrective actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document announces SAE International (SAE) aerospace standard (AS) for use as a means of compliance to the applicable airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The FAA accepts SAE Designation AS6960 ``Performance Standards for Seat Furnishings'', section 3.2.3 as a means of compliance with regard to the design of seat furnishings.

This notice requests information from the public to assist MARAD in determining how best to organize and structure a Center for Maritime Innovation (the ``Center''). MARAD authority in this area provides the Center to support the study, research, development, assessment, and deployment of emerging marine technologies and practices related to the maritime transportation system. MARAD is seeking comments and information on the qualities, competencies, and costs required for the functioning of such a Center; its structure and organization; and suggestions and experiences establishing this kind of secretariat.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for seven 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-300 and -400 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of missing parts on the main landing gear (MLG) side stay upper spindle assembly. This AD requires inspection of the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) MLG side stay upper spindle assembly attachments, and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-21- 06, which applied to certain Ipeco Holdings Limited (Ipeco) pilot and co-pilot seats. AD 2019-21-06 required modification and re- identification of the affected seats, initial and repetitive inspections of the affected track lock springs and, depending on the findings, replacement of the track lock springs with a part eligible for installation. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-21-06, the FAA determined the need for a mandatory terminating action to the track lock spring inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of track lock spring failures occurring on affected seats. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2019-21-06. This AD also adds a mandatory terminating action for the initial and repetitive inspections of the affected track lock springs. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action changes the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2023, that amends the United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-230 in the vicinity of St. Paul Island, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. The effective date in the final rule was incorrectly stated as August 10, 2023. The correct effective date for Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-63 is October 5, 2023.

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 or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This document provides the public with notice that, on July 14, 2023, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) submitted two requests for amendment (RFA). The first RFA is to Amtrak's FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP) and its Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II), which seeks FRA's approval to introduce modified safety server software to address a known defect and updates to type approval documentation. The second RFA is to Amtrak's FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system for its ACSES II system, which seeks FRA's approval to install Construction Zone (CZ) transponders to support cutover activities on the Philadelphia to Washington (PW) line. As these RFAs may involve requests for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified PTC system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on Amtrak's RFAs to its PTCSP and PTC system.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 747-8F and 747-8 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracks in stringers, common to the end fittings, on the aft side of the bulkhead at station (STA) 2598. This AD requires detailed inspections of the stringers, common to the end fittings, forward and aft of the bulkhead at a certain station for cracking and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) T-route, T-380, in the vicinity of Emmonak, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-12-07, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and -122 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 2019-12-07 requires replacement of both main landing gear (MLG) shock absorbers, an identification of affected MLG sliding tubes; inspection of affected chromium plates and sliding tube axles for damage; and replacement of the sliding tube if necessary. AD 2019-12-07 also requires repetitive inspections of affected MLG sliding tubes for cracking, replacement of cracked MLG sliding tubes, and eventual replacement of each affected MLG sliding tube. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-12-07, the FAA has determined that additional MLG sliding tubes are affected by the unsafe condition and that the repetitive inspection interval may be extended. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2019-12-07 and would require repetitive inspections of additional MLG sliding tubes, replacement if necessary, and eventual replacement of the additional MLG sliding tubes. This proposed AD would also extend the repetitive inspection interval. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport(BQK), Brunswick, Georgia.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of inoperative manual and alternate horizontal stabilizer trim switches. This AD requires repetitive inspections for immersion of each limit switch and position transmitter module (LSPTM) and of the LSPTM electrical wiring, repetitive inspections for blockage of the drain holes and cleaning of each drain hole, repetitive inspections for loose or cracked leveling compound, and applicable on-condition actions. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires installing two new drain holes, performing repetitive inspections for blockage of the drain holes and cleaning each drain hole, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is issuing a final rule to amend the Department's Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation to improve the accessibility of lavatories on single- aisle aircraft. This final rule is intended to ensure that our air transportation system is safe and accessible to individuals with disabilities.

PHMSA is issuing editorial and technical corrections clarifying the regulations promulgated in its April 8, 2022, final rule titled ``Pipeline Safety: Requirement of Valve Installation and Minimum Rupture Detection Standards'' for certain gas, hazardous liquid, and carbon dioxide pipelines. The final rule also codifies the results of judicial review of that final rule.