Department of Transportation September 12, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the application from Alaska's Ice Road Driving School requesting an exemption from certain portions of the behind-the-wheel (BTW) entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements for driver trainees. The applicant explained that because of the unique road system and challenging terrain in Alaska, it is difficult to adhere to the driver training regulations, and further explained that the road configurations lead to only a few major established safe road systems in Alaska. The applicant believes that the road skills test for a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) applicant can safely be administered by the State test examiner because set routes can be established and approved without the CDL applicant completing certain portions of the mandatory BTW training. FMCSA analyzed the application and determined that the exemption would not likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Mount Pleasant, MI. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review due to the decommissioning of the Mount Pleasant 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.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC), pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

This Safety Advisory recommends railroads utilize Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD) to properly identify and replace high-impact railcar wheels that could cause significant damage to rails and supporting track structures. FRA's preliminary investigation of a recent train derailment in Gothenburg, Nebraska, indicates that high- impact wheels damaged the rail the train was operating over and caused the derailment. Current industry practices for using WILDs to identify and replace high-impact wheels could help prevent such incidents in the future.