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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, PHMSA invites public comments about PHMSA's intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew six information collections that are scheduled to expire in 2024. PHMSA has reviewed each information collection and considers them vital to maintaining pipeline safety. As such, PHMSA will request renewal from OMB, without change, for each information collection.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Litchfield, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Darwin very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Bedford, PA. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the St. Thomas very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Harrison, OH. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Cincinnati 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. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

This Notice implements Title II of the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act of 2002). In doing so, the Department of Transportation notifies all employees, former employees, and applicants for Federal employment of the rights and protections available to them under the Federal Anti-discrimination and Whistleblower Protection Laws.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT, or Department) is considering whether to amend the accessibility requirements for transportation facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) currently contained in Appendix A to DOT's regulations governing transportation services for individuals with disabilities. The Department may consider whether to improve access beyond the minimum standards established by the U.S. Access Board and Appendix A. The Department seeks suggestions from all transportation stakeholdersincluding transportation agencies, transportation riders (particularly those with disabilities), community members, advocacy groups, planning officials, States, cities, researchers and technology companies, and the private sectoron enhancements that the Department could consider with regard to the ADA standards for transportation buildings and facilities. The Department specifically seeks feedback on areas including, but not limited to vertical access, communications, and wayfinding. The Department also invites comment on any other aspects of the current accessibility requirements for transportation facilities under the ADA contained in DOT's regulations governing transportation services for individuals with disabilities.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-04- 12, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2023-04-12 required repetitive detailed inspections of affected cargo sealing tapes and applicable corrective actions. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-04-12, additional locations have been identified that are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2023-04-12 and expands the inspection area, 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.

This action proposes special conditions for the Airbus Model A321neo XLR airplane. The airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is an electronic flight-control system (EFCS) associated with lateral-directional and longitudinal stability, and low-energy awareness. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-158 and V-172 in the vicinity of Polo, IL. The amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Polo, IL (PLL), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Polo VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action amends Jet Route J-84, United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-42, and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-171 and V-251, and establishes United States RNAV route T-478. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Danville, IL (DNV), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Danville VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-46 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Point Hope, AK (PHO), Non- Directional Beacon (NDB) navigational aid (NAVAID).

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Flying Joseph Ranch Airport, May, ID, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) has determined that certain replacement windshield glass panes manufactured by Central Glass Co., Ltd., outsourced to Japan Tempered & Laminated Glass Co., Ltd., and sold to Nissan as replacement parts for use in certain Nissan motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials. Nissan filed a noncompliance report dated June 29, 2020. Nissan subsequently petitioned NHTSA on July 29, 2020, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This notice announces grant of Nissan's petition.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On August 25, 2023, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

The FAA, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) (together the agencies), has initiated development of an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) for Canyon de Chelly National Monument (the Park) pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour Management Act (NPATMA) of 2000 and its implementing regulations. The agencies determined that the development of an ATMP constitutes a Federal undertaking subject to compliance the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). The agencies have initiated the section 106 process with the Navajo Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Tribes, and other consulting parties. This notice announces the opportunity for the public to comment on the results of the FAA's efforts to identify historic properties, evaluate the properties' significance, and assess the undertaking's effects on them. The agencies are seeking public input on the FAA's efforts to date in identifying consulting parties, determining the area of potential effects, identifying historic properties, and assessing the effects of the undertaking on historic properties within the area of potential effects. The agencies are providing the description of the undertaking, the consulting party list, the delineation of the proposed Area of Potential Effects (APE), the results of the agencies' efforts to identify historic properties within the APE, the evaluation of their significance, and the agencies' approach to assessing the undertaking's effects upon the identified historic properties. Supporting documentation can be found at the following link: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CACHATMP.

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announces the opportunity to apply for $20 million in FY 2024 Airport Infrastructure Grant funds for the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program, made available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), herein referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The purpose of the FCT Competitive Grant Program is to make annual grants available to eligible airports for airport-owned airport traffic control tower (ATCT) projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation's airports.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as amended, this notice announces the Department of Transportation's intention to revise information related to an OMB control number for an online complaint form by which a consumer can electronically submit a service-related complaint against an airline and other air travel- related companies.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for three individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.