Department of Transportation December 21, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is extending the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking regarding FTA's State Safety Oversight program, which was published on November 15, 2023, with the original comment period closing on January 16, 2024.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Mankato, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Mankato very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name of an 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.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) Update submitted by the City of Westfield, Massachusetts, through its Aviation Department, for Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. The Final Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) was submitted to FAA for review and approval on May 26, 2023. The NCP was found to be sufficient for consideration by the FAA, and a Federal Register noticed appeared on July 11, 2023. The required 60-day public comment period expired on September 9, 2023. The NEM was previously determined to be in compliance on June 13, 2019, and is still valid. The NCP contained 10 noise abatement measures, nine land use measures, and four program management measures. Of the 23 measures proposed, 12 were approved, 9 were approved as voluntary, one requires no action at this time, and one was disapproved for purposes of part 150.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of a renewal of information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on October 17, 2023. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This final rule amends the Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR) to provide needed editorial changes. DOT is publishing a technical amendment to make a minor administrative correction to a TAR clause citation.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 11 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing helicopter maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) for your helicopter and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program for your helicopter, as applicable, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action withdraws the final rule correction published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2023. That action incorrectly stated that the action would be incorporated by reference. The FAA has determined that withdrawal of the final rule correction is warranted since the action is not incorporated by reference.

This document provides the public with notice that, on December 12, 2023, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICD) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA- approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA requests FRA's approval of NICD's proposed material modifications 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 PTCSP.

This action proposes to establish restricted area R-4601 in the vicinity of Townsend, MT. The new restricted area would provide the Montana Army National Guard (MTARNG) and the 40th Helicopter Squadron with the ability to conduct aerial gunnery training.