Department of Transportation 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection: Public Transportation Safety Program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Saab AB, Support and Services Model SAAB 340B airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the affected airplanes must not be operated at a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) above 29,000 pounds. This AD requires amending the applicable airplane flight manual (AFM) by incorporating a temporary revision (TR) to reduce the MTOW, 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that a combination of system faults and procedural actions will cause the ground spoilers to deploy in the air. This proposed AD would require revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to add revised procedures. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the award of a total of $1,689,864,104, including $1,216,941,397 to projects under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No) and $472,922,707 to projects under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (Buses and Bus Facilities Program) and provides administrative guidance on project implementation.

On May 31, 2023, FRA published an NPRM proposing to require railroads to develop written programs for certifying individuals who work as signal employees on their networks and to submit those written certification programs to FRA for approval prior to implementation. By this notice, FRA is extending the NPRM's comment period by 30 days.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) published a document in the Federal Register on December 19, 2022, providing notice of public meeting dates for the GLS Advisory Board. The date and location for the third meeting has changed.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-476; and to amend RNAV route T-739, in support of the FAA's Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The purpose is to enhance the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) by transitioning from ground-based navigation aids to a satellite-based navigation system.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that a certain nondestructive test (NDT) procedure associated with a certain airworthiness limitation for inspecting the inboard, mid, and outboard flap metallic end ribs does not contain all of the necessary instructions. This proposed AD would require a revision to the existing maintenance or inspection program to require using a revised NDT procedure when performing an airworthiness limitation task. This proposed AD would also prohibit the use of earlier revisions of that NDT procedure. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300- 600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, 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.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-07- 13, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. AD 2020-07-13 required revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide the flightcrew with new warnings for ``Autoflight'' and ``Engine Failure in Climb During ALTS CAP.'' This AD requires revising the existing AFM to provide the flightcrew with new warnings for ``Autoflight'' and ``Engine Failure in Climb During (V) ALTS CAP or (V) ALTV CAP.'' This AD was prompted by a revision to the procedures to ensure that all applicable altitude capture modes utilized and annunciated in the affected fleet are included and to more clearly denote these altitude capture modes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on May 15, 2023, that amends the Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-6, V-338, V-494, and United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-331 descriptions to reflect the name change from the Squaw Valley, CA, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) navigational aid (NAVAID) to the Palisades, CA, VOR/DME. The description of V-6 in the final rule contained segments that were previously revoked as published by the FAA in the Federal Register on January 17, 2023. This action makes editorial corrections to the description of V-6.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in coordination with the Maritime Administration (MARAD), will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of the Grand Isle LNG Operating Company, LLC (Applicant) deepwater port license application. The application proposes the ownership, construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of an offshore natural gas export deepwater port, known as the Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port Development Project, that would be located in Federal waters approximately 11.3 nautical miles (13 statute miles, or 20.9 kilometers) offshore Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of approximately 68 to 72 feet (20.7 to 21.9 meters). The deepwater port would allow for the loading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading carriers. This Notice of Intent (NOI) requests public participation in the scoping process, provides information on how to participate and announces an informational open house and public meeting. Pursuant to the criteria provided in the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, Louisiana is the designated Adjacent Coastal State (ACS) for this application.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-19-03 which applied to Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes. AD 2022-19-03 required incorporating new revisions to the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of the existing airplane maintenance manual (AMM) or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to establish a 5-year life limit for certain main landing gear (MLG) actuator bottom attachment bolts and new life limits for the rudder bellcrank. Since the FAA issued AD 2022- 19-03, the FAA determined that new or more restrictive tasks and limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the ALS of the existing AMM or ICA for your airplane, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Polaris Group of America, Inc., (Polaris), has determined that certain motorcycles manufactured by Indian Motorcycle Company do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Indian Motorcycle Company, on behalf of Polaris, filed an original noncompliance report dated April 13, 2022, and later amended the report on September 9, 2022. Polaris petitioned NHTSA on May 13, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Polaris's petition.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 17 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 operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is withdrawing the NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2017, proposing to amend Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-20, V-31, V-33, V- 308, and V-433; and revoke V-379; due to the planned decommissioning of the Nottingham, MD (OTT), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation System (VORTAC).

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Golden Triangle Regional Airport, Columbus, MS, by updating the airport's description header and geographic coordinates, as well as the geographic coordinates of Columbus AFB, Columbus-Lowndes County Airport, Oktibbeha Airport, and McCharen Field. In addition, this action makes the editorial changes replacing the term Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air Missions and replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with Chart Supplement. This action does not change the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The information collection described in this document is for NHTSA's Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (AV TEST) Initiative, which involves the collection of voluntarily-submitted information from entities involved in the testing of vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) and from States and local authorities involved in the regulation of ADS testing. The purpose of this collection is to provide information to the public about ADS testing operations in the United States and applicable State and local laws, regulations, and guidelines. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information collection was published on April 6, 2023 (83 FR 20608). NHTSA received 3 comment submission and a brief summary and NHTSA's response to those comments is provided in this document.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments on our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for an information collection in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection is necessary for administration of the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grants (MPDG). This includes three funding opportunities: the ``National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants program (Mega),'' the ``Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects grants program (INFRA)'', and the ``Rural Surface Transportation Grant program (Rural)''. The MPDG provides Federal financial assistance for surface transportation infrastructure projectsincluding highway and bridge, intercity passenger rail, railway-highway grade and separation, wildlife crossing, public transportation, marine highway, and freight and multimodal projects, or groups of such projects, of national or regional significance, as well as to projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Winnie/Stowell, TX. The FAA is taking this action to support new public instrument procedures.

The Federal Aviation Administration announces that a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded Airport Traffic Control Tower Replacement Program is available for public review and comment.