Department of Transportation 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the public with notice that on October 28, 2023, Trinity Railway Express (TRE) submitted a request to field test trains on TRE's positive train control (PTC)-equipped Silver Line subdivision, which is equipped with the Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS). TRE's October 2023 test request also withdraws its pending test request that it had previously filed with FRA on August 29, 2023. FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on TRE's request to test its PTC system on the Silver Line subdivision.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is accepting for consideration the primary application (Application) filed October 6, 2023, by Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKCL), a noncarrier, on behalf of itself and its wholly owned subsidiary, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCS) d/b/a CPKC (collectively, Applicants). The Application seeks Board approval for KCS, a Class I rail carrier, to acquire from Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, L.L.C. (MNBR), a Class III rail carrier, and to operate approximately 50.4 route miles of rail line between Meridian, Miss., and Myrtlewood, Ala. (the Western Line). This proposal is referred to as the ``Proposed Transaction.'' The Board is also accepting for consideration three related filings.

On February 21, 2023, FHWA established a Build America, Buy America (BABA) implementation plan by publishing a temporary public interest waiver of Buy America requirements for steel, iron, manufactured products, and construction materials in electric vehicle (EV) chargers. This short-term, temporary waiver was structured to enable EV charger acquisition and installation to immediately proceed while also ensuring the application of Buy America to EV chargers by the phasing out of the waiver over time. While promulgating the final waiver, FHWA announced that it would conduct biannual RFIs to receive information on the status of the EV charger industry. Requests for comment include, but are not limited to, the number of chargers recently produced by EV charger manufacturers, projections on chargers expected to be produced, and the number of EV chargers recently purchased by recipients of Federal financial assistance and projected to be purchased by recipients of Federal financial assistance in the near future.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-21-15, which applies to certain Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH (DAI) Model DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. AD 2022-21-15 requires replacing the rudder T-yoke axle with an improved rudder T-yoke axle. Since the FAA issued AD 2022- 21-15, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded its mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to correct an unsafe condition on these products. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, inspecting the rudder steering bracket edge distance and depending on the inspection results, inspecting the T-yoke bolt hole for wear and play, and corrective action if necessary. For certain airplanes this proposed AD would require replacing the rudder T-yoke bolt (axle) with a serviceable part, and applying torque seal marks on the rudder T-yoke bolt head, and self-locking nut. For all airplanes this proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the torque seal marks on the rudder T-yoke bolt head for proper alignment and the self- locking nut for proper installation and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action removes Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Choctaw NOLF, Milton, FL.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Thales AVS France SAS (Thales) flight management computer navigation modules (FMC2 NAVM) installed on, but not limited to, airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that, due to software issues, certain FMC2 NAVM navigation modules provide erroneous data to the flight management computer, compromising safe flight of the airplane. This AD requires revising the existing aircraft flight manual (AFM) for your airplane and updating the navigation database. This AD also prohibits installing a database unless certain procedures were removed. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action revokes Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-318 in the vicinity of Level Island, AK. The FAA is taking this action due to the airway's lack of use.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-14-09, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319 series 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 2018-14-09 requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the fastener holes in certain fuselage frames, and depending on airplane configuration, provides an optional terminating action to the repetitive inspections. Since the FAA issued AD 2018-14-09, it was determined that additional actions are necessary beyond those required by AD 2018-14-09. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2018-14-09 and would require modified compliance times, as well as further inspections and optional terminating actions for certain airplanes, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-01- 13, which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes. AD 2020-01-13 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-01- 13 and require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; 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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. (Embraer) Model EMB-505 airplanes. This AD was prompted by occurrences of an uncommanded change in the setting of the barometric pressure in both primary flight displays (PFDs). This AD requires installing a new version of the airplane avionics system software, 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) 2018-03-13 for certain General Electric Company (GE) Model CT7-5A2, CT7-5A3, CT7- 7A, CT7-7A1, CT7-9B, CT7-9B1, CT7-9B2, CT7-9C, and CT7-9C3 engines. AD 2018-03-13 required initial and repetitive visual inspections and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the main propeller shaft. This AD was prompted by an in-flight failure of a main propeller shaft on a GE Model CT7-9B engine, resulting in the loss of the propeller. This AD requires initial and repetitive visual inspections, FPIs, and ultrasonic inspections (USIs) of the main propeller shaft. Depending on the results of these inspections, this AD requires replacement of the main propeller shaft. As an optional terminating action to these inspections, this AD requires revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing maintenance manual (MM) and the operator's existing approved maintenance program or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate incorporating the tasks and reduced inspection thresholds for the main propeller shaft. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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).