Department of Transportation February 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) is accepting for consideration an application (Application) filed on January 30, 2024, by Canadian National Railway Company (CNR) and Grand Trunk Corporation (GTC), together with the Iowa Northern Railway Company (Iowa Northern or IANR) (collectively, Applicants). The Application seeks Board approval for CNR and GTC to acquire control of Iowa Northern, a Class III rail carrier that operates a total of approximately 218 route miles in the state of Iowa. This proposal is referred to as the ``Proposed Transaction.'' The Board is also accepting for consideration two related filings. Those filings are verified notices of exemption seeking Board approval of transactions involving mutual trackage rights between Iowa Northern and the Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad Company (CCP), an indirect rail carrier subsidiary of GTC (Related Transactions).

FMCSA requests public comment on an application for exemption submitted by Convoy Technologies, Inc. (Convoy) to allow motor carriers to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMV) equipped with Convoy's Electronic Rear View System (ERVS) installed as an alternative to the two rear-vision mirrors required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all airplanes with certain Pacific Scientific Company rotary buckle assemblies (buckles) installed. This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing defect in the screws used inside the buckle. This proposed AD would require inspecting the buckle screws, and depending on the results, reidentifying the buckle, replacing the screws and reidentifying the buckle, or replacing the buckle. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain buckles. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FHWA in coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division (MassDOT) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to solicit comments and advise the public, agencies, and stakeholders that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to study the potential environmental and related social and economic effects of proposed transportation improvements through the Cape Cod Bridges Program in the town of Bourne, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The Cape Cod Bridges Program proposes critical transportation infrastructure improvements including replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore highway bridges spanning Cape Cod Canal; reconfiguration of the highway approach networks north and south of Cape Cod Canal to align with the replacement highway bridges; and provision of separated pedestrian and bicycle accommodations along the replacement bridges with connections to the local roadway network. This NOI contains a summary of the information required in the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations. This NOI should be reviewed together with the Supplementary NOI Document, which includes important details about the Cape Cod Bridges Program and complements the information in this NOI. Persons and agencies who may be interested in or affected by the Cape Cod Bridges Program are encouraged to comment on the information in this NOI and the Supplementary NOI Document. All comments received in response to this NOI will be considered and any information presented herein may be revised in consideration of the comments.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project Antelope Grade Section, approximately 10 miles northeast of the community of Shandon in the County of San Luis Obispo and 32 miles northwest of the census-designated town of Lost Hills in the County of Kern, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked vertical stabilizer top end cap assemblies. This AD requires an initial and recurring inspections of the vertical stabilizer top end cap assembly and corrective action if a crack is found, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to establish United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-489, T-491, T-493, and T-495; amend RNAV Routes Q-102, T-210, T-336, T-341, and T-349; and revoke RNAV Route T- 204 in the eastern United States. This action supports FAA Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) efforts to provide a modern RNAV route structure to improve the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action amends the description of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-97 by changing the name of the DLAAY, MD, waypoint (WP) to the BYSEL, MD, WP; changing the type of point for the SAWED, VA, and KALDA, VA, route points from being listed as a ``Fix'' to a ``WP''; and correcting the geographic coordinates listed for the existing route points between the JEVED, GA, WP and the Presque Isle, ME (PQI), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid. The FAA is taking these actions to match the FAA National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database information. These actions are editorial amendments only and do not alter the alignment, dimensions, or operating requirements of Q-97.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion nor omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from two individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) by persons with a current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope (transient loss of consciousness), dyspnea (shortness of breath), collapse, or congestive heart failure. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ICDs to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded deployment of the emergency life-raft system (ELS). This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the life-raft installations and, depending on the results, accomplishing additional actions, 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 modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Spanish Fork Municipal Airport/ Woodhouse Field, Spanish Fork, UT. This modification supports the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of an information collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This action revokes Colored Federal Airway Blue 12 (B-12) in the vicinity of Kodiak Island, AK, due to the previous establishment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-385 in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Dixon, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Polo very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name 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 action proposes to amend the Class D and Class E airspace at Saginaw, MI. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Mount Pleasant very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action would also update the names and the geographic coordinates of various airports to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44, R44 II, and R66 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of helicopters losing a tail rotor blade (TRB) tip cap. This AD requires visually checking and inspecting certain part-numbered and serial-numbered TRB tip caps for evidence of corrosion and, depending on the results, removing the corrosion. This AD also requires removing all affected TRBs from service and prohibits installing them on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 3, 2023. The collection involves information from commercial air tour operators on the numbers and types of air tours over national park units. The information collected is necessary for the FAA and the National Park Service to track air tour operations over national parks and as background information in the development of air tour management plans and voluntary agreements for purposes of addressing any potential significant impacts from commercial air tour operations on the natural or cultural resources or visitor experience at the parks.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Greenville, IL, and Vandalia, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews conducted due to the decommissioning of the Vandalia very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airports 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 action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of Hollister Municipal Airport, Hollister, CA, due to the newly developed Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS]) Runway (RWY) 13 approach. This action would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

In a notice of provisional renewal of exemption published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2024, FMCSA announced its decision to provisionally renew an exemption requested jointly by the Automobile Carriers Conference of the American Trucking Associations and the Auto Haulers Association of America to relieve motor carriers operating stinger-steered automobile transporter equipment from the requirement to place warning flags on projecting loads of new and used motor vehicles. The provisional exemption renewal contained an error in the Summary section regarding the term of the provisional exemption. The Agency corrects this error.

The FAA announces the airworthiness criteria for the Blackshape S.p.A., Model BK160-200 Very Light Airplane (VLA). This document sets forth the airworthiness criteria that the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the VLA design.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.