Department of Transportation 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was signed into law on November 15, 2021, required FMCSA to establish a pilot program that would allow employers to establish an apprenticeship program for certain 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old drivers to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. FMCSA announced the establishment of the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) Program in the Federal Register on January 14, 2022, including the requirements for motor carriers wishing to participate. This notice revises those requirements, as directed by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.

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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a fuel leakage discovered during fuel system crash impact testing activity. This proposed AD would require installing a grommet around the sump drain port fitting airframe hole, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to certain General Electric Company (GE) Model GE90-110B1 and GE90-115B engines. As published, references to the service information include a typographical error in the regulatory text of the AD. This document corrects that error in all references. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Barrow County Airport, Winder, GA. This action increases the existing radius and updates the airport's name and geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAA's database.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-22-13, which applies to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. AD 2023-22-13 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-22- 13, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2023-22-13 and would 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 proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action extends the Order Limiting Operations at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) published on December 27, 2006, as most recently extended October 28, 2022. The Order remains effective until October 24, 2026.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces a meeting of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Advisory Council (Council). During the meeting, the USMMA leadership will provide an update on programs and priorities, including: governance, sexual assault and sexual harassment, academics, culture and diversity, and facilities and infrastructure.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant Gemini Motor Transport LP's, USDOT No. 913300, (Gemini) application for an exemption to allow it to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with a module manufactured by Intellistop, Inc. (Intellistop). The Intellistop module is designed to pulse the required rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from a lower-level lighting intensity to a higher-level lighting intensity 4 times in 2 seconds when the brakes are applied and then return the lights to a steady-burning state while the brakes remain engaged. The Agency has determined that granting the exemption to Gemini, an individual, easily identifiable motor carrier operating a finite number of CMVs, would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved by the regulation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) published a notice for comment that confirms the Department's intention to renew Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 2105- 0576, concerning Traveling by Air with Service AnimalsU.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form, and U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. The purpose of this addendum is to notify the public that an accessible version of the notice is available for view on DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection website.

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 February 21, 2024, FRA published a notice providing a 60- day period for public comment on the ICR.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for reinstatement of an existing information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This Notice provides information to Federal, State, and local agencies; Native American tribes; and other interested persons regarding the FAA's intent to prepare an EIS to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of issuing a commercial launch Vehicle Operator License to SpaceX for the Starship-Super Heavy launch vehicle at Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. SpaceX proposes to construct launch, landing, and other associated infrastructure at and in proximity to LC-39A. The proposal would also include Starship-Super Heavy launches at LC-39A; recoverable Super Heavy booster and Starship landings at LC-39A or on a droneship; and expendable Super Heavy booster and Starship landings in the ocean. The FAA will prepare the EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, as part of its licensing process. Additional information is available online at: https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_stars hip_ksc.

FMCSA announces its denial of the application from Pitt Ohio Express, LLC (Pitt Ohio) to exempt its drivers from one of the requirements in the Agency's Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program. Pitt Ohio requests an exemption allowing it to use drivers under the age 21, who hold a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce, to participate in the SDAP program. FMCSA analyzed the application and determined that there is insufficient basis to conclude that the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is correcting a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2024. The final rule was published to maintain alignment with international regulations and standards by adopting various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. The corrections address several errors to the hazardous material entries in the hazardous materials table.

Volvo Bus Corporation (VBC) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2009-2023 Volvo 9700 buses do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. VBC filed a noncompliance report dated November 15, 2022, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA (the "Agency") on December 13, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of VBC's petition.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Inc., Model 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked tail boom attachment barrel nuts (barrel nuts). This proposed AD would require replacing all steel alloy barrel nuts with nickel alloy barrel nuts and, replacing or inspecting other tail boom attachment point hardware and depending on the results, replacing hardware, stabilizing torque, and applying torque stripes. This proposed AD would also require repetitively inspecting torque and, depending on the results, corrective action. This proposed AD would require repetitively replacing the upper left-hand (LH) tail boom attachment bolt (bolt) and repetitively inspecting the other tail boom attachment point bolts. Lastly, this proposed AD would prohibit installing steel alloy barrel nuts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Department is extending through June 12, 2024, the period for interested persons to submit comments to its proposed rule on Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is rescinding its Notice of Intent (NOI) and will not be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed highway project in Shelby County, Tennessee. A NOI to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on February 9, 2009.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collected is required by the Office of Registration to process name changes, address changes, and reinstatements of operating authority for motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers. On December 14, 2023, FMCSA published a notice in the Federal Register with a 60-day comment period to announce its intention to submit this ICR to OMB for renewal. FMCSA received no comments in response to the published notice.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Helicopters (Airbus) Model H160-B helicopter. This helicopter has a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for helicopters. This design feature is the extended duration of continued safe flight and landing beyond 30 minutes after indication to the flightcrew of the loss of main gearbox lubrication. 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.