Department of Transportation 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and - 402 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the saddle washer (radius filler) for the front and rear spar joints may have been incorrectly manufactured for several years. This AD requires inspecting the horizontal stabilizer to vertical joint for gaps and bending of the saddle washer and adjacent washers, and replacing parts if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document grants in full the Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) petition for exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (theft prevention standard) for its CX-90 vehicle line beginning in model year (MY) 2025. The petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the theft prevention standard.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate an information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on November 9, 2023. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of incorrect door opening instructions on the placards located on the right hand (RH) side of the VIP flap door. This AD requires installing a placard specifying jettisoning instructions, 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.

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 FAA will use the information it collects and reviews to monitor compliance with the regulations regarding air tours in the Grand Canyon National Park.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that the fan in a transformer rectifier unit (TRU) can become inoperative in a manner that is not detectable by the fan monitoring circuit. This proposed AD would require replacement of the existing TRU Number 2 with a new part number that incorporates a correction to the fan and the monitoring circuit. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. This 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 AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to add revised procedures. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking public comment on proposed updates to FTA's Award Management Requirements circular (C 5010.1). The proposed updates combine requirements applicable to all FTA financial assistance awards (referred to as ``cross-cutting'' requirements) and, when final, will supersede parts of three separate FTA circulars (the proposed ``Grant Programs for Urbanized Areas'', ``Formula Grants for Rural Areas'' (C 9040.1G), and ``Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities'' (C 9070.1G)). The proposed updates also reflect changes made by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act; the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)); the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; and other updates to FTA policies and procedures.

This document grants in full the Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.'s (Volkswagen) petition for exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (theft prevention standard) for its ID.7 vehicle line beginning in model year (MY) 2025. The petition is granted because the Agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the theft prevention standard. Volkswagen also requested confidential treatment for specific information in its petition. Therefore, no confidential information provided for purposes of this notice has been disclosed.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)'s mission is to deliver the world's leading transportation system, serving the American people and economy through the safe, efficient, sustainable, and equitable movement of people and goods. Developing rigorous research and applying relevant evidence are essential components of the Department's success. On March 28, 2022, we published our first Department-wide Learning Agenda for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022-2026 (the ``Learning Agenda'') in conjunction with the Department's FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (the ``Strategic Plan''). The Learning Agenda was our first effort to identify priority evidence needs and propose research, evaluation activities, and data gathering to address those needs. As we've reached the mid-point of this Learning Agenda, the Department seeks to update it. With this Request for Information (RFI), DOT's Office of the Secretary (OST)'s Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs seeks public input regarding potential updates to our published Learning Agenda. Information provided in response to this RFI will inform the development of the Learning Agenda Supplement: Fiscal Year 2024-2026 (``Learning Agenda Supplement'').

The FAA is providing notice of a release of Federal obligations for 0.60 acres of land at Pellston Regional Airport, Pellston, Michigan.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes. These airplanes 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 providing control- surface awareness to the flightcrew. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 737-8, 737-8200, and 737-9 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a missing washer and nut and consequent migrated bolt discovered by an operator during scheduled maintenance. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the aft rudder quadrant and applicable on-condition actions. 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 all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-800, and A330-900 series airplanes; Model A330-301, -302, -303, -323, -342, and -343 airplanes; and Model A340-312 and -313 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of quality non-conformity on main landing gear (MLG) axles where the high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) coating on the bearing journal runout areas had a coating that was thicker than allowable limits. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the affected parts (MLG axles) for any discrepancy, corrective actions, and eventual replacement of affected parts, and would prohibit the installation of affected parts, 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 FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a reinstatement of an 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 FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the request to release .426 acres of federally obligated airport property at the Gwinnett County Airport.

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 collection involves requirements primarily applicable to air carriers conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to enhance the professional development of pilots in those operations. The action requires air carriers conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to provide new-hire pilots with an opportunity to observe flight operations and become familiar with procedures before serving as a flightcrew member in operations. Additionally, it requires air carriers who have not previously revised the upgrade training to include professional development and to provide leadership and command and mentoring training for all pilots in command. The information to be collected is necessary to mitigate incidents of unprofessional pilot behavior and reduce pilot errors that can lead to a catastrophic event.

The FAA proposes to remove Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023- 13-07, which applies to certain Saab AB, Support and Services Model SAAB 340B airplanes. AD 2023-13-07 requires amending the applicable airplane flight manual (AFM) by incorporating a temporary revision (TR) to reduce the maximum take-off weight (MTOW). AD 2023-13-07 is no longer necessary, because of a determination that affected airplanes can be safely operated up to the initially published MTOW. Accordingly, the FAA proposes to remove AD 2023-13-07.

The Regulatory Agenda is a semiannual summary of all current and projected rulemakings, reviews of existing regulations, and completed rulemaking actions of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The Regulatory Agenda provides the public with information about DOT's planned regulatory activity for the next 12 months. This information enables the public to participate in the Department's regulatory process. The public is encouraged to submit comments on any aspect of this Regulatory Agenda.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-21-02, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, A321, A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-300, A330-800, A330-900, A340- 200, A340-300, A340-500, A340-600, and A380-800 series airplanes. AD 2021-21-02 requires replacing certain parts manufacturer approval (PMA) Ni-Cd batteries with serviceable Ni-Cd batteries or maintaining the electrical storage capacity of those PMA Ni-Cd batteries during airplane storage or parking. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-21-02, it was determined that the on-wing preservation procedures originally provided in that AD did not ensure the expected preservation of the battery capacity. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability and would require replacing each affected part with a serviceable part before release to service of an airplane after a storage or parking period, as applicable. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On September 6, 2023, DOT published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. DOT received no comments on this notice. This collection is necessary for administration of the Reconnecting Communities (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Discretionary Grant Programs and funding opportunities. Together, these programs are known as ``Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN)'' in the combined NOFO. RCN provides federal financial assistance for surface transportation infrastructure projects. Through RCP, this includes removing, retrofitting, or mitigating transportation facilities such as highways and rail lines that create barriers to community connectivity including to mobility, access, or economic development. Through NAE, this includes the RCP eligibilities and expands eligibility to activities that reduce the burdens to communities of existing transportation infrastructure, including air quality impacts and greenhouse gas emissions, urban heat islands, gaps in tree canopy coverage, and other natural environment concerns.

The Board will hold a hearing involving the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR), the Alabama State Port Authority and its rail carrier division, the Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks (collectively, the ``Port''; and with Amtrak, CSXT, and NSR, the ``Parties''), and the City of Mobile, Ala. (Mobile), if Mobile chooses to participate. The hearing will take place on February 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. EST in the hearing room of the Board's headquarters. The hearing will also be available for public viewing on YouTube.

This action extends the comment period for the NPRM published on July 24, 2024, titled ``Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification.'' The FAA is extending the comment period to allow commenters to review and comment on a Memorandum to the Docket that the FAA posted to the docket (FAA-2023-1377-1343) on February 1, 2024, regarding an ex parte communication between the FAA and representatives of ASTM International regarding the NPRM.