Department of Transportation 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is proposing to waive the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's domestic preference requirements for certain products that Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) needs for its Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant project. The proposed waiver would exempt the following products used in PGW's project from BABA requirements on the basis of nonavailability: electro-fusion tapping tees, anodeless risers, transition fittings, lockwing valves, magnesium anodes, service adapters, curb valves, caps, couplings, and stiffeners. In accordance with section 70914(c) of BABA, PHMSA is seeking public comments on the proposed waiver.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), on behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by the Authority that are final agency actions. The actions relate to the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Palmdale to Burbank Project Section (Project). The Project will provide the public with electric-powered HSR service that provides predictable and consistent travel times between the Antelope Valley and the San Fernando Valley; provide connectivity to airports, mass transit systems, and the highway network in the Antelope Valley and the San Fernando Valley; and connect the Northern and Southern portions of the planned statewide HSR system. These actions grant permits, approvals, or authorizations for the Project.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has finalized an updated circular, to assist recipients in their implementation of the Rural Areas Formula Program and the rural component of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The update and consolidation of the circulars incorporates provisions from 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 for Federal awards to non-Federal entities; and current FTA policies and procedures. This notice responds to the comments FTA received on the proposed circular, which was published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2024.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has finalized a new circular entitled, "Urbanized Areas Formula Grant Programs Guidance," which consolidates and replaces the circulars for the Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program (FTA Circular C 9030.1), the State of Good Repair Grants Program (FTA Circular C 5300.1), and the Urbanized Area formula component of the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (FTA Circular C 5100.1). The update and consolidation of the circulars incorporate provisions from the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act; the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Federal awards to non-Federal entities; and current FTA policies and procedures. This notice responds to the comments FTA received on the proposed circular, which was published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2023.

Van Pool Transportation LLC (Van Pool or Applicant), a noncarrier, filed an application to acquire control of an interstate passenger motor carrier, TransAction Corporate Shuttles, Inc. (TCS), from its sole shareholder, the Cynthia Cain Fren[eacute] Revocable Trust (Seller). The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction subject to the owners of Van Pool filing to join the application. If the owners' filing is satisfactory and no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Victoria, TX. The FAA is proposing this action to support new instrument procedures at this airport.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-15-06, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 777-200, - 200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. AD 2022-15-06 requires disconnecting certain connectors and capping and stowing the wires that had been attached to the affected transorb modules. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-15-06, the agency has determined additional connectors are affected. Also, a replacement has been developed to address the unsafe condition, which would terminate the existing actions. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2022- 15-06 and would require those actions for additional connectors. This proposed AD would also require determining if affected transorb modules are installed, replacing or testing affected transorb modules, and applicable on-condition actions. 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 all Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 and R44 II helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of a fractured clutch shaft forward yoke (yoke) on the main rotor (M/R) drive due to fatigue cracking. This AD requires visually inspecting a certain part-numbered flex plate assembly (flex plate) and certain part-numbered yokes, including each flex plate bolt, and depending on the inspection results, removing an affected part from service and replacing an affected part with an airworthy part. This AD also requires removing a certain part-numbered yoke from service after accumulating a certain number of hours time-in-service (TIS) or a certain number of years, or as an alternative to removing the part from service, performing a 10x or higher power magnification visual inspection and, if needed, a magnetic particle inspection. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to establish Class D airspace and amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Auburn University Regional Airport, Auburn, AL, as a new air traffic control tower will service the airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 23 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) announces a public meeting of the Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC) on Thursday, October 17, 2024. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meeting, which will be virtually open to the public. The purpose of the TTAC is to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary on matters relating to transportation innovations.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant a five-year exemption to the Oregon Department of Transportation (Oregon) from the commercial driver's license (CDL) rules concerning acceptable proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency for citizens of Freely Associated States (FAS) who reside in Oregon and wish to obtain a CDL or commercial learner's permit (CLP). The FAS are the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allows States to issue full- term REAL ID licenses and ID cards to citizens of the FAS. The exemption allows Oregon to accept from citizens of the FAS a valid, unexpired passport issued by a FAS and an Arrival/Departure Record, meaning an I-94 or I-94A form, as proof of lawful entry into the United States, and issue standard CLPs and CDLs, rather than non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs, to these individuals. FMCSA concludes that granting the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, is likely to achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be obtained absent the exemption.

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 request for an extension without change to an existing information collection: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-800 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that the compliance time for the initial ultrasonic inspection required by AD 2019-11-06 is insufficient for certain airplanes. This proposed AD would require reducing the compliance time for the ultrasonic inspection of the skin under the drag link assembly. 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 BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that a revised restrictive airworthiness limitation is necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate a revised restrictive airworthiness limitation for the aft engine mount attachment bolts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting 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 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 AD requires repetitive inspections of the affected parts (MLG axles) for any discrepancy, corrective actions, and eventual replacement of affected parts, and prohibits the installation of affected parts, 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 Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by the discovery of a single-point failure within the left- hand and right-hand heater current monitor (HCM) units. This AD requires installing a monitor circuit comprising relays external to the HCM units. This AD also requires revising the normal and non-normal procedure sections of the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to add new procedures associated with revised crew alerting system (CAS) messages. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice provides amendments to the time, website information, dates, and other details of a notice published July 25, 2024, announcing a public workshop on risk modeling methodologies and tools for the evaluation of gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), and hazardous liquid pipelines.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it has discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Airfield, Safety, and Terminal Improvement Project at West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) in Charleston, West Virginia. The FAA's discontinued preparation of the EIS is based on the need for additional planning studies to support the proposed development following changes to operations at CRW. The FAA originally placed the EIS on pause on March 27, 2024 and is now cancelling the EIS due to the additional time needed to conduct the necessary studies.

Winnebago Industries, Inc., (Winnebago or petitioner), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2013-2023 Winnebago motorhomes do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Winnebago filed a noncompliance report dated November 11, 2022, and amended the report on December 2, 2022, and May 17, 2023. Winnebago petitioned NHTSA on December 2, 2022, and amended the petition on May 17, 2023, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the denial of Winnebago's petition.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-26-16, which applies to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-28-151, PA-28-161, PA-28-181, PA-28-235, PA-28R-180, PA-28R-200, PA- 28R-201, PA-28R-201T, PA-28RT-201, PA-28RT-201T, PA-32-260, PA-32-300, PA-32R-300, PA-32RT-300, and PA-32RT-300T airplanes. AD 2020-26-16 requires calculating the factored service hours (FSH) for each main wing spar to determine when an inspection is required, inspecting the lower main wing spar bolt holes for crack(s), and replacing any cracked main wing spar. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-26-16, the FAA evaluated the reports required by AD 2020-26-16 and determined that repetitive inspections of the lower main wing spar bolt holes for crack(s) and non-crack damage (including deep scratches, gouges, and thread marks) and replacement or modification of the main wing spar should be required, calculated service hours (CSH) should be used instead of FSH to determine times for required actions for each main wing spar, and that certain airplanes should be removed from the applicability and a new airplane model added to the applicability. This proposed AD would require calculating the CSH for each main wing spar; repetitively inspecting the lower main wing spar bolt holes for crack(s) and non- crack damage and taking corrective actions as needed; and replacing or modifying main wing spars at a specified time. This proposed AD would also revise the applicability by removing certain airplanes and adding a new airplane model. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.