Department of Transportation 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Advanced Research Projects AgencyInfrastructure (ARPA-I) is seeking input from interested parties on the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in transportation, as well as emerging challenges and opportunities in creating and deploying AI technologies in applications across all modes of transportation. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain input from a broad array of stakeholders on AI opportunities, challenges and related issues in transportation pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14110 of October 30, 2023 entitled "Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence".

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection OMB 2133-0018 (Title XI Obligations Guarantees) will be used to evaluate an applicant's project and capabilities, make the required determinations, and administer any agreements executed upon approval of loan guarantees. This collection is being updated to include minor changes to the instructions to streamline the data collection process through electronic submission capability. There is also a reduction in the public burden since the last renewal. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 13 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 FAA is considering a proposal to change approximately 2.392 acres of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of airport property located at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus, OH. The property is located in the northwest portion of the airport along the north side of Johnstown Road, west of the Runway Protection Zone for Runway 10L. The aforementioned land is proposed to be sold for future development of an office/warehouse building and is not needed for aeronautical use.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracks found on the trunnion arms of the inboard flap assemblies. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the trunnion arms of the inboard flap assembly, and applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. 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 Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that a new filter plate connector for the nose wheel steering (NWS) system electronic control module (ECM) does not meet certain certification requirements. This AD requires replacing all affected ECMs. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. 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 for a new information collection. The collection involves obtaining information from FAA employees and contractors who will travel overseas on official business. The information to be collected will be used in the event an FAA employee and/or contractor is isolated overseas and requires lifesaving assistance.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. 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 Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports from the supplier that some overheat detection sensing elements of the bleed air leak detection system were manufactured with insufficient salt fill, which can result in an inability to detect hot bleed air leaks. This AD requires maintenance records verification, and if an affected part is installed, prohibits the use of certain Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) items under certain conditions by requiring revising the operator's existing Minimum Equipment List (MEL). This AD also requires testing the overheat detection sensing elements, marking each serviceable sensing element with a witness mark, and replacing each nonserviceable part with a serviceable part. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-24- 20, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes, and AD 2023-03-05, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2021-24-20 required repetitive water drainage and plug cleaning of the left- and right-hand slat geared rotary actuators (SGRAs) having a certain part number installed on slat 5 track 12 with certain functional item numbers. AD 2023-03-05 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 certain actions in AD 2021-24-20 and AD 2023-03-05 and requires 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.

This action proposes to revoke the Class E airspace at Gibson City, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of the instrument procedures being cancelled and the airspace no longer being required.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Llano, TX, and Mason, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Llano very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the Llano Municipal Airport, Llano, TX, would also be updated 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.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Beloit, KS. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Mankato very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational 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 and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD 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.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is issuing a final rule to strengthen protections for consumers by ensuring that they have access to fee information for transporting baggage and changing or canceling a flight before ticket purchase. Under the final rule, U.S. air carriers, foreign air carriers, and ticket agents must clearly disclose passenger-specific or itinerary- specific fees for these services to consumers whenever fare and schedule information is provided for flights to, within, and from the United States. The Department is further requiring that carriers provide useable, current, and accurate information regarding fees for these critical ancillary services to any entity that is required to disclose critical ancillary service fee information to consumers. This final rule is in response to the Executive order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, which directs the Department to take various actions to promote the interests of American workers, businesses, and consumers. The rule will ensure that consumers have the information they need to understand the true costs of air transportation that apply to them, which will create a more competitive market with better outcomes for consumers.

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

This document provides the public with notice that, on April 19, 2024, Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) submitted a request for amendment (RFA) to its FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plan (PTCSP). As this RFA may involve a request for FRA's approval of proposed material modifications to an FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) system, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on the railroad's RFA to its PTCSP.

The FHWA, in coordination with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), 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 for the proposed NYS Route 17 Mobility and Access Improvements Project (the Project) located on NYS Route 17 between Exit 113, U.S. Route 209 in Sullivan County and Interstate 87 (I-87) in Orange County, New York (transportation corridor). The purpose of the Project is to address operational mobility deficiencies that exist on NYS Route 17 between U.S. Route 209 and Interstate 87 (transportation corridor). This NOI contains a summary of the information required in the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. This NOI should be reviewed together with the NOI Additional Project Information document, which contains important details about the proposed project and compliments the information in this NOI. Persons and agencies who may be interested in or affected by the proposed project are encouraged to comment on the information in this NOI and the NOI Additional Project Information 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and DOT Order 1351.29A, this notice 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 Department of Transportation (DOT) seeks to maximize the use of American-made products and materials in all federally funded projects as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's implementation of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In this notice, DOT is taking action to finalize a temporary general applicability waiver of the requirements of section 70914(a) of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), included in BIL, and related domestic preference statutes administered by DOT and its Operating Administrations (OAs) for federal financial assistance awarded by DOT and its OAs for infrastructure projects located in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and American Samoa, collectively referred to as the "Pacific Island territories." The waiver also applies to discretionary grant assistance provided by DOT and its OAs to the Freely Associated States (the Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia) in the Pacific that are subject to a domestic preference statute. As it applies to the Freely Associated States, the waiver does not include BABA, which only applies to infrastructure projects in the United States and its territories. The waiver will provide time for DOT to collect and analyze evidence to determine if a more targeted waiver of these requirements is in the public interest. The waiver allows time for DOT and its OAs to offer technical assistance to potential assistance recipients in the remote communities in the Pacific Island territories and Freely Associated States. The waiver will be reviewed prior to its expiration.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that torque wrenches used during production installation of bulkhead fittings on the oxygen lines of the flight crew oxygen mask stowage boxes and adapter fitting on the oxygen pressure gauge were out of calibration during production installation, which resulted in a higher torque level setting than required. This proposed AD would require replacement of the affected oxygen line fittings, as specified in a Transport Canada 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 proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area, modify the airspace designated as an extension to a Class E surface area, modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and remove the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Bishop Airport, Bishop, CA. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.