Department of Transportation 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 14 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-21-15 for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH (DAI) Model DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. AD 2022-21-15 required replacing the rudder T-yoke axle with an improved rudder T-yoke axle. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-21-15, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded its mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to correct an unsafe condition on these products. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, inspecting the rudder steering bracket edge distance and depending on the inspection results, inspecting the T-yoke bolt hole for wear and play, and corrective action if necessary. For certain airplanes this AD requires replacing the rudder T-yoke bolt (axle) with a serviceable part, installing a new self-locking nut, and applying torque seal marks on the rudder T-yoke bolt head and self-locking nut. For all airplanes this AD requires repetitively inspecting the torque seal marks on the rudder T-yoke bolt head for proper alignment and the self-locking nut for proper installation and corrective action if necessary. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval for a new ICR titled "FMCSA Registration System (FRS)". FMCSA is replacing its Unified Registration System (URS), with a new, online registration system, which will be named the "FMCSA Registration System" (FRS). The new system will allow all persons required to register under the Agency's commercial or safety jurisdiction to do so online. Specifically, this new ICR will apply to: new registrants applying for safety and/or operating authority registration for the first time from FMCSA; existing registrants (i.e., entities that already have a USDOT number and/or operating authority) that are subject to FMCSA's registration and certification regulations that wish to apply for additional authorities; Mexico-domiciled carriers that wish to operate beyond the U.S. municipalities on the U.S.-Mexico border and their commercial zones; registrants seeking to process name changes, address changes, and reinstatements of operating authority for motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers; registrants which are requesting to voluntarily suspend their safety and/or operating authority registration with FMCSA; and motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders that must designate an agent on whom service of notices in proceedings before the Secretary may be made. It will also apply to designated agents and those entities providing proof of financial responsibility requirements, such as insurance companies and bond agents.

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 its decision to renew exemptions for nine 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 16 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 11 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for four individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This action provides notice that in general, the FAA will not authorize launch of a reentry vehicle as a payload that will require a reentry authorization to return to Earth unless the reentry vehicle operator has obtained the appropriate reentry authorization.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that applied to various airplanes modified with a certain configuration of the Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot System installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA01866WI. This action revises the NPRM by removing airplane models from and adding airplane models to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since this action would expand the applicability for the required action as proposed in the NPRM, the agency is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD 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.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-05- 16, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A319-115 airplanes; Model A320-214, -216, -232, -251N, and -271N airplanes; and Model A321-211, - 231, -251N, -251NX, -253N, -271N, -271NX, and -272N airplanes. AD 2020- 05-16 required a one-time detailed inspection of certain attaching points on the left-hand and right-hand wings for the correct installation of certain hardware, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions. This AD was prompted by reports of incomplete installations of the over wing panel lug attachments in the production assembly line and a determination that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-05-16 and adds airplanes to the applicability, 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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900 and - 900ER airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner bear strap. It has been determined that the cracks were caused by high operating stresses in the fuselage skin door cutout corner area due to stress concentration at the door cutout. This AD requires an inspection of the fuselage skin and the bear strap at the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner for existing repairs, and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. 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 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of multiple occurrences of low clearance or fouling between certain wiring harnesses and a hydraulic bracket and structure in the wing trailing edge area that were detected on the production line. This AD requires inspecting certain wiring harnesses for any damage and clearance to adjacent structure and corrective actions, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. 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 Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of debonding on the leading edge protection of certain part-numbered main rotor blades (MRBs). This proposed AD would require repetitively tap inspecting the MRB and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing an affected MRB on any helicopter unless its requirements are met. These actions are 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 proposes to amend United States Area Navigation Route (RNAV) T-399 in the vicinity of Clear, AK. The FAA is proposing this amendment to increase the lateral separation between T-399 and Restricted Area R-2206.

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. In order to work continuously to ensure that our programs are effective and meet our customers' needs, FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR titled, "Generic Clearance of Customer Satisfaction Surveys." This ICR allows FMCSA to continue collecting feedback on our service delivery. By feedback, we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study.

FMCSA announces the Hawaii Department of Transportation's (HDOT) requests for an exemption on behalf of the Hawaii Department of Education's (DOE) Transportation Services Branch and independent schools statewide to allow Class A or B commercial driver's license (CDL) holders with a passenger (P) endorsement to operate a school bus without holding a school bus (S) endorsement, and to allow the use of motorcoaches and vans to transport students to/from a central location to school daily. HDOT states that except for the S endorsement training requirements, all other Federal and State training requirements will be completed before drivers start transporting students in motorcoaches. HDOT believes an exemption will provide a temporary resolution to its school bus driver shortage while drivers complete the S endorsement training. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request for exemption.

FHWA, in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to solicit comment and advise the public, agencies, and stakeholders that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to study potential improvements to the Highway 252 (Hwy 252) corridor in Hennepin County from Highway 610 (Hwy 610) to the Hwy 252/Interstate 94 (I-94)/Interstate 694 (I-694) interchange, and the I-94 corridor from the Hwy 252/I-94/I-694 interchange to North Fourth Street and North Third Street in downtown Minneapolis. This notice also requests identification of potential alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed action. Persons or agencies who may be affected by the proposed Hwy 252/I-94 Project (Project) are encouraged to comment on the information in this NOI. All comments received in response to this NOI document will be considered and any information presented herein, including the preliminary alternatives and identified impacts, may be revised in consideration of the comments.

DOT OST announces a meeting of ACTE, which will take place via Zoom Webinar.

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 a new information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 12, 2023. The FAA proposes collecting information related to requests for certificate of waivers made to operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in deviation from the normal operating rules. The list of rules subject to waiver requests is found in the Code of Federal Regulations. The FAA will use the collected information to make determinations whether to authorize or deny the requested operation of UAS. The proposed information collection is necessary to issue such authorizations or denials consistent with the FAA's mandate to ensure safe and efficient use of national airspace.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-22-05, which applies to all Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. AD 2021-22-05 requires repetitively inspecting certain torque tube assemblies for any deficiency and corrective action if necessary, and replacing any affected part with a serviceable part, which is terminating action for the repetitive inspections. AD 2021-22-05 was prompted by reports of abnormal play on the collective torque tube on two Leonardo Model AW119 MKII helicopters, which were due to an erroneous manufacturing process. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-22-05, it was discovered that additional torque tube assemblies are subject to the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain certain requirements specified in AD 2021-22- 05, reduce the applicability to include helicopters with only affected part-numbered collective torque tube assemblies, reduce the inspection intervals, and remove the previously approved terminating action 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) discussed below will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal and extension. These ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. A Federal Register notice and request for comments with a 60-day comment period on these ICRs was published in the Federal Register on January18, 2024 [89 FR 3494] under Docket No. 2024-0001 (Notice No. 2024-01). PHMSA received a comment from the National Propane Gas Association in support of the burden estimates for the three OMB control numbers outlined in the 60-day notice.