Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice concerns a petition for waiver submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) to waive the launch collective risk limit of 1 x 10-4 expected casualties (Ec) for Starship Super Heavy missions that utilize a near-orbital trajectory. The near-orbital Starship Super Heavy missions have been deemed suborbital such that a single launch collective risk limit of 1 x 10-4 Ec has been applied to cover the aggregate of the risks from the suborbital launch and suborbital reentry phases of each mission. The SpaceX petition requests an increase to the collective risk limit, to not exceed 2 x 10-4 Ec, with the condition that neither the suborbital launch nor suborbital reentry risks exceed 1 x 10-4 Ec individually. The FAA grants the petition for near-orbital Starship Super Heavy missions to allow a risk budget that parallels but remains consistent with an orbital mission profile that has a separate risk limit of 1 x 10-4 Ec for both the launch and reentry phases.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (Board) gives notice of its intent to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval without change of the six existing collections described below. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register (August 5, 2024). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received.

This document announces an extension of the comment period for the referenced NPRM, which proposed 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. This NPRM invited comments concerning the proposed requirements for calculating the calculated service hours (CSH) to determine the times for required actions 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 NPRM also invited comments concerning the proposal to revise the applicability by removing certain airplanes and adding a new airplane model. This extension of the comment period is necessary to provide all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on the proposed requirements of this NPRM.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-9, V-78, V-341, and V- 430, and Canadian Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-765; and establish United States (U.S.) RNAV route T-490. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Iron Mountain, MI (IMT) VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Iron Mountain VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for New Bern, NC, by adding airspace for CarolinaEast Medical Center Heliport, New Bern, NC. This action also proposes to correct the state abbreviation in the header from AL to NC. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this 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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 31, 2024. The collection involves information that must be reported to the FAA about small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) safety events if they result in serious injury or damage exceeding certain thresholds.

The FHWA, on behalf of UDOT, is issuing this notice to announce the availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Interstate 84 (I-84)/US-89 Interchange Reconstruction in South Weber City, Uintah City, and South Ogden City, in Weber and Davis Counties, Utah. In addition, this notice is being issued to announce actions taken by UDOT that are final Federal agency actions related to the project referenced above. Those actions grant licenses, permits and/or approvals for the project. The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) provides details on the Selected Alternative for the proposed improvements.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

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 creation of accounts, storage of training and awards history, and management of FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) volunteers. The information to be collected will be used to and/or is necessary because it allows for individual users to complete and track their individual training and awards accomplishments and allows for contact information to be available to users for FAASTeam volunteers.

A final rule was published in the Federal Register on October 3, 2024, amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Claremont Municipal Airport, Claremont, NH, as the Claremont Non-directional Beacon (NDB) had been decommissioned, and associated instrument approaches canceled. This action corrects the Claremont Municipal Airport coordinates within the airspace description that contained a typographical error.

FMCSA proposes to amend its November 16, 2023, final rule, "Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility," by extending the compliance date for certain provisions from January 16, 2025, to January 16, 2026. This action is being proposed because FMCSA has determined that only its forthcoming online registration system will be used to accept filings and track notifications, and this functionality will not be added to its legacy systems. As the new system is not expected to be available before January 16, 2025, FMCSA proposes to extend the compliance date to provide regulated entities time to begin using and familiarizing themselves with the system before compliance is required.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a flight deck emergency escape hatch was difficult to open due to the hose ends being connected to the hatch with incorrect parts, which could affect drainage of the hatch. This proposed AD would require inspection of the flight deck emergency escape hatch drain hose for discrepancies and applicable corrective actions, and prohibit accomplishment of maintenance actions using the instructions of certain maintenance tasks, 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 FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-20-17 and AD 2021-15-05, which apply to all General Electric Company (GE) Model GE90-110B1 and GE90-115B engines. AD 2020-20-17 prohibits dispatch of an airplane if certain status messages are displayed on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) and if certain conditions are present; and as terminating action, requires revision of the existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL) by incorporating the dispatch restrictions into the MEL. AD 2021-15-05 requires initial and repetitive replacement of the full authority digital engine control (FADEC) integrated circuit (MN4) microprocessor. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-20-17 and AD 2021-15-05, the manufacturer has developed a software revision for the electronic engine control (EEC) FADEC that further mitigates the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain all the actions of AD 2020-20-17 and AD 2021-15-05, and it would also require upgrading the EEC FADEC software to an EEC FADEC software version eligible for installation as a terminating action. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice announces an extension of the comment period on an NPRM that proposes to modify Class D airspace and establish Class E airspace at San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino, CA. This action is being taken in response to interest by local airspace users in the San Bernardino area, a higher than usual amount of public comment since the initial publication of the NPRM, and the expectation of future comments.

This notice supersedes a previously published notice on this topic. This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that it is appropriate to grant a non-availability Buy America waiver to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for procurement and installation of 16 suspended explosive charge remote avalanche control systems (RACS), which contain non-domestic iron and steel components, along Mount Superior overlooking SR-210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. The waiver relates specifically to iron and steel components that are part of the tower, deployment box, and charges of the RACS.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is publishing a final rule for minimum safety standards for rail transit roadway worker protection (RWP) to ensure the safe operation of public transportation systems and to prevent safety events, fatalities, and injuries to transit workers who may access the roadway in the performance of work. This final rule applies to rail transit agencies (RTAs) covered by the State Safety Oversight (SSO) program, SSO agencies (SSOAs), and rail transit workers who access the roadway to perform work. This final rule sets minimum standards for RWP program elements, including an RWP manual and track access guide; requirements for on-track safety and supervision, job safety briefings, good faith safety challenges, and reporting unsafe acts and conditions and near-misses; development and implementation of risk-based redundant protections for workers; and establishment of RWP training and qualification and RWP compliance monitoring activities. RTAs are expected to comply with these Federal standards as a baseline and use their existing Safety Management System (SMS) processes to determine any additional mitigations appropriate to address the level of RWP risk identified. This final rule requires SSOAs to oversee and enforce implementation of the RWP program requirements.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-04- 11, which applied to certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. AD 2024-04-11 required modifying the variable frequency generator (VFG) power-feeder harness routing. Since the FAA issued AD 2024-04-11, the FAA received a report of damage to a VFG power-feeder harness, resulting in the loss of the associated VFG and the posting of the L GEN FAIL (Caution) message. This AD continues to require modifying the VFG power-feeder harness routing, and also requires inspecting the VFG power-feeder harnesses for damage and clearance, repairing or replacing the VFG power-feeder harnesses if necessary, modifying and adjusting the VFG power-feeder harnesses if necessary, and prohibiting dispatch of certain airplanes under certain master minimum equipment list (MMEL) items; as specified in a Transport Canada emergency AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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.

This proposed rule would update FRA's procedures for waivers and safety-related proceedings to define the two components of the statutory waiver and suspension standard, "in the public interest" and "consistent with railroad safety." By defining these terms, FRA intends to clarify the standard the agency will apply when evaluating petitions for regulatory relief. FRA also proposes to require petitions for relief to include evidence of meaningful consultation with appropriate stakeholders. Additionally, FRA proposes to make minor updates to agency rules of practice.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model Trent 1000-AE3, Trent 1000-CE3, Trent 1000-D3, Trent 1000-G3, Trent 1000-H3, Trent 1000-J3, Trent 1000-K3, Trent 1000-L3, Trent 1000-M3, Trent 1000-N3, Trent 1000- P3, Trent 1000-Q3, Trent 1000-R3, Trent 7000-72, and Trent 7000-72C engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked intermediate pressure compressor (IPC) shaft assembly front air seals. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the affected IPC shaft assembly for cracking and, depending on the results of the inspection, repetitive inspections or replacement of the IPC shaft assembly front air seals, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Mission Hospitals, Asheville, NC, as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Mission Hospitals. Additionally, this action updates the coordinates for Mission Hospitals and Asheville Regional Airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

PHMSA proposes to revise the Hazardous Materials Regulations to adopt several modal-specific amendments that would enhance the safe transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. PHMSA, in consultation with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the United States Coast Guard, proposes amendments identified during Departmental review and from industry petitions for rulemaking.