Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) has issued a decision in its investigation of the causes of substandard on-time performance of Amtrak's Sunset Limited that, among other things, establishes a procedural schedule for the filing of pleadings and provides guidance on subjects to be addressed in those pleadings. Under the procedural schedule, non-parties will be permitted to submit replies to the opening briefs filed by Amtrak and railroad parties' replies.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will hold a public meeting from October 28 to October 30, 2024, as a joint effort between the Agency's Vehicle Safety Research and Behavioral Safety Research offices to share information on activities within the Agency's research programs. The meeting will be held in a virtual format with representatives from across the two research offices presenting the information in panels. Questions from the audience will be addressed following presentations. Each presentation will include visual slides that will be available in a public docket after the public meeting. A recording of the panels will also be available on the NHTSA website.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending its regulations to allow aircraft to operate either with "No Smoking" signs continuously illuminated or with "No Smoking" signs a crewmember can turn on and off. Currently, crewmembers must be able to manually turn aircraft "No Smoking" signs on and off. However, the current regulations were drafted when the Department of Transportation (DOT) permitted smoking at times on commercial flights. These amendments bring FAA regulations into alignment with current practice for aircraft manufacturing and operations.

The Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) is proposing to amend its rules implementing the transportation provisions under Title II, Part B, and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by adopting as regulatory accessibility standards the Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG) issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) on August 8, 2023. This proposed rule would adopt the Access Board's PROWAG into the Department's ADA regulations. When adopted, DOT's public right-of-way ADA standards will apply only to new construction and alterations of transit stops in the public right-of-way. For purposes of this rulemaking, transit stops in the public right-of-way are facilities in the public right-of-way used in the provision of designated or specified public transportation, as defined in DOT's existing ADA regulations.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth, due to the Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS])-A approach being re-oriented to the north. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a design review that found insufficient clearance between fire extinguishing system (FIREX) lines and certain fasteners in the center mid-fuselage area. This proposed AD would require an inspection for positioning and sufficient clearance of certain fasteners in certain fuselage and keel beam areas, an inspection for damage of the fire extinguishing lines, and applicable corrective actions, 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G500 and GVII- G600 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the electrical grounding receptacles located on the left and right wings. This proposed AD would require inspecting the electrical grounding receptacles for cracks and corrosion, performing applicable on-condition actions, and sealing over the grounding receptacles on the top of the wings to permanently disable the receptacle. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at White Sulphur Springs Airport, White Sulphur Springs, MT, to support the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) operations to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Waste Management Holdings, Inc. (WMH), for an exemption from certain driver qualification requirements and drug and alcohol clearinghouse regulations when its drivers are transferred among two or more WMH carriers with different USDOT numbers. The requested exemption would remove the administrative burden of requalifying already-qualified drivers every time they are reassigned among related WMH motor carrier affiliates. FMCSA requests public comments on WMH's application for an exemption.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking comment on an extension of its existing partial general nonavailability waiver for mass-produced, unmodified, non-ADA accessible vans and minivans. Following review and consideration of comments, FTA will determine whether to extend the waiver, modify the waiver, or allow the waiver to lapse.

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announces the opportunity to apply for $20 million in FY 2025 Airport Infrastructure Grant funds for the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program, made available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), herein referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The purpose of the FCT Competitive Grant Program is to make annual grants available to eligible airports for airport-owned airport traffic control tower (ATCT) projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation's airports.

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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, FALCON 900EX, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reported occurrences of swelling of the lithium-polymer internal and external batteries of certain electronic display units (EDUs). This proposed AD would require modifying certain EDUs 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 FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by uncommanded horizontal stabilizer motion during several in-service events caused by a problem with the trim switch wiring. This proposed AD would require installing the pitch/roll trim switch relays. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice requests comments on FHWA's forthcoming reporting specifications for licensed driver and registered vehicle data. The reporting specifications that are the subject of this notice are enhancements to the current reporting guidance. States are required to annually submit licensed driver and registered vehicle data to FHWA in accordance with specifications outlined in the Agency's `Guide to Reporting Highway Statistics,' which serves as the guiding document issued to State agencies for 500-Series Program execution purposes. These enhancements are necessary to support new and forthcoming regulatory, program and policy objectives, as well as inform Federal- aid system investment needs, analyses, and decisionmaking. The FHWA is targeting an implementation year of 2028, when States will be required to submit their data for 2027 per the new reporting guidance.

The FAA is adopting 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 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 proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that torque wrenches used during production installation of bulkhead fittings on the oxygen lines of the flightcrew oxygen mask stowage boxes and adapter fitting on the oxygen pressure gauge were out of calibration, which resulted in a higher torque level setting than required. This AD requires replacement of the affected oxygen line fittings, 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 is adopting 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 AD was prompted by a notice from a supplier reporting that torque wrenches used to install the air driven generator (ADG) downlock cam nut were out of calibration, which resulted in a higher torque level setting than required during the initial production installation of the affected cam nut. This AD requires replacement of the affected ADG locking cam screw and cam nut, 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) pylon bleed air leak detectors (BALDs) might be defective, due to incorrect manufacturing processes and incomplete acceptance test procedures. This AD requires a one-time operational check of affected parts and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action, and limits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions, 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) 2000-18- 09, which applied to certain Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (now Bell Textron Inc.), Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. AD 2000-18-09 required repetitively inspecting the upper left-hand cap angle (cap angle) and adjacent structure for a crack and, depending on the results, replacing any cracked cap angle and repairing any crack in the adjacent structure. This AD was prompted by a report of a fatigue crack in a tail boom attachment cap angle. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2000-18-09, expands the applicability by adding models and an additional part-numbered cap angle, reduces the inspection intervals, and requires using updated procedures. This AD also updates the reporting requirement. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FHWA in coordination with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 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 for transportation improvements to the Interstate 270 (I-270) Corridor. The I-270 Corridor Improvements Project is located in the City of Commerce City, Adams County, and City and County of Denver in the State of Colorado. The study limits include the full extent of I-270 from Interstate 25 (I-25) to Interstate 70 (I-70) (approximately 6.5 miles). I-270 is a controlled-access interstate highway with two through lanes in each direction. 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 Information document. All comments received in response to this NOI will be considered and any information presented herein, including the preliminary purpose and need, preliminary alternatives and identified impacts, may be revised in consideration of the comments.