Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will hold a public roundtable meeting concerning bus operator visibility. Transit bus manufacturers will present their research and actions to improve bus operator visibility through vehicle design. This roundtable will be a forum for discussion of bus safety design elements that impact operator visibility, including mirror size and placement and A-pillar design. Participants will also discuss opportunities for manufacturers to standardize safety features. The meeting will include time for public comment.

This document corrects a printing error in the preamble of a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on May 7, 2024.

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.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), proposes to waive the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's domestic preference requirements for certain products widely used in natural gas distribution systems on the basis of nonavailability. The proposed duration of the waiver will apply to expenditures on or after the effective date of the final waiver for recipients of funding under the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program and would expire after three years. In accordance with Section 70914(c) of BABA, PHMSA is seeking public comments on the proposed waiver.

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: Survey of FTA Stakeholders.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-21-05, which applies to certain Saab AB Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B airplanes. AD 2017-21-05 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate airworthiness limitations, including new inspection tasks for the drag brace support fitting of the main landing gear (MLG) and to implement corrosion prevention and control program (CPCP) related tasks. Since the FAA issued AD 2017-21-05, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2017-21-05 and 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 10 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 13 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 operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is funding the Arthur Kill Offshore Wind Terminal Project (Project) which will develop an offshore wind staging and assembly port in Staten Island, New York to facilitate the development of offshore wind farms in the New York Bight. In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations, MARAD has determined that a Programmatic Agreement (Agreement) must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the NHPA in conjunction with the Project and invites public comments on the Agreement.

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 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.

On June 13, 2024, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notification of availability for draft Policy Statement PS-AIR-21.17- 01, "Safety Continuum for Powered-lift". The comment period for this document expires on August 12, 2024. By letter dated August 1, 2024, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) requested that the FAA extend the public-comment deadline to September 12, 2024, for GAMA member organizations to conduct a more thorough review and contribute constructively to the proposed criteria facilitating the development of robust, harmonized standards that maximize safety for powered-lift operations.

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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of missing or damaged inboard flap seal plate assemblies. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracks of the attaching angles of the inboard flap seal plates and replacement. This proposed AD would also require the eventual replacement of both inboard flap seal plates, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is proposing to require U.S. and foreign air carriers to seat children aged 13 and under adjacent to at least one accompanying adult at no additional cost beyond the fare, subject to limited exceptions. The Department considers family seating to be a basic service, essential for the provision of adequate air transportation, that must be included in the advertised fare. Under this proposal, a carrier's failure to provide family seating would subject it to civil penalties on a per passenger (child) basis, and if the carrier charged families a fee beyond the fare to secure family seating, the carrier would be subject to civil penalties for each fee imposed.

This notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final. The actions relate to the Mountain Parkway Expansion in Magoffin and Floyd counties (Project) proposed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The Project consists of 14 miles of the Mountain Parkway (KY-114) realignment from the east side of Salyersville in Magoffin County to west side of Prestonsburg in the Floyd County, State of Kentucky. The actions grant licenses, permits, or approvals for the Project. The Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Revised Finding of No Significant Impact (R-FONSI) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other documents in the Project file provide details on the Project and FHWA's actions.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces a meeting of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Advisory Council (Council). During the meeting, the USMMA leadership will provide an update on programs and priorities, including governance, sexual assault and sexual harassment, academics, culture and diversity, and facilities and infrastructure.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery of ten ultrasonic inspections associated with airworthiness limitations (AWL) tasks and structural deviation inspection requirements (SDIR) tasks potentially not detecting cracks. This proposed AD would require repetitive ultrasonic inspections of certain structural areas for cracking as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR), and repair of cracking, as applicable. This proposed AD would also prohibit use of the previous revisions of certain procedures and mandate the use of the revised procedures when performing the inspections required by the associated AWL and SDIR tasks. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.