Department of Transportation – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act established the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (referred to as National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Assignment Program), which allows a State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, and compliance under NEPA. When a State assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely responsible and liable for carrying out the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu of FHWA. This program mandates annual audits during each of the first 4 years of State participation to ensure compliance with program requirements. This is the third audit of the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) performance of its responsibilities under the NEPA Assignment Program. This notice announces the final third audit report for ADOT.

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.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition, DP21-002, submitted by Mr. Gerald James to the Administrator of NHTSA by a letter dated September 30, 2021. The petition requests that NHTSA initiate an investigation into "severe oil leaks" from the oil pressure switch that could lead to engine failures experienced by operators of Model Year (MY) 2015-2017 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L V6 engines. After conducting a technical review of: customer complaints submitted by the petitioner; an inspection of petitioner's vehicle; consumer complaint information in NHTSA's database; information provided by Kia North America (Kia) in response to our requests regarding vehicle design and complaints/claims received by Kia; and component testing performed by NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has concluded that it is unlikely that any investigation opened by granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $2.5 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Technical Assistance and Workforce Development funds through a competitive cooperative agreement award to establish a Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) National Technical Assistance Center (CCAM TA Center) that supports CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders in improving transportation access for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income. The overarching mission of this new center is to promote and facilitate human services transportation, public transit, and non- emergency medical transportation (NEMT) coordination that advances people's access to everyday destinations.

On May 3, 2024, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) published in the Federal Register a request for information seeking comments 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. That request established a 60-day comment period closing on July 2, 2024. DOT is extending the public comment period until August 1, 2024.

FMCSA denies the application from Clym Environmental Services LLC (Clym) requesting an exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations to allow its drivers up to 14 hours of drive time within the work shift or, in the alternative, up to 12 hours. Clym indicated that, due to the nature of its operations, complying with the 11-hour driving time limit in the HOS regulations places a strain on the company's drivers and its overall operating costs. FMCSA analyzed the application and determined that the exemption would not likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant an application from JM Bozeman Enterprises, Inc. (Bozeman, USDOT #612506) for an exemption to allow it to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with a module manufactured by Intellistop, Inc. (Intellistop). The Intellistop module is designed to pulse the required rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from a lower-level lighting intensity to a higher-level lighting intensity 4 times in 2 seconds when the brakes are applied and then return the lights to a steady-burning state while the brakes remain engaged. The Agency has determined that granting the exemption to Bozeman would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved by the regulation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant an application from DJS Fundraising, Inc. (DJS, USDOT #612506) for an exemption to allow it to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with a module manufactured by Intellistop, Inc. (Intellistop). The Intellistop module is designed to pulse the required rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from a lower-level lighting intensity to a higher-level lighting intensity 4 times in 2 seconds when the brakes are applied and then return the lights to a steady-burning state while the brakes remain engaged. The Agency has determined that granting the exemption to DJS would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved by the regulation.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit information from hazardous materials (HAZMAT) shippers pertaining to what small quantities or low concentrations of explosives they offer for transport appear to present a low risk to life, property, and the environment.

PHMSA is issuing a technical correction to regulations promulgated in its April 29, 2024, final rule titled "Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments." The correction addresses text that was inadvertently deleted or omitted by the final rule.

Notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the Port of Portland, Oregon to waive the Airport Development Aid Program property requirements for approximately 3 acres of airport property located at Hillsboro Airport, Hillsboro, Oregon.

FMCSA announces its decision to provisionally renew Groendyke Transport, Inc.'s (Groendyke) exemption to allow the use of an amber brake-activated pulsating lamp on the rear of its trailers in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). The exemption is renewed for 6 months, unless revoked earlier.

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.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 16 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 12 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Lindstrand Balloons Ltd. Model 42A, 56A, 60A, 69A, 77A, 90A, 105A, 120A, 150A, 180A, 210A, 240A, 260A, 310A, 69B, 77B, 90B, 105B, and Drinks Can hot air balloons. This AD was prompted by a report of degraded polyester filled Aramid (Kevlar) load tapes where the Kevlar core was exposed to ultraviolet light, which could compromise the residual strength of the tapes and the structural integrity of the hot air balloon envelope. This AD requires repetitively checking the hot air balloon envelope for damage (degraded, stretched, or frayed load tapes or exposed Kevlar core) and removing any damaged hot air balloon envelope from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document denies a petition, submitted by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Truck Safety Coalition, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, and Parents Against Tired Truckers, for reconsideration of a final rule amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 223, "Rear impact guards," and FMVSS No. 224, "Rear impact protection." The final rule, published on July 15, 2022, upgraded NHTSA's standards addressing rear underride protection in crashes of passenger vehicles into trailers and semitrailers by requiring rear impact guards to provide sufficient strength and energy absorption to protect occupants of compact and subcompact passenger cars impacting the rear of trailers at 56 kilometers per hour (km/h) (35 miles per hour (mph)).

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-12-03 and AD 2023-04-05, which apply to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2023-12-03 and AD 2023-04-05 require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-12-03 and AD 2023-04-05, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require all actions in AD 2023-12-03 and certain actions in AD 2023-04-05 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a landing gear not locked indication during the final approach, which led the flight crew to declare an emergency. This AD requires reviewing maintenance records of the main landing gear (MLG) assemblies to determine whether the MLG was modified according to a certain service bulletin or restored during overhaul maintenance; inspecting the left and right MLG locking-stay bracket assemblies to verify that the correct attaching hardware is correctly installed on the brackets; replacing nuts having certain part numbers (P/Ns); replacing the locking-stay bracket assembly, if necessary; and prohibits the installation of affected parts on the MLG locking-stay bracket assembly; as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is incorporated by reference. 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves the submission of FAA Form 8710-4 for the certification process of rotorcraft external-load operators. The information to be collected is necessary to evaluate the applicants' eligibility for certification.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) invite interested persons to apply to fill 1 current and 1 upcoming vacancy on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). This notice invites interested persons to apply for the openings. The current opening is for a representative of Native American tribes. The upcoming opening is for one of the three commercial air tour representatives.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary (OST), proposes to modify and reissue an existing system of records notice titled "Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary; DOT/OST 035 Personnel Security Record System." The system collects information on DOT employees, contractors, and members of the public to track and manage the information and records necessary to conduct employee suitability background investigations and determine eligibility for clearances. It is also used to maintain documentation for DOT employees who attend classified briefings outside of DOT, and non-DOT individuals attending meetings at DOT.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public of the renewal of the NAC for two years. The Secretary of Transportation established the NAC under agency authority in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended. The Secretary determined the NAC is necessary and is in the public interest. The nature and purpose of the NAC is to seek resolution of issues and challenges involving concepts, requirements, operational capabilities, the associated use of technology, and related considerations to aeronautical operations that affect the future of the Air Traffic Management System and the integration of new technologies.