Search Results for agency_names:"Transportation Department"

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule to revise civil penalty amounts for violations of various transportation regulations, effective December 30, 2024. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and are meant to ensure that penalties maintain their deterrent effect by accounting for inflation. The rule covers a wide array of areas including aviation, hazardous materials, and vehicle safety, among others. The adjustments apply prospectively, meaning they will only affect violations occurring after the rule takes effect.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a notice regarding BNSF Railway's request to extend their current waiver, which allows them to perform certain safety tests on their solid-state equipment every four years instead of the usual two years. BNSF argues that their solid-state technology has proven to be more reliable than older systems and that the less frequent testing has not resulted in any safety issues. FRA invites the public to submit comments on this petition by May 2, 2025. This petition, along with other related communications, can be reviewed online.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule allowing for the electronic issuance of aircraft registration and dealer certificates, moving away from the traditional method of printing and mailing paper certificates. This change aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs related to printing, mailing, and handling paper certificates. The electronic certificates can be delivered almost instantly via email, while paper copies may still be requested. The move is part of the broader CARES system upgrade initiative, which aims to modernize the FAA’s registry system using digital technology.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a petition from Norfolk Southern Corporation to discontinue a traffic control system on part of the D&H line. Norfolk Southern plans to modify the signal systems and change the operation to NS Rule 171 between certain mileposts. This change is requested because the existing traffic control system is no longer needed for operations. The FRA is inviting public comments on this petition, which can be submitted through various means until March 15, 2021.

This final rule, implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fulfills requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act. It offers rewards to whistleblowers who provide original information regarding motor vehicle defects, noncompliance, or violations that might lead to severe injury or death, if this information aids in successfully resolving enforcement actions. The rule details procedures for submitting information, eligibility for awards, maintaining confidentiality, and factors in award determination. It aims to motivate employees of car manufacturers, part suppliers, and dealerships to report serious safety issues by clarifying protections and ensuring confidentiality.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has decided to renew exemptions for 15 drivers with epilepsy or seizure disorders, allowing them to continue operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. These exemptions are renewed for two years and come with specific conditions, like staying seizure-free, maintaining stable treatment, and undergoing regular medical checks. If any conditions are violated, the exemption can be revoked. During the exemption period, no state laws contradicting this exemption can be enforced against exempt drivers. This decision aims to maintain a safety level equivalent to current regulations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided to withdraw proposals for changes to safety inspections for certain Cessna aircraft, now under Textron Aviation Inc., Models 310, 320, 401, 402, 411, and 421. The proposed rule changes, initially published in 1990 and updated in 1998, aimed to replace old fuel and oil hoses with newer designs but are now considered unnecessary because no issues have been reported with the current inspections. This decision does not prevent future regulation changes on the matter.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a new rule that updates the existing safety guidelines for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership airplanes. This proposal aims to replace a previous directive by requiring the installation of new software for the primary flight control computer, which addresses safety issues like misleading error messages and the unplanned engagement of systems like the autopilot. The FAA encourages public comments on this proposal by May 2, 2025, before finalizing the rule. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safe operation of these aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a new rule to replace an existing Airworthiness Directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350 airplanes. This comes after the development of a new water-resistant integrated control panel (ICP) to prevent issues from liquid spills on the flight deck, which previously could cause engine shutdowns mid-flight. The proposed rule would make it mandatory to install this new panel, eliminating the need for previous protective measures. Public comments on this proposal can be submitted until April 8, 2021.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has withdrawn a notice regarding agency information collection activities that was initially published on December 31, 2024, in the Federal Register. The notice informed the public about a request for comments on a proposed new information collection. The withdrawal was officially issued on April 8, 2025. For any questions or more information, the contact person is Jazmyne Lewis at the Department of Transportation.