[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76316-76318]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29871]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-7-000]

Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Monroe to Cornwell Project
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the Monroe to Cornwell Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by Dominion
Transmission, Inc. (Dominion) in Doddridge, Wetzel, and Kanawha
Counties in West Virginia. The Commission will use this EA in its
decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. Please note that
the scoping period will close on January 12, 2015.
    You may submit comments in written form. Further details on how to
submit written comments are in the Public Participation section of this
notice. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before
the opening of this docket on October 22, 2014, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. CP15-7-000 to ensure they are considered
as part of this proceeding.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with
state law.
    Dominion provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I
Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically-asked
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate
in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on
the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    According to Dominion, the Monroe to Cornwell Project would provide
205,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation service in Ohio and
West Virginia and increase supply reliability outside of the Marcellus
and Utica production basins.
    Specifically, the Monroe to Cornwell Project would consist of the
installation of the following facilities, all located in West Virginia:
     An additional 12,552 horsepower of compression, one new
gas cooler, one new filter separator, new suction/discharge tie-ins,
and other minor modifications at the existing L.L. Tonkin Compressor
Station in Doddridge County;
     a new Measurement and Regulation Station at Dominion's
existing Cornwell Compressor Station in Kanawha County; and
     new gas coolers at Dominion's existing Mockingbird
Compressor Station in Wetzel County.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to
the last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    The total land requirement to construct the project is
approximately 45.86 acres, of which 1.97 acres would be permanently
altered and converted to commercial/industrial land use. Upon
completion of the project, the remaining land used for temporary
workspace would be re-graded, stabilized and re-vegetated, and allowed
to revert to pre-construction conditions.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and

Necessity. NEPA also requires us \2\ to discover and address concerns
the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as
``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the
analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this
notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the
issues to address in the EA. We will consider all filed comments during
the preparation of the EA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
     Land use;
     geology and soils;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed
project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on
the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We
will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations
to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the
Public Participation section beginning on page 4.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of
this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the
EA.\3\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status
should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the
Public Participation section of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and
to solicit their views and those of other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential
effects on historic properties.\4\ We will define the project-specific
Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the
project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a
minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples
include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards,
compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations under Section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so
that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before
January 12, 2015.
    For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to
submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number (CP15-7-000) with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert
staff available to assist you at<PHONE_NUMBER> or<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for interested persons to
submit brief, text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically using the eFiling
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a
variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission.
New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on
``eRegister.'' You must select the type of filing you are making. If
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select
``Comment on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426.

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
proposed project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in
the User's Guide under

the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site at www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP15-
7). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or toll free at<PHONE_NUMBER>, or for TTY,
contact<PHONE_NUMBER>. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

    Dated: December 11, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-29871 Filed 12-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 215 (Monday, November 7, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68661-68663]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28677]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0889; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-35-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1
Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive
(AD) that applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1 turboshaft
engines. The existing AD currently requires checking the transmissible
torque between the low-pressure (LP) pump impeller and the high-
pressure (HP) pump shaft on HP/LP pump hydro-mechanical metering units
(HMUs) that do not incorporate Modification TU 147. Since we issued
that AD, EASA issued a new AD. This proposed AD would require
inspection and possible replacement of the HMU. We are proposing this
AD to prevent reduced engine power or, at worst, an uncommanded in-
flight shutdown (IFSD), which can result in a forced autorotation
landing or accident.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Turbomeca,
40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33-05-59-74-

40-00, fax: 33-05-59-74-45-15. You may review copies of the referenced
service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (phone:<PHONE_NUMBER>) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Rosa, Aerospace Engineer, Engine
Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:<PHONE_NUMBER>;
fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-0889;
Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-35-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    On January 21, 2010, we issued AD 2010-03-06, Amendment 39-16189
(75 FR 5689, February 4, 2010), for all Turbomeca Arriel 2B and 2B1
turboshaft engines. That AD requires checking the transmissible torque
between the LP pump impeller and the HP pump shaft on HMUs that do not
incorporate Turbomeca Modification TU 147. That AD also requires
replacing the HMU, if it fails that check, with an HMU that has not
incorporated Modification TU 147 but passes the check, or with an HMU
that incorporates Modification TU 147. That AD resulted from several
events of uncoupling of the LP fuel pump impeller and the HP fuel pump
shaft on Arriel 2 engines which do not incorporate modification TU 147.
The uncoupling of the LP fuel pump impeller and the HP fuel pump shaft
may lead to reduced engine power or, at worst, an uncommanded IFSD,
which can result in a forced autorotation landing or accident.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2010-03-06 (75 FR 5689, February 4, 2010), three
additional cases of uncoupling of the LP fuel pump impeller and the HP
fuel pump shaft have been encountered. However, these failures were in
HMUs that were modified to post-TU 147 configuration HMUs, and the
investigation indicates that these HMUs that fail the transmissible
torque check must also be replaced.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed Turbomeca Alert Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No.
A292 73 2830, Version B, dated July 10, 2009, and Alert MSB No. A292 73
2836, Version A, dated August 17, 2010. The Alert MSBs describe
procedures for inspecting and replacing the HMU.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require the checking of the transmissible
torque between the LP pump impeller and the HP pump shaft on HMUs. This
proposed AD would also require replacing the HMU if it fails the
transmissible torque check, with an HMU that is eligible for
installation.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 540 engines installed on helicopters of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2.5 work-hours per
engine to comply with this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85
per work-hour. Replacement HMUs would cost about $12,000 per engine.
Based on these figures, if all of the HMUs were to fail the check, we
estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be
$6,594,750.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing airworthiness directive
(AD) 2010-03-06, Amendment 39-16189 (75 FR 5689, February 4, 2010), and
adding the following new AD:

Turbomeca S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2009-0889; Directorate Identifier
2009-NE-35-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by January 6,
2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2010-03-06, Amendment 39-16189 (75 FR
5689, February 4, 2010).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1
turboshaft engines.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by three additional cases of uncoupling of
the high-pressure/low-pressure (HP/LP) pump hydro-mechanical
metering unit (HMU) LP fuel pump impeller and the HP fuel pump
shaft, since AD 2010-03-06 (75 FR 5689, February 4, 2010) was
issued. However, these failures were in HMUs that were modified to
post-TU 147 configuration HMUs. The investigation indicates that
these HMUs may also need to be replaced. We are issuing this AD to
prevent reduced engine power or, at worst, an uncommanded in-flight
shutdown, which can result in a forced autorotation landing or
accident.

(e) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
    (1) Check the transmissible torque between the LP fuel pump
impeller and the HP fuel pump shaft as follows:
    (i) For HMUs that do not incorporate Modification TU 147, check
the torque before accumulating 500 engine flight hours (EFH) since
March 11, 2010 (the effective date of AD 2010-03-06 (75 FR 5689,
February 4, 2010)). Use Paragraph 2 of Turbomeca Alert Mandatory
Service Bulletin (MSB) No. A292 73 2830, Version B, dated July 10,
2009, to do the check.
    (ii) For HMUs that incorporate Modification TU 147 and which
Modification TU 147 was applied on or before March 31, 2010, and the
HMUs are not listed in Figures 2 or 3 of Turbomeca Alert MSB No.
A292 73 2836, Version A, dated August 17, 2010, check the torque
within 750 EFH from the effective date of this AD, but no later than
14 months after the effective date of this AD. Use Paragraph 2 of
Turbomeca Alert MSB No. A292 73 2836, Version A, dated August 17,
2010, to do the check.
    (2) If the HMU does not pass the torque check, then replace the
HMU with an HMU that is eligible for installation.

(f) HMU Reinstallation

    Do not install any HMU removed from service by this AD until it
has been checked in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Turbomeca Alert
MSB No. A292 73 2836, Version A, dated August 17, 2010, or checked
in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Turbomeca Alert MSB No. A292 73
2830, Version B, dated July 10, 2009, and found eligible for
installation.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority
to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact James Rosa,
Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803; phone:<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Turbomeca S.A., 40220 Tarnos, France; phone: 33-05-59-74-40-00, fax:
33-05-59-74-45-15. You may review copies of the referenced service
information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 28, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-28677 Filed 11-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41164-41166]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14626]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0081]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved
Information Collection: Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA
announces its plan to submit the information collection request (ICR)
described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its
review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval
to renew the ICR titled ``Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program.''
This ICR was previously approved under emergency procedures on January
24, 2022 and expires on July 31, 2022. The ICR is necessary for FMCSA
to conduct a pilot program to determine the safety impacts of allowing
18- to 20-year-old commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to operate
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The ICR will
cover data collected on drivers and carriers participating in the pilot
program.

DATES: Please send your comments by August 10, 2022. OMB must receive
your comments by this date in order to act quickly on the ICR.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Michel, Office of Analysis,
Research, and Technology, Research Division, DOT, FMCSA, West Building,
6th Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. 202-
366-4354; [email protected]. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: Current regulations on driver
qualifications (49 CFR part 391.11(b)(1)) state that a driver must be
21 years of age or older to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.
Currently, drivers under the age of 21 may operate CMVs only in
intrastate commerce subject to State laws and regulations. Section
23022 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), requires
the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a commercial driver
Apprenticeship Pilot Program. An apprentice is defined as a person
under the age of 21 who holds a CDL. Under this program, these
apprentices will complete two probationary periods, during which they
may operate in interstate commerce only under the supervision of an
experienced driver in the passenger seat. An experienced

driver is defined in section 23022 as a driver who is not younger than
26 years old, who has held a CDL and been employed for at least the
past 2 years, who has at least 5 years of interstate CMV experience,
and meets the other safety criteria defined in the IIJA.
    The first probationary period must include at least 120 hours of on
duty time, of which at least 80 hours are driving time in a CMV. To
complete this probationary period, the employer must determine
competency in:
    1. Interstate, city traffic, rural 2-lane, and evening driving;
    2. Safety awareness;
    3. Speed and space management;
    4. Lane control;
    5. Mirror scanning;
    6. Right and left turns; and
    7. Logging and complying with rules relating to hours of service.
    The second probationary period must include at least 280 hours of
on-duty time, including not less than 160 hours driving time in a CMV.
To complete this probationary period, the employer must determine
competency in:
    1. Backing and maneuvering in close quarters;
    2. Pre-trip inspections;
    3. Fueling procedures;
    4. Weighing loads, weight distribution, and sliding tandems;
    5. Coupling and uncoupling procedures; and
    6. Trip planning, truck routes, map reading, navigation, and
permits.
    After completion of the second probationary period the apprentice
may begin operating CMVs in interstate commerce unaccompanied by an
experienced driver.
    In addition to data regarding successful completion of the
probationary periods, the IIJA requires collection of data relating to
any incident in which a participating apprentice is involved as well as
other data relating to the safety of apprentices. Additional data will
include crash data (incident reports, police reports, insurance
reports), inspection data, citation data, safety event data (as
recorded by all safety systems installed on vehicles, to include
advanced driver assistance systems, automatic emergency braking
systems, onboard monitoring systems, and required forward-facing and
in-cab video systems) as well as exposure data (record of duty status
logs, on-duty time, driving time, and time spent away from home
terminal). Additionally, carriers will be asked to report any
additional or remedial training being given to participating drivers.
This data will be submitted monthly by participating motor carriers.
The data collected will be used to report on the following items, as
required by section 23022:
    1. The findings and conclusions on the ability of technologies or
training provided to apprentices as part of the pilot program to
successfully improve safety;
    2. An analysis of the safety record of participating apprentices as
compared to other CMV drivers;
    3. The number of drivers that discontinued participation in the
apprenticeship program before completion;
    4. A comparison of the safety records of participating drivers
before, during, and after each probationary period; and
    5. A comparison of each participating driver's average on-duty
time, driving time, and time spent away from home terminal before,
during, and after each probationary period.
    FMCSA will monitor the monthly data being reported by the motor
carriers and will identify drivers or carriers that may pose a risk to
public safety. While removing unsafe drivers or carriers may bias the
dataset, it is a necessary feature for FMCSA to comply with Sec.
381.505, which requires development of a monitoring plan to ensure
adequate safeguards to protect the health and safety of pilot program
participants and the general public. Knowing that a driver or carrier
was removed from the pilot program for safety reasons will help FMCSA
minimize bias in the final data analysis.
    FMCSA and the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Agency
(DOL/ETA) will be partnering in the implementation of the Safe Driver
Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) Program. All motor carriers who are
approved for the program by FMCSA will also be required to become
Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) under 29 CFR part 29 before they can
submit information on their experienced drivers and apprentices. The
information collection burden for the DOL/ETA RA Program can be found
in approved ICR 1205-0223.
    The statutory mandate for this pilot program is contained in
section 23022 of the IIJA. FMCSA's regulatory authority for initiation
of a pilot program is found in 49 CFR 381.400. The SDAP program
supports the DOT strategic goal of economic strength while maintaining
DOT and FMCSA's commitment to safety.
    Publication History: On January 7, 2022, FMCSA published a notice
in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the emergency
approval of this ICR (87 FR 1001). A total of 144 comments were
received on that notice; you may find a discussion of these comments in
the 60-day notice that published in the Federal Register (87 FR 23010).
    On April 18, 2022, FMCSA published a 60-day notice in the Federal
Register, announcing its intention to request that OMB renew the
emergency information collection approval for a full 3-years. FMCSA
received 16 comments in the docket for that notice. Of these, nine were
comments on the ICR, and seven were misfiled comments on a separate
notice issued by FMCSA. Of the nine comments on the ICR, four were
submitted by individuals. The remaining three comments were filed by
Samsara Inc., the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Shippers
Coalition, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association
(APCIA), and jointly by the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC), Citizens for
Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), and Parents Against Tired Truckers
(PATT).
    Comment Discussion: The comments received from the Shippers
Coalition, ATA, Samsara, Inc., and two of the individuals supported the
SDAP Program generally, and the information collection discussed in the
60-day notice. One of the individual commenters caveated his support by
noting that both apprentice and experienced drivers must be thoroughly
vetted for safety. The other individual questioned why the number of
apprentice participants is being capped at 3,000. ATA commended FMCSA
on clarifying the burden estimate and recommended that FMCSA re-
consider other suggestions posed in their prior comment.
    Response: FMCSA appreciates the support and will be ensuring a
thorough vetting of participating motor carriers, experienced drivers,
and apprentices. As to the number of participants, the IIJA limits the
total number of apprentices in the program at any one time to 3000 (see
IIJA Sec.  23022(b)(4)). Regarding ATA's suggestion on minimizing
burden for the monthly data collection, FMCSA is committed to working
with participating carriers to ensure data is collected in a meaningful
and least-burdensome method.
    The comments submitted by the remaining two individuals focused on
elements of or questions on the underlying SDAP Program and were not
specific to the ICR. One of these individuals questioned who will
insure the ``high risk young drivers.'' The other noted that he does
not think the SDAP Program will help alleviate a truck driver shortage,
stating that trucking companies will just mistreat young drivers the
way they mistreat drivers

over the age of 21, resulting in more drivers leaving the profession.
    Response: FMCSA is not in a position to answer the question about
who will insure the apprentice drivers, but notes that any motor
carrier wishing to participate in the SDAP Program will need to provide
proof that their apprentice drivers are covered by a valid insurance
policy, or that the motor carrier is a participant in FMCSA's self-
insurance program. As to the comment regarding mistreatment of
apprentice drivers, FMCSA notes that the requirements for RA programs
under DOL regulations provide protection from the type of mistreatment
the commenter discussed. This is one reason why FMCSA partnered with
the DOL and is requiring that motor carriers participating in the SDAP
Program also become Registered Apprenticeship participants.
    APCIA's comment raised questions regarding the data FMCSA will
collect and the data that FMCSA will use as comparison data. APCIA
stated that FMCSA ``must show that participating drivers are no more
likely than the current population of interstate commercial truck
drivers [to] have highway accidents.'' APCIA also noted that the
information collected should capture any additional training that
individual motor carriers may add, on top of those required by the SDAP
Program, and requested that the final public data set include detailed
statistical information on the program's safety results, to aid
insurers in making decisions in the future.
    Response: While the APCIA has provided statistics on crash rates of
younger drivers, one of the key components of this pilot program is to
identify how a structured training and probationary period can enhance
the safety of younger CMV operators, which can only be determined
through conducting the pilot program. FMCSA agrees that it is important
to collect information on any remedial or additional training that
occurs and has included this information in the monthly data collection
plan. FMCSA will publish all detailed statistics collected during the
study provided no personally identifiable information is included.
    Finally, TSC, CRASH, and PATT noted their opposition to the SDAP
Program, and urged that FMCSA immediately terminate it. In the
alternative, the commenters requested that FMCSA add several
requirements to the SDAP Program, including: extending requirements for
the technology that is required to be installed in a CMV past the
probationary periods to the entirety of the apprenticeship; requiring
both front- and rear-facing cameras; and requiring all participating
motor carriers to agree to a compliance review or DOT audit within 18
months of acceptance into the SDAP Program. Additionally, Samsara, Inc.
also recommended requiring both forward facing and in-cab camera views.
    Response: FMCSA agrees with and accepts the requirement for both
forward facing- and rear- (in-cab) facing cameras throughout the
participation period of apprentices to be able to collect adequate
safety data. Requiring additional technology, such as speed limiters or
active braking mitigation devices past the probationary period could be
prohibitive to smaller carriers wishing to participate, and therefore
FMCSA has decided not to extend the technology requirements past what
is in the IIJA. FMCSA will note that the adoption of these technologies
is steadily increasing, and it is therefore likely that a large
percentage of apprentices, if not all, will continue to utilize these
technologies throughout their tenure in the program despite the lack of
requirement. FMCSA will collect data on a monthly basis regarding which
technologies are actively employed on the vehicles which apprentices
are driving. FMCSA requiring a compliance review or DOT audit of up to
1,000 carriers participating in the program would detract resources
from carriers who have been flagged for a compliance review or DOT
audit due to safety-related reasons. This requirement is not feasible
for FMCSA to implement at this time.
    Title: Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2126-0075.
    Type of Request: Renewal of an information collection previously
approved under emergency authority.
    Respondents: Motor carriers; drivers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,830 total (1,600 motor carriers
and 13,230 CMV drivers); 5,410 annually (1,000 carriers and 4,410 CMV
drivers).
    Estimated Time per Response: Application (motor carrier, apprentice
driver, and experienced driver): 20 Minutes; safety benchmark
certifications: 15 Minutes; monthly driving and safety data: 60
Minutes; miscellaneous data submission: 90 Minutes.
    Expiration Date: July 31, 2022.
    Frequency of Response: Application (motor carrier, apprentice
driver, and experienced driver): Once; safety benchmark certifications:
Twice for each apprentice driver; monthly driving and safety data:
Monthly; miscellaneous data submissions: Monthly.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 169,344 hours total, or 56,448 hours
annually (motor carriers: 164,934 hours total, or 54,978 hours
annually, which includes a one-time application, two safety benchmark
certifications for each participating apprentice, and monthly driving
and safety data on all participating apprentices as well as
miscellaneous data submissions; drivers: 13,797 hours total, or 4,599
hours annually which includes a one-time application for experienced
and apprentice drivers).
    Definitions: N/A.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed
collection is necessary for the performance of FMCSA's functions; (2)
the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for FMCSA to enhance the
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4)
ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of
the collected information. The Agency will summarize or include your
comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this ICR.

    Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87.
Thomas P. Keane,
Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Registration.
[FR Doc. 2022-14626 Filed 7-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P