New regs for Friday: Air pollution, trains, pilots

Friday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for air pollution, older pilots flying internationally, speed limits for passenger trains, and procedures for handling radioactive material.

Here’s what is happening:

Airplanes: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is loosening the rules for pilots flying internationally.

Older pilots will no longer be required to be accompanied by a younger pilot once they turn 60 years old, under the new rules issued Thursday by the FAA.

{mosads}The FAA is raising the so-called pilot pairing requirement to 65 years of age, at which point pilots would be required to fly with a younger pilot for backup.

The changes go into effect immediately.

Trains: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is pushing new speed limits for trains in wake of the fatal crash in Philadelphia last month that killed eight people.

The FRA is issuing a safety advisory that offers recommendations for how railroads can enforce speed limits on passenger trains.

The safety advisory goes into effect immediately.

Radioactive materials: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering loosening the protections for radioactive material.

In response to a petition from the Nuclear Energy Institute, the agency says it is considering new exemptions for the physical protection requirements around radioactive material.

Air pollution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new air pollution rules for the use of methyl bromide.

The proposed rules would allow for the critical use of limited amounts of methyl bromide, which was commonly used as a pesticide before it was phased out in 2005.

“Methyl bromide is an odorless, colorless, toxic gas which is used as a broadspectrum pesticide,” the agency wrote. “Methyl bromide was once widely used as a fumigant to control a variety of pests such as insects, weeds, rodents, pathogens, and nematodes.”

The public has 30 days to comment.