[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 161 (Monday, August 19, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42822-42823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21018]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
49 CFR Part 390
[FHWA Docket No. MC-93-17]
RIN 2125-AD14
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations; Intermodal
Transportation
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; extension of effective date.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA announces the extension of the effective date of its
final rule, published on December 29, 1994, implementing provisions of
the Intermodal Safe Container Transportation Act of 1992. The rule was
scheduled to take effect on September 1, 1996, but the FHWA believes
that further extension of the effective date until January 2, 1997, is
appropriate based on the inability, to date, of the educational and
informational outreach program undertaken by the FHWA to reach many
foreign shippers; a request from several Senators to delay the
effective date of this rule pending consideration of legislation to
amend the Act; and two petitions received earlier by the FHWA for
exemptions and amendments to the rule, which are currently outstanding.
DATES: The effective date of the final rule published on December 29,
1994, at 59 FR 67544 has been extended to January 2, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter C. Chandler, Office of Motor
Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-5763; or Mr. Charles E.
Medalen, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Office
hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 29, 1994, the FHWA published a
final rule (59 FR 67544) which implemented the Intermodal Safe
Container Transportation Act of 1992 (the Act) (Pub. L. 102-548, 106
Stat. 3646, partly codified at 49 U.S.C. 5901-5907 (formerly 49 U.S.C.
501 and 508)). On August 10, 1995 (60 FR 40761), the FHWA extended the
rule's effective date until September 1, 1996, to allow the intermodal
transportation industry sufficient time to comply by means of
electronic data interchange, and to allow the FHWA, the intermodal
transportation industry, and other parties enough time to inform
affected domestic and foreign entities of their responsibilities. In
April and August of 1995, the FHWA received two petitions for
exemptions and amendments to the rule. The FHWA delayed the
international distribution of pamphlets about the rule and other
related educational projects until resolution of the petitions. On
March 29, 1996, the petitioners along with an industry coalition
requested that the FHWA delay its decision on the petitions and later
notified the agency that they would seek legislative action to amend
the Act. On July 16, 1996, a bill to amend the Act was introduced by
the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation with co-sponsorship of the Chairman and ranking minority
member of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant
Marine. The bill (S. 1957) would raise the jurisdictional weight
threshold from 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) to 13,154 kilograms
(29,000 pounds); reduce or eliminate paperwork burdens; provide
clarification concerning applicability, requirements, and terminology;
and establish additional liabilities. On July 23, 1996, the
[[Page 42823]]
sponsors of S. 1957 sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation
requesting that the rule's September 1, 1996, effective date be
extended. The Senators expressed concern that implementation as
currently planned could have devastating consequences on intermodal
transportation including delays and severe congestion at ports.
The FHWA believes a further extension is appropriate because the
two petitions before the agency are not resolved, a significant number
of foreign entities are not familiar with their responsibilities, and
implementation of the rule prior to possible enactment of S. 1957 could
disrupt both interstate and foreign commerce. In the event that the
rule became effective on September 1 and S. 1957 later became law, the
rule would have to be suspended once again until it could be amended in
accordance with the new law. In view of the international reach of the
Act and the difficulty of explaining United States laws and regulations
to foreign shippers and their intermediaries, the FHWA has determined
that a further extension of the rule's effective date is warranted in
order to avoid the risk of confusion and disruption that would result
from frequent regulatory changes.
The FHWA is therefore extending the effective date of the final
rule until January 2, 1997.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5901-5907, 31132, 31133, 31136, 31502, and
31504; 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: August 8, 1996.
Rodney E. Slater,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-21018 Filed 8-16-96; 8:45 am]
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