[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22859]
[[Page 45614]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
49 CFR Part 393
[FHWA Docket No. MC-96-41; USDOT Docket No. FHWA-97-2289]
RIN 2125-AE05
Public Meeting To Discuss the Development of the North American
Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing a public meeting concerning the
development of the North American Standard for Protection Against
Shifting or Falling Cargo. The meeting will be held on September 27,
1997, at the Renaissance Denver Hotel in Denver, Colorado. The meeting
will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. The meeting will include a
review of the most recent version of the North American Standard for
Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo and a review of cargo
securement research recently conducted by certain industry groups.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry W. Minor, Office of Motor
Carrier Research and Standards, HCS-10, (202) 366-4009; or Mr. Charles
E. Medalen, Office of the Chief Counsel, HCC-20, (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:
Background
On October, 17, 1996, the FHWA published an advance notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning the development of the North
American Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo (61
FR 54142). The ANPRM indicated that the FHWA is considering proposing
amendments to its regulations concerning cargo securement requirements
for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce.
Specifically, the agency is considering adopting new cargo securement
guidelines that will be based upon the results of a multi-year
comprehensive research program to evaluate current regulations and
industry practices. The FHWA requested comments on the process to be
used in developing the cargo securement guidelines.
Standard Development Process
The preliminary efforts at developing the North American Standard
for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo are currently being
managed by a drafting group. The drafting group is developing a model
set of cargo securement guidelines based upon the results from the
multi-year research program. Membership in the drafting group includes
representatives from the FHWA, Transport Canada, the Canadian Council
of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), the Ontario Ministry of
Transportation, the Quebec Ministry of Transportation--Ontario and
Quebec are conducting most of the research--and the Commercial Vehicle
Safety Alliance (CVSA).
The meeting on September 27 is a follow-up to the May 3, 1997,
public meeting and is intended to serve as part of a process for
further developing the guidelines. A notice announcing the May 3, 1997,
meeting was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 1997 (62 FR
19252). The September 27 meeting will involve a review of the work
completed to date by the drafting group and the results of research
recently completed by certain industry groups. The meeting is open to
all interested parties. This process is intended to ensure that all
interested parties have an opportunity to participate in the
development of the guidelines, and to identify and consider the
concerns of the Federal, State, and Provincial governments, carriers,
shippers, industry groups, and associations as well as safety advocacy
groups and the general public.
For individuals and groups unable to attend the meeting, the FHWA
will publish the draft standard in the Federal Register. Further, the
CCMTA has posted information on the INTERNET. The website is: http://
www.ab.org/ccmta/ccmta.html.
With regard to future rulemaking notices, the FHWA will publish a
separate notice concerning its review of the docket comments sent in
response to the ANPRM. That notice will summarize the comments and
identify any issues that warrant reconsideration of the standard
development process.
Meeting Information
The meeting will be held on September 27, 1997, at the Renaissance
Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, Denver, Colorado. The meeting is
scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is part of the Commercial
Vehicle Safety Alliance's 1997 Annual Conference. Attendance for the
cargo securement meeting is free of charge and open to all interested
parties. However, anyone interested in attending any other session or
committee meeting of the CVSA's 1997 Annual Conference must register
with the CVSA and pay the appropriate registration fee. For further
information about registration for other sessions or meetings of the
CVSA's 1997 Annual Conference please contact the CVSA at (301) 564-
1623.
The FHWA notes that since the CVSA's 1997 Annual Conference is
being held at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, the availability of guest
rooms at the hotel is very unlikely. Therefore, those needing hotel
accommodations should attempt to make reservations at other hotels in
the vicinity.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 393
Highway safety, Motor carriers, Motor vehicle safety.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136, 31502; 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: August 22, 1997.
John F. Grimm,
Acting Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers.
[FR Doc. 97-22859 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
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