[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]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 4910-22-P