[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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