[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18245-18246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9848]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. OST-95-246]


North American Free Trade Agreement's Land Transportation 
Standards Subcommittee and Transportation Consultative Group: Annual 
Plenary Session

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice (1) announces the fifth joint annual plenary 
session of the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) Land 
Transportation Standards Subcommittee (LTSS) and the Transportation 
Consultative Group (TCG) and other related meetings; and (2) invites 
representatives of non-governmental entities with an interest in land 
transportation issues to participate in a listening session immediately 
preceding the plenary meeting and to attend a briefing at a later date. 
Only U.S., Canadian, and Mexican government officials may attend the 
plenary and working group meetings.

BACKGROUND: The Land Transportation Standards Subcommittee (LTSS) was 
established by the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) 
Committee on Standards-Related Measures to examine the land 
transportation regulatory regimes in the United States, Canada, and 
Mexico, and to seek to make certain standards more compatible. The 
Transportation Consultative Group (TCG) was formed by the three 
countries' departments of transportation to address non-standards-
related issues that affect cross-border movements among the countries, 
but that are not included in the NAFTA's LTSS work program.

MEETINGS AND DEADLINES: The fifth joint annual LTSS/TCG plenary session 
will be held from June 8 to 11, 1998, at the Delta Montreal Hotel, 475 
President Kennedy Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, HRA 2T4. The 
following LTSS working groups will meet during the same week and at the 
same location: (1) Compliance and Driver and Vehicle Standards; (2) 
Vehicle Weights and Dimensions; and (3) Hazardous Materials 
Transportation Standards. Similarly, the following TCG working groups 
are expected to meet: (1) Cross-Border Operations and Facilitation; (2) 
Rail Safety and Economic Issues; (3) Automated Data Exchange; (4) 
Science and Technology; and (5) Maritime and Ports Policy
    Also at the same Montreal site, on June 8, 1998, from 2:00 p.m. to 
6:00 p.m., a listening session will be held for representatives of the 
truck, bus, and rail industries, transportation labor unions, brokers 
and shippers, chemical manufacturers, insurance industry, public safety 
advocates, and others who have notified us of their interest to attend 
and have submitted copies of their presentations, in English and 
Spanish, to the address below by May 15. This is an opportunity for 
presenters to voice their concerns, provide technical information, and 
offer suggestions relevant to achieving greater standards compatibility 
and improving cross-border trade. While written statements may be of 
any length, oral presentations will be limited to 10 minutes per 
presenter. After May 15, statements may be submitted for the record, 
and requests to present oral comments at the listening session will be 
accommodated only on a time-available basis.
    Although participation in the LTSS and TCG plenary and working 
group meetings is limited to government officials only, representatives 
of non-governmental entities also are invited to take part in parallel 
topical discussions, visits to transport facilities, and a final 
briefing by the heads of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican delegations to 
be held on June 12.
    Hotel reservations may be arranged by calling the Delta Montreal 
directly at (514) 286-1986 or 1-800-268-1133. In order to ensure that 
they receive the special group rate, callers must mention the group 
name ``NAFTA 1998 Conference'' and reserve before May 7, 1998.
    A briefing to report on the outcome of the Montreal meetings will 
be conducted at DOT at the address below, in Room 8236-38, on June 30, 
from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Interested parties may notify DOT of their 
interest to attend this briefing by calling (202) 366-2892 by June 26.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: LTSS-related documents, including working 
group reports and statements received

[[Page 18246]]

by DOT from industry associations, transportation labor unions, public 
safety advocates, and others will be available for review in Docket No. 
OST-95-246, at the address below, Room PL-401, between 9:00 a.m. and 
5:00 p.m., e.s.t., Monday through Friday, except national holidays.

ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBERS: Individuals and organizations interested in 
participating in the listening session must send notice of their 
interest and copies of their presentations to Maria Lameiro, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, OST/X-20, Room 10300, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590. Respondents may also send information by fax 
at (202) 366-7417. For additional information, call (202) 366-2892.

    Dated: April 9, 1998.
Bernard Gaillard,
Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade.
[FR Doc. 98-9848 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P