[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22952]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
49 CFR Part 393
[FHWA Docket No. MC-96-41; 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 public 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 include a review of the
most recent version of the North American Standard for Protection
Against Shifting or Falling Cargo and a discussion of issues related to
the adoption of the guidelines by jurisdictions throughout North
America.
DATES: The meeting will be held on October 1, 1998. The meeting will
begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Rochester
Hotel, 125 East Main Street in Rochester, New York.
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:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem
and suitable communications software from the Federal Register
Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet users may
reach the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.nara.gov/nara/
fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs.
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
rules 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 October 1 is the last in a series of public meetings
and is intended to serve as part of a process for completing the
guidelines. The meeting will involve a review of the work completed to
date by the drafting group and discussions concerning the process for
each of the jurisdictions in North America to adopt the guidelines. 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, copies of
the draft standard may be obtained, free of charge, by contacting Mr.
Larry W. Minor at the address and telephone number listed at the
beginning of this notice. Further, the CCMTA has posted the complete
draft standard and related information (e.g., minutes of the previous
public meetings, information about ordering copies of the cargo
securement research reports, etc.) on the INTERNET. The website is:
http://www.ab.org/ccmta/ccmta.html.
The FHWA will discuss the comments submitted to the docket in
response to the 1996 ANPRM when it publishes a notice of proposed
rulemaking.
Meeting Information
The meeting will be held on October 1, 1998, at the Hyatt Regency
Rochester Hotel, 125 East Main Street in Rochester, New York. The
meeting is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is being held in
connection with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's 1998 Fall
Conference. Attendance for the cargo securement meeting is free of
charge and open to all interested parties. However, anyone interested
in attending the sessions and committee meetings of the CVSA's 1998
Fall 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 1998 Fall Conference please contact
the CVSA at (301) 564-1623.
The FHWA notes that since the CVSA's 1998 Fall Conference is being
held at the Hyatt Regency Rochester 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: August 20, 1998.
Jill L. Hochman,
Acting Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers.
[FR Doc. 98-22952 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
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