[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58355-58356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28177]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of Motor Carrier Safety

49 CFR Chapter III

[Docket No. OMCS-99-6386]
RIN 2125-AE70


Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

AGENCY: Office of Motor Carrier Safety (OMCS), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the heading for chapter III concerning 
motor carrier safety regulations. On October 9, 1999, the Secretary of 
Transportation (Secretary) rescinded the authority previously delegated 
to the Federal Highway Administrator to perform motor carrier functions 
and operations, and redelegated that authority to the Director, Office 
of Motor Carrier Safety, a new office within the Department of 
Transportation (Department). The title of chapter III is therefore 
being changed from ``Federal Highway Administration, Department of 
Transportation'' to ``Office of Motor Carrier Safety, Department of 
Transportation'' to reflect the organizational changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective October 29, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neill L. Thomas, Office of Motor 
Carrier Safety, HMCS-10, (202) 366-4009; or Mr. Charles Medalen, Office 
of the Chief Counsel, HCC-20, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's 
home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing 
Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    Section 338 of the FY 2000 Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act [Public Law 106-69, 113 Stat. 986, at 1022 
(October 9, 1999)] prohibits the expenditure of any funds appropriated 
by that Act ``to carry out the functions and operations of the Office 
of Motor Carriers within the Federal Highway Administration'' (FHWA). 
Section 338 further provides that, if the authority of the Secretary on 
which the functions and operations of the Office of Motor Carriers are 
based is redelegated outside the FHWA, the funds available to that 
office under the Act may be transferred and expended to support its 
functions and operations.
    The Secretary has rescinded the authority previously delegated to 
the FHWA to carry out motor carrier functions and operations. This 
authority has been redelegated to the Director, Office of Motor Carrier 
Safety, a new office within the Department [64 FR 56270, October 19, 
1999].
    The new OMCS includes the following headquarters offices of the 
FHWA's former Office of Motor Carrier and Highway Safety (OMCHS): the 
Office of Motor Carrier Research and Standards, the Office of Data 
Analysis and Information Systems, the Office of Motor Carrier 
Enforcement, the Office of Policy and Program Management, the Office of 
National and International Safety Programs, the Office of Technology 
Evaluation and Deployment, and the Office of Program Evaluation. 
However, the Office of Highway Safety Infrastructure remains part of 
the FHWA. In addition, the motor carrier functions of the FHWA's 
Resource Centers and Division (i.e., State) Offices have been 
transferred to OMCS Resource Centers and OMCS Division Offices, 
respectively. Rulemaking, enforcement, and other activities of the 
OMCHS while part of the FHWA will be continued by the new OMCS. The 
redelegation will cause no changes in the motor carrier functions and 
operations of the offices or resource centers listed above. For the 
time being, all phone numbers and addresses are unchanged.
    The heading for 49 CFR chapter III is changed to read ``Chapter 
III--Office of Motor Carrier Safety, Department of Transportation.''
    This rule is being published as a final rule and made effective on 
the date of publication in the Federal Register. As the rule relates to 
Departmental organization, procedure, and practice, notice and comment 
on it are unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 553(b). This action makes no 
substantive changes to the motor carrier safety regulations. It simply 
provides a chapter heading change to 49 CFR chapter III. Therefore, 
prior notice and opportunity to comment are unnecessary and good cause 
exists to dispense with the 30-day delay in effective date requirement 
so that the Office of Motor Carrier Safety may resume its rulemaking 
functions.
    In consideration of the foregoing and under the authority of 49 
U.S.C. 301 and

[[Page 58356]]

322, Public Law 106-69, 113 Stat. 986, at 1022, and 49 CFR 1.73, the 
heading for chapter III of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, is 
revised to read as follows:

CHAPTER III--OFFICE OF MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION

    Issued on: October 21, 1999.
Julie Cirillo,
Acting Director, Office of Motor Carrier Safety.
[FR Doc. 99-28177 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]
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