[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47256-47258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22709]


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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.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the eighth annual plenary session of the 
North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) Land Transportation

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Standards Subcommittee (LTSS) and the Transportation Consultative Group 
(TCG) and other related meetings; and invites representatives of non-
governmental entities with an interest in land transportation issues to 
participate in these proceedings and to attend a briefing at a later 
date. With the exceptions noted below, 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 (Annex 
913.5.a-1).

Meetings and Deadlines

    The eighth annual LTSS/TCG plenary session will be held from 
October 15 to 17, 2001, at the Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa, Ontario, 
Canada. The following LTSS working groups are expected to 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. The following TCG working 
groups are expected to meet: (1) Cross-Border Operations and 
Facilitation; (2) Rail Safety and Operational Issues; (3) Automated 
Data Exchange; (4) Science and Technology; and (5) Maritime and Ports 
Policy. In addition, the occasion of the LTSS plenary session will also 
be used to convene bilateral meetings among the three parties to 
discuss a range of transportation issues.
    During the plenary session, from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on October 15, 
2001, representatives of the truck, bus, and rail industries, 
transportation labor unions, brokers and shippers, chemical 
manufacturers, insurance industry, public safety advocates, and other 
non-governmental organizations (NGO) who have notified us of their 
interest to attend by October 1, 2001, will have an opportunity to meet 
individually with the heads of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican 
delegations. This is an opportunity for interested parties to voice 
their concerns, provide technical information, and offer suggestions 
relevant to achieving greater standards compatibility and improving 
cross-border trade. While written statements of any length may be 
submitted to the delegation heads, oral presentations will be limited 
to 10 minutes per presenter. After October 1, written statements may be 
submitted for the record, and requests to present oral comments at the 
meeting with the delegation heads will be accommodated only on a time-
available basis.
    The same interested parties also will have the opportunity to meet 
with the individual working groups for the purpose of making more 
technical presentations oriented specifically to the subjects addressed 
by each group. Working group sessions following these NGO presentations 
will be closed to all but government officials. The Working Group 
meeting schedule is tentatively set as follows:

Monday, October 15, 2001

10:00-11:45 a.m.: LTSS working groups on Compliance and Driver and 
Vehicle Standards; Vehicle Weights and Dimensions; and Hazardous 
Materials Transportation Standards; TCG working groups on Cross-Border 
Operations and Facilitation; Automated Data Exchange; and Maritime and 
Port Policy.
2:00-5:30 p.m.: Same working groups as morning session, except TCG 
Automated Data Exchange group will not meet; TCG working group on 
Science and Technology also will meet at this time. The working group 
addressing Rail Safety and Operational Issues may also meet at this 
time.

Tuesday, October 16, 2001

9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: LTSS working groups on Compliance and Driver and 
Vehicle Standards; and Vehicle Weights and Dimensions; TCG working 
group on Cross-Border Operations and Facilitation.
2:00-6:00 p.m.: LTSS working group on Hazardous Materials 
Transportation; TCG working groups on Automated Data Exchange; and 
Science and Technology.

    To make a presentation to a specific working group interested 
parties should directly contact the U.S. working group chair for that 
group, indicate the nature of the presentation to be made, and arrange 
a specific time for the presentation. Times will be subject to 
coordination among the three working group co-chairs from the United 
States, Canada, and Mexico. U.S. co-chairs for the LTSS and TCG working 
groups are as follows:

LTSS

Compliance and Driver and Vehicle Standards--Tom Kozlowski (202-366-
4049)
Vehicle Weights and Dimensions--James March (202-366-9237)
Hazardous Materials Transportation Standards--Bob Richard (202-366-
0586)

TCG

Cross-Border Operations and Facilitation--Maria Lameiro (202-366-2892)
Rail Safety and Operational Issues--Jane Bachner (202-493-6405)
Automated Data Exchange--Tom Kozlowski (202-366-4049)
Science and Technology--Rita Freeman-Kelly (202-366-5443)
Maritime and Ports Policy--Gregory Hall (202-366-5773)
    Hotel reservations may be arranged with the Fairmont Chateau 
Laurier by telephoning 800-441-1414 or 613-241-1414. The hotel can be 
reached by fax at 613-562-7031 or by email at 
[email protected]. Reservations should be made no later 
than September 20, 2001. Due to a very busy conference period in Ottawa 
during the month of October, the hotel cannot hold rooms at conference 
rates beyond September 20, 2001. When making reservations, callers must 
identify the conference (NAFTA LTSS Plenary) in order to obtain the 
special rates for conference attendees. A credit card is required to 
guarantee payment for all rooms.
    A briefing to report on the outcome of the Ottawa meetings will be 
conducted at DOT at the address below, on November 15, 2001, from 10:00 
a.m. to noon in room 10234. Interested parties may notify DOT of their 
interest to attend this briefing by calling (202) 366-2892 by November 
1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: LTSS-related documents, including past 
working group reports and statements received by DOT from industry 
associations, transportation labor unions, public safety advocates, and 
others are 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. The Docket, which is 
updated periodically, may also be accessed electronically at http://dms.dot.gov.

Address and Phone Numbers

    Individuals and organizations interested in participating in the 
LTSS and TCG sessions must send notice of their interest and copies of 
their

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presentations by October 1 to Allen Wiener, 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 or email to [email protected]. For additional 
information, call (202) 366-2892.

    Dated: September 5, 2001.
Bernestine Allen,
Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade.
Louise M. Pearson,
Alternate Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-22709 Filed 9-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P