[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 104 (Friday, May 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30737-30738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12133]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. OST-1995-246]


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

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice (1) announces the tenth 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 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 tenth annual LTSS/TCG plenary session will be held from June 3 
and 4, 2004 at the Hotel Nikko, Campos Eliseos 204, Polanco, Mexico 
City, Mexico. The following LTSS working groups are expected to meet 
during the same dates and at the same location: (1) Compliance and 
Driver and Vehicle Standards; and (2) Hazardous Materials 
Transportation Standards. The following TCG working groups also are 
expected to meet: (1) Cross-Border Operations and Facilitation; (2) 
Rail Safety and Economic Issues; and (3) Science and Technology.
    An opportunity will be provided for non-governmental organizations 
to address officials of the individual working groups regarding issues 
that concern them and that are within the purview of those working 
groups. Representatives of the truck, bus, and rail industries, 
transportation labor unions, brokers and shippers, chemical 
manufacturers, insurance industry, public safety advocates, and others 
who wish to take advantage of this opportunity are asked to contact the 
U.S. chairperson of the group they wish to address. Contact names, 
addresses and phone numbers are provided later in this notice. Copies 
of presentations, in English and Spanish, should be mailed to the 
working group chairs no later than June 2, 2004. 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 
based on the number of presenters to be accommodated. Working group 
chairs will determine the allowable length of any oral presentation and 
communicate that to the interested NGOs at least one week prior to the 
meeting dates. After June 2, statements may be submitted for the record 
and requests to present oral comments to the working groups will be 
accommodated only on a time-available basis. Interested parties can 
make hotel reservations by telephoning Ms. Laura Estrada at the Hotel 
Nikko at (5255) 283-8700 Ext 8020/7776 and identifying themselves as 
attendees to the NAFTA LTSS. This will ensure that attendees

[[Page 30738]]

receive the meeting room rate. A block of guest rooms has been reserved 
at the hotel for the nights of June 2, 3 and 4. A credit card is 
required to guarantee payment for all rooms. The hotel also can be 
reached by email at: [email protected] or [email protected].
    A briefing to report on the outcome of the meetings will be 
conducted in room 10234-10236 at DOT at the address below, on July 12, 
2004, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Interested parties may notify DOT of 
their interest in attending this briefing by calling (202) 366-2892 by 
July 9.

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 a.m. and 5 p.m., (EST) Monday 
through Friday, except national holidays. The Docket, which is updated 
periodically, may also be accessed electronically at http://dms.dot.gov. Information about the ninth plenary session can also be 
found on the DOT NAFTA Web site at http://www.dot.gov/NAFTA.
    Address and Phone Numbers:
    Individuals and organizations interested in participating in 
working group sessions must send notice of their interest and copies of 
their presentations by May 31 to one or more of the following working 
group chairs:

LTSS Working Groups

Compliance and Driver and Vehicle Standards, Tom Kozlowski--(202-366-
4049), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590;
Hazardous Materials Transportation Standards, Bob Richard--(202-366-
0586), Research & Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

TCG Working Groups

Cross-Border Operations and Facilitation, Maria Lameiro (202-366-2892), 
Office of International Transportation & Trade, Office of the Secretary 
of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590;
Rail Safety and Economic Issues, Jane Bachner (202-493-6405), Federal 
Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590;
Science and Technology, Rich Biter (202-366-5781), Office of the 
Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. 20590.

    For additional information, call (202) 366-2892.

    Dated: May 24, 2004.
Bernestine Allen,
Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade.
[FR Doc. 04-12133 Filed 5-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P