[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43834-43835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12436]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[OST Docket No. OST-2006-25493]


Surface Transportation Policy & Revenue Technical Advisory 
Committee

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to form an advisory committee.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 
109-59, Aug. 10, 2005, the Secretary of Transportation is establishing 
a technical advisory committee to collect and evaluate technical input 
as directed in section 1909(b)(8) of the SAFETEA-LU. Section 1909(b) of 
SAFETEA-LU also established the National Surface Transportation Policy 
and Revenue Study Commission (Revenue Commission). The purpose of this 
notice is to invite interested parties, organizations, and individuals, 
to submit applications to be considered for representation on the 
technical advisory committee.

DATES: Comments and/or applications for membership or nominations for 
membership, or a letter of intent to submit and application or 
nomination, on the technical advisory committee must be received on or 
before August 23, 2006. If a letter of intent is submitted, the 
application or nomination must be received on or before September 1, 
2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Alla C. Shaw, Attorney-Advisor, 
Federal Highway Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, 202-366-
1042 ([email protected]), 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 4230, 
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    You may submit applications online through the Document Management 
System (DMS) at: http://dms.dot.gov/submit. The DMS is available 24 
hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission and retrieval 
help and guidelines are available under the help section of the web 
site. Anyone is able to search the DMS for all applications received in 
the docket established for this notice by the name of the individual 
submitting the application (or signing the application, if submitted on 
behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review 
DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in a Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (70 FR 19477), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from the 
Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov and the 
Government Printing Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    On August 10, 2005, the President signed into law the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144). Section 
1909(b) of the SAFETEA-LU established the National Surface 
Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. Within this 
section, Congress directed

[[Page 43835]]

the Secretary to establish a technical advisory committee to collect 
and evaluate technical input from appropriate Federal, State, and local 
officials with responsibility for transportation; transportation and 
trade associations; emergency management officials; freight providers; 
the general public; and other entities and persons determined to be 
appropriate by the Secretary to ensure a diverse range of views. 
(SAFETEA-LU, Sec.  1909(b)(8)). The Surface Transportation Policy and 
Revenue Technical Advisory Committee is necessary and in the public 
interest.
    A. Notice Of Intent To Establish An Advisory Committee And Request 
For Comment: In accordance with the requirements of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), an agency of the 
Federal government cannot establish or utilize a group of people in the 
interest of obtaining consensus advice or recommendations unless that 
group is chartered as a Federal advisory committee. The purpose of this 
notice is to indicate the DOT's intent to create a Federal advisory 
committee to collect and evaluate technical input as directed in 
section 1909(b)(8) of the SAFETEA-LU.
    B. Name Of Committee: Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue 
Technical Advisory Committee (STPR-TAC).
    C. Purpose And Objective: The STPR-TAC will collect comments and 
evaluate technical information provided by stakeholders regarding the 
needs and financing of surface transportation as described in sections 
1909(b)(5), (6), and (7). The STPR-TAC will report directly to the 
Secretary of Transportation. With the Secretary's approval, the TAC may 
assist with the work of the Revenue Commission including assisting with 
the collection and evaluation of technical information on the needs and 
financing of surface transportation as described in sections 
1909(b)(5), (6), and (7) of SAFETEA-LU. With the Secretary's approval, 
and at the request of the Revenue Commission, the TAC, or individual 
TAC members, may be asked to assist with the incorporation of their 
work into the Revenue Commission's report to Congress. This may include 
drafting specific sections of the report or providing substantive 
technical reviews of the report, as it is prepared. The TAC may also 
participate in other matters closely related to the work of the Revenue 
Commission as approved by the Secretary.
    The STPR-TAC will not exercise program management or regulatory 
development responsibilities and will make no decisions directly 
affecting the programs on which it provides advice. The STPR-TAC will 
provide technical advice to the Secretary of Transportation, or as 
directed to the Revenue Commission, from a knowledgeable and 
independent perspective.
    D. Balanced Membership Plans: The TAC's membership shall be large 
enough to promote deliberations, but shall include only the number 
necessary to ensure the breadth and balance of expertise required to 
accomplish its purpose. Members of the TAC should possess the requisite 
skills and abilities to collect technical information and to provide 
meaningful advice and recommendations on the needs and financing of 
surface transportation as described in sections 1909(b)(5), (6), and 
(7).
    This document gives notice of the purpose of the STPR-TAC and 
affords those interested working on the STPR-TAC the opportunity to 
submit an application to the DOT. The procedure for submitting an 
application is set out in paragraph E of this notice.
    The DOT is aware that there are many more potential organizations 
and participants than there are membership opportunities on the STPR-
TAC. It is very important to recognize that interested persons who are 
not selected for membership on the STPR-TAC can make valuable 
contributions to the work of the STPR-TAC. Interested persons and 
organizations may request to be placed on the STPR-TAC mailing list and 
may submit written comments to the STPR-TAC.
    Advisory committee meetings must be open to the public except where 
closed or partially-closed, as determined proper and consistent with 
the exemptions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c). 
Any member of the public is welcome to attend the open STPR-TAC 
meetings, and, as provided in FACA, may contact and communicate with 
the STPR-TAC directly. Time will be set-aside during open meetings for 
this purpose, consistent with the STPR-TAC's need for sufficient time 
to complete its deliberations.
    E. Applications for Membership: Each application for membership or 
nomination to the STPR-TAC should include:
    (1) The name of the applicant or nominee and a statement of 
interest in the purpose and objectives of the STPR-TAC;
    (2) References and a justification in support of the applicant's or 
nominee's unique qualifications for participation on the TAC; and
    (3) A written commitment that the applicant or nominee would 
participate in good faith.
    Every effort will be made to select STPR-TAC members who can make 
significant contributions to the advisory committee's efforts. A 
balance is needed and weight is given to a variety of factors 
including, but not limited to, geographical distribution, gender, 
minority status, organization, and expertise.
    F. Duration: The STPR-TAC will terminate 2 years after the date of 
the filing of the STPR-TAC charter unless prior to that time the 
charter is extended in accordance with the FACA and other applicable 
requirements.
    G. Notice of Establishment: After evaluating applications as a 
result of this Notice, the Department will issue a notice announcing 
the establishment and composition of the STPR-TAC.

(Authority: Section 1909(b)(8) of Pub. L. 109-59)

    Issued on: July 27, 2006.
Maria Cino,
Acting Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. E6-12436 Filed 8-1-06; 8:45 am]
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