[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 193 (Thursday, October 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58903-58904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16516]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2005-23112]


Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal Highway 
Administration

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting of advisory committee.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces the first meeting of the Motorcyclist 
Advisory Council to the Federal Highway Administration (MAC-FHWA). The 
purpose of this meeting is to advise the Secretary of Transportation, 
through the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, on 
infrastructure issues of concern to motorcyclists, including (1) 
barrier design; (2) road design, construction, and maintenance 
practices; and (3) the architecture and implementation of intelligent 
transportation system technologies, pursuant to Section 1914 of the 
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

DATES: The first meeting of the MAC-FHWA is scheduled for October 24, 
2006, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESS: The first MAC-FHWA meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn 
Capitol, 550 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Halladay, the Designated 
Federal Official, Office of Safety, 202-366-2288, 
([email protected]), or Dr. Morris Oliver, Office of Safety, 
202-366-2251, ([email protected]), Federal Highway Administration, 
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 1914 
of SAFETEA-LU mandates the establishment of the Motorcyclist Advisory 
Council as follows: ``The Secretary, acting through the Administrator 
of the Federal Highway Administration, in consultation with the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
the Senate, shall appoint a Motorcyclist Advisory Council to coordinate 
with and advise the Administrator on infrastructure issues of concern 
to motorcyclists, including--
    (1) barrier design;
    (2) road design, construction, and maintenance practices; and
    (3) the architecture and implementation of intelligent 
transportation system technologies.''
    In addition, Section 1914 specifies the membership of the council: 
``The Council shall consist of not more than 10 members of the 
motorcycling community with professional expertise in national 
motorcyclist safety advocacy, including--
    (1) at least--
    (A) one member recommended by a national motorcyclist association;
    (B) one member recommended by a national motorcycle riders 
foundation;
    (C) one representative of the National Association of State 
Motorcycle Safety Administrators;
    (D) two members of State motorcyclists' organizations;
    (E) one member recommended by a national organization that 
represents the builders of highway infrastructure;
    (F) one member recommended by a national association that 
represents the traffic safety systems industry; and
    (G) one member of a national safety organization; and
    (2) at least one, and not more than two, motorcyclists who are 
traffic system design engineers or State transportation department 
officials.''
    To carry out this requirement, the FHWA published a notice of 
intent to form an advisory committee in the Federal Register on 
December 23, 2005 (70 FR 76353). This notice, consistent with the 
requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), announced 
the establishment of the Council and invited comments and nominations 
for membership.
    A total of forty-four (44) nominations were received to the docket 
for the motorcyclist advisory council; thirty-nine (39) were for 
specific individuals and five (5) nominated specific organizations. 
Many nominations came with multiple endorsements from Congress, 
motorcyclist organizations, and motorcycle companies. In addition, 
there were twenty-three (23) self-nominations. The FHWA selected the 
members based on elements such as consistency with the Congressional 
direction on the composition of the advisory council; recommendations 
received from associations and other organizations, Congressional 
recommendations; experience related to motorcyclist safety and 
transportation infrastructure; and geographical representation among 
the States. The

[[Page 58904]]

ten (10) selected members, their roles, and who nominated them are as 
follows:
    Ed Moreland, Vice President, Government Relations, American 
Motorcyclist Association (AMA), will serve as a member recommended by a 
national motorcyclist association. Mr. Moreland was recommended by 
Senator James Inhofe and Representatives Sherwood Boehlert, Peter 
DeFazio, Sam Graves and Thomas Petri, as well as Wayne T. Curtin 
(Harley Davidson Motorcycles) and Robert Razor (AMA). Mr. Moreland was 
also self-nominated.
    Jeff Hennie, Vice President Government Relations, Motorcycle Riders 
Foundation, will serve as a member recommended by a national motorcycle 
riders foundation. Mr. Hennie was self-nominated.
    Ken Kiphart, Chairperson and a member of the Executive Committee of 
the National Association of State Motorcycle State Administrators and 
Administrator of the Nevada Department of Public Safety, will serve as 
a representative of the National Association of State Motorcycle Safety 
Administrators. Mr. Kiphart was self-nominated.
    Darrel Killion, State Coordinator for A Brotherhood for Awareness, 
Training and Education (ABATE) of South Dakota, will serve as a member 
of a State motorcyclist organization. Mr. Killion was recommended by 
Senators John Thune and Tim Johnson and Representative Stephanie 
Herseth. Mr. Killion was self-nominated.
    Steven P. Zimmer, State Executive Director, American Bikers Aimed 
Toward Education (ABATE) of Ohio, will serve as a member of a State 
motorcyclist organization. Mr. Zimmer was recommended by Representative 
Ted Strickland. Mr. Zimmer was also self-nominated.
    Gerald J. Salontai, P.E. President and CEO of Kleinfelder, Inc., 
will serve as a member recommended by a national organization that 
represents the builders of highway infrastructure. Mr. Salontai was 
recommended by the American Road and Transportation Builders 
Association (ARTBA).
    Robert J. McClune, Executive Vice President and General Manager of 
North American Potters Industries, will serve as a member recommended 
by a national association that represents the traffic safety systems 
industry. Mr. McClune was recommended by the American Traffic Safety 
Services Association (ATSSA).
    Kathy Van Kleeck, Vice President, Government Relations, Motorcycle 
Safety Foundation (MSF), will serve as a member of a national safety 
organization. Ms. Van Kleeck was recommended by Senator James Inhofe.
    Mark Bloschock, P.E., Manager, Special Projects Branch, Texas 
Department of Transportation (TXDOT), will serve as a member who is a 
motorcyclist and a traffic systems design engineer or State 
transportation department official. Mr. Bloschock was recommended by 
the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 
(AASHTO).
    Donald Vaughn, Chief Engineer/Deputy Director of Operations Alabama 
Department of Transportation, will serve as a member who is a 
motorcyclist and a traffic systems design engineer or State 
transportation department official. Mr. Vaughn was recommended by the 
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 
(AASHTO).
    The FHWA anticipates that the MAC-FHWA will meet at least once a 
year, with meetings held in Washington, DC, and the FHWA will publish 
notices in the Federal Register to announce the times, dates, and 
locations of these meetings. Meetings of the Council are open to the 
public and time will be provided in each meeting's schedule for 
comments by members of the public. Attendance will necessarily be 
limited by the size of the meeting room. Members of the public may 
present oral or written comments at the meeting or may present written 
materials by providing copies to Ms. Fran Bents, Westat, 1650 Research 
Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850-3195, (240) 314-7557, ten (10) days 
prior to the meeting.
    The agenda topics for the meetings will include a discussion of the 
following issues: (1) Barrier design; (2) road design, construction, 
and maintenance practices; and (3) the architecture and implementation 
of intelligent transportation system technologies.
    Conclusion: The first meeting of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council 
to the Federal Highway Administration will be held on October 24, 2006, 
at the Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024 
from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
    (Authority: Section 1914 of Pub. L. 109-59; Public L. 92-463, 5 
U.S.C., App. II Sec.  1.)

    Issued on: September, 29, 2006.
J. Richard Capka,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-16516 Filed 10-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P