[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 138 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39660-39661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13946]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


Appointment of Representatives of the Uniform Carrier 
Registration Agreement Board of Directors

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the reappointment of the five State 
representatives of the Board of Directors which governs the Uniform 
Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) as authorized by the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This notice also announces the replacement of 
one Board who retired. The UCRA governs the collection and distribution 
of registration, financial responsibility information and fees paid by 
for-hire and private motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and 
leasing companies. The UCRA replaced the Single State Registration 
System (SSRS), which was repealed January 1, 2007.

DATES: The appointment of the five State representative Board members 
is effective beginning on June 1, 2007. The appointment of the director 
Board member became effective February 26, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Davis, Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration, Office of Safety Programs (MC-ES), (202) 366-
6406, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours 
are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 4305 of SAFETEA-LU [Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144, August 
10, 2005] created, under Title 49 U.S. Code, a new section 14504a 
titled ``Unified Carrier Registration System plan and agreement.''Under 
the UCR Agreement, motor carriers, motor private carriers, brokers, 
freight forwarders, and leasing companies provide registration and 
financial responsibility information and pay certain fees. The Unified 
Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors must issue rules and 
regulations to govern the UCR Agreement.
    Title 49 U.S.C. 14504a(a)(9) defines the Unified Carrier 
Registration Plan as the organization of State, Federal, and industry 
representatives responsible for developing, implementing, and 
administering the UCR Agreement. Section 14504a(d)(1)(B) directed the 
Secretary to establish a Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of 
Directors made up of 15 members representing FMCSA, State government, 
and the motor carrier industry. The Board also must recommend initial 
annual fees to be assessed against carriers, leasing companies, 
brokers, and freight forwarders under the UCR Agreement.
    Section 14504a(d) stipulates that the Unified Carrier Registration 
Plan Board of Directors must consist of representatives from the 
following groups:
    U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department): One individual, 
either the FMCSA Deputy Administrator or such other Presidential 
appointee from the Department, must represent the Department.
    Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: One director must be 
selected from each of the FMCSA service areas (as defined by FMCSA on 
January 1, 2005) from among the chief administrative officers of the 
State agencies responsible for administering the UCR Agreement.
    State Agencies: The five directors selected to represent State 
agencies must be from among the professional staffs of State agencies 
responsible for overseeing the administration of the UCR Agreement and 
must be nominated by the National Conference of State Transportation 
Specialists (NCSTS), a non-profit organization founded in 1959 and 
consisting of State agencies involved in transportation safety, 
insurance and consumer protection.
    Motor Carrier Industry: Five directors must represent the motor 
carrier industry.

Board of Directors

    Today's publication serves as public notice of the reappointment of 
the State representatives of the UCRA Board of Directors. The five 
members reappointed to the Board are as follows:
    Avelino A. Gutierrez, Staff Counsel for the New Mexico Public 
Regulation Commission (NMPRC). Mr. Gutierrez has been with the NMPRC 
for over 15 years and his main area of expertise has been in the 
transportation field. From June 2003 to June 2004, Mr. Gutierrez served 
as President of the NCSTS.
    Barbara Hague, Special Projects Coordinator within the Missouri 
Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Services (MODOT). Ms. Hague 
has 35 years of experience in State transportation regulation 
supervising the operating authority application, licensing, insurance, 
and tariff requirements for intrastate and interstate carriers, and has 
implemented

[[Page 39661]]

a paperless office system for operating authority transactions with 
MODOT.
    Dave Lazarides, Director of Processing and Information in the 
Transportation Bureau of the Illinois Commerce Commission and program 
manager of the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Network 
(CVISN) for the State of Illinois. Mr. Lazarides played a major role in 
the design of the SSRS software which has been adopted by 25 other 
States. He also serves as a consultant to States regarding electronic 
commerce initiatives and serves as chairman of the Electronic Commerce 
Committee for the NCSTS.
    William Leonard, Director of the Freight Compliance and Safety 
Bureau, New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT). Mr. Leonard's 
office is responsible for both New York's Motor Carrier Safety 
Assistance Program and SSRS. The NYDOT is also responsible for the 
issuance of operating authority to for-hire intrastate motor carriers 
in the State of New York.
    Terry Willert, Chief of the Colorado Public Utility Commission 
(COPUC) Transportation section. Mr. Willert currently serves as the 
NCSTS Treasurer and the Chair of its Strategic Planning Committee. He 
has been with the COPUC Transportation Section for 22 years as an 
investigator and as Chief. COPUC is responsible for administering the 
SSRS, permitting, insurance tracking, and safety of for-hire motor 
carriers in Colorado.
    Today's notice also serves as public notice of the replacement of 
Mr. Anthony D. Portanova, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department 
of Motor Vehicles, who retired from his State position on December 31, 
2006 and is therefore no longer eligible for UCR Board membership. Mr. 
Portanova occupied the position from FMCSA's Eastern Service Center. 
Mr. Charles ``Buddy'' Covert, Director, Transportation Administration 
Division, Public Service Commission of West Virginia will serve as his 
replacement.

Board Member Term Limits

    The five State representatives who are listed in this notice as 
members of the Board nominated by the NCSTS will serve a term of three 
years, expiring on May 31, 2010.
    Mr. Charles ``Buddy'' Covert will complete the remainder of Mr. 
Portanova's initial 2-year appointment which began on June 1, 2006, 
expiring on May 31, 2008.

    Issued on: July 10, 2007.
William A. Quade,
Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. E7-13946 Filed 7-18-07; 8:45 am]
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