[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 75 (Thursday, April 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 18684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08025]



[[Page 18684]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2016-0015]


Emergency Route Working Group--Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Emergency Route Working 
Group (ERWG). The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that notice 
of such meetings be published in the Federal Register.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, from 
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., and Thursday, May 11, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. 
to 1 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Both sessions of this public meeting will be held at U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., Conference Center, 
Washington, DC 20590.
    Due to the limited amount of parking around DOT Headquarters, use 
of public transit is strongly advised. The DOT is served by the Navy 
Yard Metrorail Station (Green line). The closest exit to DOT 
Headquarters is the Navy Yard exit. Train and bus schedules are 
available at Metrorail's Web site at: http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/tripplanner/tripplanner_form_solo.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Jones, FHWA Office of Freight 
Management and Operations, (202) 366-2976, or via email at 
[email protected] or [email protected]. For legal questions, contact 
Seetha Srinivasan, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4099 or 
via email at [email protected]. Office hours for FHWA are from 
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this notice may be downloaded from the from 
the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov; the 
Government Publishing Office's database at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/; 
or the specific docket page at: www.regulations.gov.

Background

    Purpose of the Committee: Section 5502 of the Fixing America's 
Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L. 114-94) requires DOT to 
establish an emergency route working group to determine best practices 
for expeditious State approval of special permits for vehicles involved 
in emergency response and recovery. Pursuant to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), FHWA's Office of Freight Management and 
Operations is announcing a public meeting of the Emergency Route 
Working Group (ERWG). The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 
10, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 5p.m., e.t., and Thursday, May 11, 2017, 
from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. These meetings are being conducted to develop 
recommendations for the DOT Secretary on issues and associated best 
practices to encourage expeditious State approval of special permits 
for vehicles involved in emergency response and recovery.
    Tentative Agenda: The agenda will include a topical discussion on 
considerations for best practices; including whether:
    (1) Impediments currently exist that prevent expeditious State 
approval of special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response 
and recovery;
    (2) it is possible to pre-identify and establish emergency routes 
between States through which infrastructure repair materials could be 
delivered following a natural disaster or emergency;
    (3) a State could pre-designate an emergency route identified under 
paragraph (2) as a certified emergency route if a motor vehicle that 
exceeds the otherwise applicable Federal and State truck size and 
weight limits may safely operate along such route during periods of 
declared emergency and recovery from such periods; and
    (4) an online map could be created to identify each pre-designated 
emergency route under paragraph (3), including information on specific 
vehicle limitations, obligations, and notification requirements along 
that route.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

     8:30 a.m.-9 Opening Remarks
     9-11:30 Recommendations and Advice (Utilities perspective)
     11:30-1 p.m. Lunch
     1-3:30 Recommendations and Advice (Federal perspective)
     3:30 Break
     3:30-4:30 Recommendations and Advice (State Department of 
Transportation and enforcement perspective)
     4:30 p.m. Wrap-up and Adjournment for the day
    Thursday, May 11, 2017:
     8:30 a.m.-9 Opening Remarks
     9:00-10:30 Recommendations and Advice (State Department of 
Transportation and enforcement perspective, continued from May 10)
     10:00-12 p.m. ERWG Report to the DOT Secretary (Outline 
Discussion)
     12:00-12:30 Outstanding Issues and topics for additional 
deliberation
     12:30 p.m. Wrap-up and Adjournment
    Public Participation: Both sessions of this meeting are open to the 
public. The Designated Federal Officer and the Chair of the Committee 
will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. 
If you would like to file a written statement with the Committee, you 
may do so either before or after the meeting by submitting an 
electronic copy of that statement to [email protected] or the specific 
docket page at: www.regulations.gov. If you would like to make oral 
statements regarding any of the items on the agenda, you should contact 
Crystal Jones at the phone number listed above or email your request to 
[email protected]. You must make your request for an oral statement at least 
5 business days prior to the meeting. Reasonable provisions will be 
made to include any such presentation on the agenda. Public comment 
will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker, per topic.
    Minutes: An electronic copy of the minutes from this meeting will 
be available for download within 60 days of the conclusion of the 
meeting at: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/erwg/index.htm.

    Authority:  Section 5502 of Pub. L. 114-94; 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2; 
41 CFR 102-3.65; 49 CFR 1.85.

    Issued on: April 17, 2017.
Walter C. Waidelich, Jr.,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-08025 Filed 4-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P