Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; Notice of Intent To Survey Motor Carriers Operating Small Passenger-Carrying Commercial Motor Vehicles, 17218-17219 [E7-6427]

Download as PDF 17218 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 66 / Friday, April 6, 2007 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2006–27393] Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; Notice of Intent To Survey Motor Carriers Operating Small PassengerCarrying Commercial Motor Vehicles Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces that its Information Collection Request (ICR) described below has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes a proposed collection activity involving all motor carriers who operate small passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and its expected cost and burden. A Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR was published on December 8, 2006. FMCSA received four comments to this docket, but only one of those comments addressed the information collection process set forth in this notice. This comment was considered during the development of the survey for this information collection. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 7, 2007. OMB must receive your comments by this date to act quickly on the request. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: DOT/ FMCSA Desk Officer. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Chandler, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Office of Enforcement and Compliance, Commercial Passenger Carrier Safety Division, Washington, DC 20590, phone (202) 366–5763, fax (202) 366–3621, email peter.chandler@dot.gov. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 212 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (MCSIA) [Pub. L. 106–159, 113 Stat. 1748, 1766 (December 9, 1999)] expanded FMCSA’s statutory authority to ensure the safe operation of small passenger vehicle carriers operating in long-haul, VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:39 Apr 05, 2007 Jkt 211001 interstate transportation. In response to this congressional mandate, FMCSA published a final rule in the Federal Register (68 FR 47860; August 12, 2003) entitled, ‘‘Safety Requirements for Operators of Small Passenger-Carrying Commercial Motor Vehicles Used in Interstate Commerce,’’ to require motor carriers operating CMVs, designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver), in interstate commerce, to comply with parts 391 through 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) when they are directly compensated for such services, and the vehicle is operated beyond a 75 air-mile radius from the driver’s normal workreporting location. As a result of the 2003 rule, these motor carriers are now subject to the same safety requirements as motor coach operators, except for the commercial driver’s license (CDL), and controlled substances and alcohol testing regulations. Affected motor carriers were required to be in compliance with such regulations by December 10, 2003 (see 68 FR 61246; date of publication October 27, 2003). Section 4136 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA–LU) [Public Law 109–59, 119 Stat. 1144, 1745 (Aug. 10, 2005)] directed FMCSA to remove the 75 air-mile radius standard set forth in MCSIA. This congressional mandate or change would result in a greater number of motor carriers that operate small passengercarrying CMVs being subject to the FMCSRs. To effectively inform this segment of the motor carrier passenger industry of the regulatory requirements that they will be subject to, and to assist the agency in administering an effective educational outreach program to this entire industry segment, FMCSA intends to conduct a survey to obtain information about all of these motor passenger carrier operations. Because certain motor carriers that operate small passenger-carrying CMVs will have new regulatory requirements as a result of the section 4136 provision of SAFETEA–LU, FMCSA wants to learn more about the safety and/or regulatory compliance challenges of this industry segment. There is no motor carrier industry association that is comprised mostly of companies that primarily operate between 9–15 passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles. This makes obtaining information about this industry segment more difficult and necessitates the assistance of a researcher to obtain information needed by FMCSA to effectively provide outreach to these passenger carriers. FMCSA will obtain a PO 00000 Frm 00128 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 research contractor to collect information about motor carriers with small passenger-carrying CMV operations. The research contractor will collect information through approximately 50 telephone interviews and 8 site visits at places of business. A copy of the telephone survey instrument was placed in the docket. Information obtained from the study will provide insight into the common safety and regulatory compliance challenges facing motor carriers with small passengercarrying CMV operations. Such information will also be utilized by FMCSA to develop educational outreach initiatives for the affected industry segment. It is appropriate that FMCSA connect with and inform this segment of the motor carrier industry of its regulatory compliance responsibilities before implementing an enforcement program. Any information obtained will help identify specific areas of regulatory compliance that are problematic for this industry segment. In addition, the questions of the telephone survey instrument address safety issues that preliminary research shows are pertinent to motor carriers with small passenger-carrying CMV operations. Useful information about these safety issues could be included in outreach materials for the benefit of the industry. The survey will also obtain needed insight about how to best provide and distribute information to the affected industry segment. Title: Survey of Motor Carriers with Small Passenger-Carrying CMV Operations. Type of Information Collection Request: New one-time survey/ information collection. Respondents: For-hire motor carriers that operate between 9–15 passengercarrying commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. Estimated Number of Respondents: 50 motor carriers. Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes for each telephone survey. Frequency of Response: One time. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 25 hours. The estimated total burden is 25 hours for the information collection based upon an acceptable level of statistical significance and a confidence interval of 13.6 percent [(50 responses × 30 minutes per response)/60 minutes = 25 hours]. We particularly request comments on the necessity and usefulness of the information collection for the proper performance of the functions of FMCSA and specifically the regulatory oversight of small passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle operations; the accuracy of the estimated burden of collected E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 66 / Friday, April 6, 2007 / Notices information; suggestions to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information; and suggestions to minimize the collection burden on respondents, including using automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Issued on: March 29, 2007. Rose A. McMurray, Chief Safety Officer, Assistant Administrator. [FR Doc. E7–6427 Filed 4–5–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–98–4470] Pipeline Safety: Meetings of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60102, 60115. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of canceled meetings and public workshop. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice cancels the Wednesday, April 25 and Thursday, April 26, 2007 meetings of PHMSA’s Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Advisory Committee (TPSSC) and Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) and a public workshop. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information regarding this notice contact Cheryl Whetsel at (202) 366–4431, or by e-mail at cheryl.whetsel@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 12, 2007, the THLPSSC discussed a proposal to extend pipeline safety regulations to the unregulated hazardous liquid gathering lines and low stress pipelines, and potential changes to the proposal to address the requirements of the Pipeline Integrity, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006. PHMSA expects to incorporate these changes into a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) within the next few weeks. PHMSA published a Federal Register notice on March 23, 2007 (72 FR 13559) which announced April meetings. The THLPSSC was to consider and vote on the SNPRM. PHMSA has decided an April meeting would not give the THLPSSC sufficient time to review the SNPRM. In addition, the THLPSSC would not have the benefit of viewing VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:39 Apr 05, 2007 Jkt 211001 the public comments on the SNPRM. PHMSA will schedule a THLPSSC meeting later in the year to consider and vote on this rulemaking proposal. The other rulemaking item on the April agenda was a TPSSC meeting to consider and vote on a proposal to relax regulatory requirements governing public awareness programs conducted by operators of master meter systems and certain operators of petroleum gas systems. The proposal is a minor noncontroversial change to an existing rulemaking PHMSA will schedule a TPSSC telephone meeting later in the year to consider and vote on this rulemaking proposal. Lastly, PHMSA continues to evaluate reassessment intervals for gas integrity management programs. PHMSA may reschedule the public workshop canceled by this notice or decide on an alternative way to seek public input. Issued in Washington, DC on March 30, 2007. Jeffrey D. Wiese, Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. E7–6426 Filed 4–5–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–60–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–06–25735; Notice 2] Pipeline Safety: Grant of Waiver; Sabine Pass LNG Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); U.S. Department of Transportation. ACTION: Grant of waiver; Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. (SPLNG) requested a waiver of compliance from the Federal pipeline safety regulation that requires liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities constructed after March 31, 2000 to comply with the National Fire Protection Association’s Standard 59A (NFPA 59A), 2001 Edition. The waiver specifically requested permission to use ultrasonic examination as an acceptable alternative non-destructive testing method for welds on LNG tanks. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background SPLNG requested a waiver from compliance of the Federal pipeline safety requirements at 49 CFR 193.2301 PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17219 for its facility at Cameron Parish, Louisiana. This regulation requires each LNG facility constructed after March 31, 2000 to comply with 49 CFR part 193 and NFPA Standard 59A, 2001 Edition. NFPA Standard 59A, 2001 Edition requires that welded containers designed for not more than 15 pounds per square inch gauge comply with the Eighth Edition, 1990, of American Petroleum Institute Standard 620 (API 620), ‘‘Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks (Appendix Q).’’ The Eighth Edition of API 620 requires inspection according to Appendix Q which calls for a full radiographic examination of all vertical and horizontal butt welds associated with the container. SPLNG is proposing to use the Tenth Edition, 2002, Addendum 1 of the 2004 Edition of API 620 at its Cameron Parish LNG facility. This Tenth Edition allows ultrasonic examination as well as radiography as an acceptable alternative non-destructive testing method. SPLNG proposes to use ultrasonic examination, which consists of full semi-automated and manual ultrasonic examination using shear wave probes. The examination will also consist of a volumetric ultrasonic examination using a combination of creep wave probes and focused angled longitudinal wave probes. To allow ultrasonic examination in accordance with the most recent NFPA Standard 59A, 2006 Edition, a waiver is required. PHMSA considered SPLNG’s waiver request and published a notice in the Federal Register inviting interested persons to comment on whether a waiver should be granted (71 FR 56584; September 27, 2006). No comments were received. The NFPA issued a Tentative Interim Amendment to NFPA Standard 59A, 2006 Edition, effective February 14, 2006 (59A TIA06). This amendment incorporates API 620, Tenth Edition, 2002, Addendum 1, 2004. The Tenth Edition adds ultrasonic examination as an acceptable method of non-destructive examination for welds. The proposed wording of the Tenth Edition 2002, Addendum 1, 2004 of API 620 deletes ‘‘radiographic’’ inspection and replaces it with ‘‘complete’’ examination and defines ‘‘complete’’ examination as radiographic or ultrasonic examination. Decision: PHMSA finds that the use of ultrasonic examination in accordance with NFPA Standard 59A, 2006 Edition and 59A TIA06 is not inconsistent with pipeline safety and achieves an equivalent level of safety. Therefore, SPLNG’s request for waiver of compliance with § 193.2301 is granted, subject to the following conditions: (1) E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 66 (Friday, April 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17218-17219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6427]



[[Page 17218]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2006-27393]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; 
Notice of Intent To Survey Motor Carriers Operating Small Passenger-
Carrying Commercial Motor Vehicles

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA 
announces that its Information Collection Request (ICR) described below 
has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review 
and approval. The ICR describes a proposed collection activity 
involving all motor carriers who operate small passenger-carrying 
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and its expected cost and burden. A 
Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR 
was published on December 8, 2006. FMCSA received four comments to this 
docket, but only one of those comments addressed the information 
collection process set forth in this notice. This comment was 
considered during the development of the survey for this information 
collection.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 7, 2007. OMB must 
receive your comments by this date to act quickly on the request.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention: DOT/FMCSA Desk Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Chandler, Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration, Office of Enforcement and Compliance, 
Commercial Passenger Carrier Safety Division, Washington, DC 20590, 
phone (202) 366-5763, fax (202) 366-3621, e-mail 
peter.chandler@dot.gov. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., e.t., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 212 of the Motor Carrier Safety 
Improvement Act of 1999 (MCSIA) [Pub. L. 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748, 1766 
(December 9, 1999)] expanded FMCSA's statutory authority to ensure the 
safe operation of small passenger vehicle carriers operating in long-
haul, interstate transportation. In response to this congressional 
mandate, FMCSA published a final rule in the Federal Register (68 FR 
47860; August 12, 2003) entitled, ``Safety Requirements for Operators 
of Small Passenger-Carrying Commercial Motor Vehicles Used in 
Interstate Commerce,'' to require motor carriers operating CMVs, 
designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including 
the driver), in interstate commerce, to comply with parts 391 through 
396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) when they 
are directly compensated for such services, and the vehicle is operated 
beyond a 75 air-mile radius from the driver's normal work-reporting 
location. As a result of the 2003 rule, these motor carriers are now 
subject to the same safety requirements as motor coach operators, 
except for the commercial driver's license (CDL), and controlled 
substances and alcohol testing regulations. Affected motor carriers 
were required to be in compliance with such regulations by December 10, 
2003 (see 68 FR 61246; date of publication October 27, 2003).
    Section 4136 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU) [Public Law 
109-59, 119 Stat. 1144, 1745 (Aug. 10, 2005)] directed FMCSA to remove 
the 75 air-mile radius standard set forth in MCSIA. This congressional 
mandate or change would result in a greater number of motor carriers 
that operate small passenger-carrying CMVs being subject to the FMCSRs. 
To effectively inform this segment of the motor carrier passenger 
industry of the regulatory requirements that they will be subject to, 
and to assist the agency in administering an effective educational 
outreach program to this entire industry segment, FMCSA intends to 
conduct a survey to obtain information about all of these motor 
passenger carrier operations.
    Because certain motor carriers that operate small passenger-
carrying CMVs will have new regulatory requirements as a result of the 
section 4136 provision of SAFETEA-LU, FMCSA wants to learn more about 
the safety and/or regulatory compliance challenges of this industry 
segment. There is no motor carrier industry association that is 
comprised mostly of companies that primarily operate between 9-15 
passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles. This makes obtaining 
information about this industry segment more difficult and necessitates 
the assistance of a researcher to obtain information needed by FMCSA to 
effectively provide outreach to these passenger carriers. FMCSA will 
obtain a research contractor to collect information about motor 
carriers with small passenger-carrying CMV operations. The research 
contractor will collect information through approximately 50 telephone 
interviews and 8 site visits at places of business. A copy of the 
telephone survey instrument was placed in the docket. Information 
obtained from the study will provide insight into the common safety and 
regulatory compliance challenges facing motor carriers with small 
passenger-carrying CMV operations. Such information will also be 
utilized by FMCSA to develop educational outreach initiatives for the 
affected industry segment. It is appropriate that FMCSA connect with 
and inform this segment of the motor carrier industry of its regulatory 
compliance responsibilities before implementing an enforcement program. 
Any information obtained will help identify specific areas of 
regulatory compliance that are problematic for this industry segment. 
In addition, the questions of the telephone survey instrument address 
safety issues that preliminary research shows are pertinent to motor 
carriers with small passenger-carrying CMV operations. Useful 
information about these safety issues could be included in outreach 
materials for the benefit of the industry. The survey will also obtain 
needed insight about how to best provide and distribute information to 
the affected industry segment.
    Title: Survey of Motor Carriers with Small Passenger-Carrying CMV 
Operations.
    Type of Information Collection Request: New one-time survey/
information collection.
    Respondents: For-hire motor carriers that operate between 9-15 
passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50 motor carriers.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes for each telephone survey.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 25 hours. The estimated total burden 
is 25 hours for the information collection based upon an acceptable 
level of statistical significance and a confidence interval of 13.6 
percent [(50 responses x 30 minutes per response)/60 minutes = 25 
hours].
    We particularly request comments on the necessity and usefulness of 
the information collection for the proper performance of the functions 
of FMCSA and specifically the regulatory oversight of small passenger-
carrying commercial motor vehicle operations; the accuracy of the 
estimated burden of collected

[[Page 17219]]

information; suggestions to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the collected information; and suggestions to minimize the 
collection burden on respondents, including using automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Issued on: March 29, 2007.
Rose A. McMurray,
Chief Safety Officer, Assistant Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E7-6427 Filed 4-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.