Definition of Commercial Motor Vehicle: The EI Group, Inc., Application for Exemption, 37306-37307 [E7-13277]

Download as PDF 37306 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 130 / Monday, July 9, 2007 / Notices rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Background Section 6005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) (codified at 23 U.S.C. 327) established a pilot program to allow up to five States to assume the Secretary of Transportation’s responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions under any Federal environmental law pertaining to the review or approval of highway projects. In order to be selected for the pilot program, a State must submit an application to the Secretary. In selecting States for the five available slots in the pilot program, Congress gave priority to the selection of the States of Alaska, California, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas. On February 12, 2007, the FHWA published a final rule at 72 FR 6464 establishing requirements concerning the information required to be contained in an application by the State for the pilot program. These regulations, contained in 23 CFR Part 773, required the States of Alaska, California, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas to submit a statement of interest to the FHWA by May 14, 2007, in order to retain their priority status. If any of these States failed to submit a statement of interest to the FHWA by May 14, or decline to participate, another State may be selected. In response to this requirement, the FHWA has received statements of interest from California, Oklahoma, and Alaska indicating that they wish to participate in the pilot program. FHWA received letters from Ohio and Texas declining the opportunity to participate in the pilot program. Accordingly, the FHWA currently has two open slots for other State departments of transportation (State DOT). These slots will be awarded on a competitive basis based on such factors as legislative authority to waive the State’s sovereign immunity, financial and personnel capabilities to assume responsibilities, and description of plan and processes for carrying out assumed roles and responsibilities. If any State DOT has an interest in applying for this program, that State DOT should contact the FHWA Division Administrator in that State and should begin working with the FHWA in developing its application in accordance with the regulations found at 23 CFR Part 773. Authority: Section 6005 of Pub. L. 109–59; 23 U.S.C. 315 and 327; 49 CFR 1.48 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:59 Jul 06, 2007 Jkt 211001 Issued on: June 28, 2007. J. Richard Capka, Federal Highway Administrator. [FR Doc. E7–13149 Filed 7–6–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2007–28479] Definition of Commercial Motor Vehicle: The EI Group, Inc., Application for Exemption Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The FMCSA announces that it has received an application from The EI Group, Inc. (EI) seeking an exemption from classifying a specific motor vehicle as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), for purposes of driver licensing requirements. Under the exemption, EI employees would not be required to comply with commercial driver’s license requirements when operating a specifically-listed truck and trailer in combination, in interstate commerce. EI is requesting the exemption on behalf of all EI employees, and those contracted by EI, who operate its CMVs. EI states that approximately three EI drivers will be allowed to operate the subject equipment under the requested exemption. FMCSA requests public comment on EI’s application for exemption. Comments must be received on or before August 8, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket No. FMCSA–2007–28479 using any of the following methods: • Web Site: Go to https:// dmses.dot.gov/submit. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: Room W12–140, Ground Floor of West Building, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00125 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 dms.dot.gov at any time or Room W12– 140, Ground Floor of West Building, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. If you want us to notify you that we received your comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting comments on-line. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and Operations: Telephone: 202–366–4009. E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Pub. L. 105–178, 112 Stat. 107, June 9, 1998) amended 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) to provide authority to grant exemptions from the motor carrier safety regulations. On August 20, 2004, FMCSA published a final rule (69 FR 51589) on section 4007. Under the regulations, FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). FMCSA must provide the public with an opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, including any safety analyses that have been conducted, and it must provide an opportunity for public comment on the request. FMCSA reviews the safety analyses and the public comments and determines whether granting the exemption would achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved absent the exemption (49 CFR 381.305). FMCSA’s decision must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If FMCSA denies the request, it must state the reason for doing so. If FMCSA grants the exemption, the notice must specify the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and the regulatory provision or provisions from which exemption is being granted. The notice must also specify the effective period of the exemption (up to 2 years) and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)). Request for Exemption EI is requesting an exemption from the definition of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in 49 CFR 383.5: E:\FR\FM\09JYN1.SGM 09JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 130 / Monday, July 9, 2007 / Notices rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Commercial Motor Vehicle means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle— (a) Has a gross combination weight rating of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds); or (b) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more); or (c) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or (d) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in this section. EI currently owns a truck-trailer combination used to provide audiometric (hearing) testing services at industrial and commercial sites. The truck, a 2006 Ford F450, has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 16,000 pounds. The trailer, a 2007 Cimarron, has a GVWR of 14,000 pounds. Together these units have a combined GVWR of 30,000 pounds. EI states these units are never operated in a configuration that would exceed a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 26,000 pounds. According to EI: a. The truck has a fifth wheel coupling device and no bed or other means of carrying cargo when coupled to the trailer; b. The trailer is configured with test booths, furniture and electronic test equipment, and operating parameters are never varied in a way that would substantially alter the actual weight of the trailer; c. Company procedures prohibit the transportation of persons or cargo in the testing trailer when it is in motion; and d. The combination of units has been weighed in full operating configuration and does not exceed 22,000 pounds. Under current regulations this combination vehicle must be operated by a driver holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and must meet all other applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). EI currently employs three drivers who may be required to drive this vehicle. These drivers do not have a CDL and are unable to legally operate this vehicle combination over public highways. EI currently employs a contract driver with a CDL to drive the vehicle. The persons covered by the exemption would include all drivers of the vehicle who are employed or contracted by EI. EI states that public safety would not be impacted by granting this exemption. EI advises that it operates two other testing vehicles. One is a single unit truck with a GVWR of 24,500 pounds. The second is a truck-trailer combination with a combined GVWR of VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:59 Jul 06, 2007 Jkt 211001 24,500 pounds. According to EI, these vehicles are operated by EI drivers under strict supervision. EI states the subject vehicle would also be operated at a GVW less than 26,000 pounds and, therefore, would not pose a hazard that is unique or different from those inherent in operating the other two vehicles currently owned and operated by EI. EI states it would continue to monitor drivers, require them to undergo regular DOT physical examinations, and maintain all other aspects of the EI driver safety program. EI advises that if FMCSA does not grant the exemption: A. Current EI drivers not holding or unable to obtain a CDL could not operate the subject vehicle combination, reducing flexibility in scheduling and possibly affecting their continued employment; B. EI would need to hire or contract new CDL drivers, at a higher rate, to operate this vehicle combination; and C. EI would be subject to additional overhead and administrative requirements of maintaining a full CDL driver program as required by the FMCSRs. A copy of EI’s application for exemption, along with supporting documentation, is available for review in the docket for this notice. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA requests public comment on EI’s application for exemption from 49 CFR 383.5. FMCSA will consider all comments received by close of business on August 8, 2007. Comments will be available for examination in the docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. FMCSA will file comments received after the comment closing date in the public docket and will consider them to the extent practicable. In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also continue to file in the public docket relevant information that becomes available after the comment closing date. Interested persons should monitor the public docket for new material. Issued on: June 29, 2007. Larry W. Minor, Acting Associate Administrator, Policy and Program Development. [FR Doc. E7–13277 Filed 7–6–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P PO 00000 37307 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Docket No. AB–32 (Sub-No. 53X); STB Docket No. AB–355 (Sub-No. 5X)] Boston and Maine Corporation— Abandonment Exemption—in Essex County, MA; Springfield Terminal Railway Company—Discontinuance of Service Exemption—in Essex County, MA Boston and Maine Corporation (B&M) and Springfield Terminal Railway Company (ST) (collectively, applicants) jointly have filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR Part 1152 Subpart F— Exempt Abandonments and Discontinuances of Service for B&M to abandon, and for ST to discontinue service over, approximately 1.47 miles of railroad known as the Georgetown Branch, extending from milepost 4.66 to milepost 6.13 in Haverhill, Essex County, MA. The line traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 01830. B&M and ST have certified that: (1) No local traffic has moved over the line for at least 2 years; (2) there is no overhead on the line; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service on the line (or by a state or local government entity acting on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the line either is pending with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) or with any U.S. District Court or has been decided in favor of complainant within the 2-year period; and (4) the requirements of 49 CFR 1105.7 (environmental report), 49 CFR 1105.8 (historic report), 49 CFR 1105.11 (transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental agencies) have been met. As a condition to these exemptions, any employee adversely affected by the abandonment or discontinuance shall be protected under Oregon Short Line R. Co.—Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). To address whether this condition adequately protects affected employees, a petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) must be filed. Provided no formal expression of intent to file an offer of financial assistance (OFA) has been received, these exemptions will be effective on August 8, 2007, unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues,1 1 The Board will grant a stay if an informed decision on environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Board’s Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) in its independent Continued Frm 00126 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09JYN1.SGM 09JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 130 (Monday, July 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37306-37307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13277]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2007-28479]


Definition of Commercial Motor Vehicle: The EI Group, Inc., 
Application for Exemption

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

ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The FMCSA announces that it has received an application from 
The EI Group, Inc. (EI) seeking an exemption from classifying a 
specific motor vehicle as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), for 
purposes of driver licensing requirements. Under the exemption, EI 
employees would not be required to comply with commercial driver's 
license requirements when operating a specifically-listed truck and 
trailer in combination, in interstate commerce. EI is requesting the 
exemption on behalf of all EI employees, and those contracted by EI, 
who operate its CMVs. EI states that approximately three EI drivers 
will be allowed to operate the subject equipment under the requested 
exemption. FMCSA requests public comment on EI's application for 
exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket No. 
FMCSA-2007-28479 using any of the following methods:
     Web Site: Go to https://dmses.dot.gov/submit. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: Room W12-140, Ground Floor of West 
Building, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://dms.dot.gov at any time or Room W12-
140, Ground Floor of West Building, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The DMS is 
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. If you want us to 
notify you that we received your comments, please include a self-
addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement 
page that appears after submitting comments on-line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, FMCSA Driver 
and Carrier Operations Division, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and 
Operations: Telephone: 202-366-4009. E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 107, June 9, 1998) amended 49 U.S.C. 31315 
and 31136(e) to provide authority to grant exemptions from the motor 
carrier safety regulations. On August 20, 2004, FMCSA published a final 
rule (69 FR 51589) on section 4007. Under the regulations, FMCSA must 
publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 
CFR 381.315(a)). FMCSA must provide the public with an opportunity to 
inspect the information relevant to the application, including any 
safety analyses that have been conducted, and it must provide an 
opportunity for public comment on the request.
    FMCSA reviews the safety analyses and the public comments and 
determines whether granting the exemption would achieve a level of 
safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved 
absent the exemption (49 CFR 381.305). FMCSA's decision must be 
published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If FMCSA denies 
the request, it must state the reason for doing so. If FMCSA grants the 
exemption, the notice must specify the person or class of persons 
receiving the exemption and the regulatory provision or provisions from 
which exemption is being granted. The notice must also specify the 
effective period of the exemption (up to 2 years) and explain the terms 
and conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 
381.300(b)).

Request for Exemption

    EI is requesting an exemption from the definition of a commercial 
motor vehicle (CMV) in 49 CFR 383.5:


[[Page 37307]]


    Commercial Motor Vehicle means a motor vehicle or combination of 
motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property 
if the motor vehicle--
    (a) Has a gross combination weight rating of 11,794 kilograms or 
more (26,001 pounds or more) inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a 
gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 
pounds); or
    (b) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 or more 
kilograms (26,001 pounds or more); or
    (c) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including 
the driver; or
    (d) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of 
hazardous materials as defined in this section.

    EI currently owns a truck-trailer combination used to provide 
audiometric (hearing) testing services at industrial and commercial 
sites. The truck, a 2006 Ford F450, has a gross vehicle weight rating 
(GVWR) of 16,000 pounds. The trailer, a 2007 Cimarron, has a GVWR of 
14,000 pounds. Together these units have a combined GVWR of 30,000 
pounds. EI states these units are never operated in a configuration 
that would exceed a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 26,000 pounds. 
According to EI:
    a. The truck has a fifth wheel coupling device and no bed or other 
means of carrying cargo when coupled to the trailer;
    b. The trailer is configured with test booths, furniture and 
electronic test equipment, and operating parameters are never varied in 
a way that would substantially alter the actual weight of the trailer;
    c. Company procedures prohibit the transportation of persons or 
cargo in the testing trailer when it is in motion; and
    d. The combination of units has been weighed in full operating 
configuration and does not exceed 22,000 pounds.
    Under current regulations this combination vehicle must be operated 
by a driver holding a commercial driver's license (CDL) and must meet 
all other applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). 
EI currently employs three drivers who may be required to drive this 
vehicle. These drivers do not have a CDL and are unable to legally 
operate this vehicle combination over public highways. EI currently 
employs a contract driver with a CDL to drive the vehicle. The persons 
covered by the exemption would include all drivers of the vehicle who 
are employed or contracted by EI.
    EI states that public safety would not be impacted by granting this 
exemption. EI advises that it operates two other testing vehicles. One 
is a single unit truck with a GVWR of 24,500 pounds. The second is a 
truck-trailer combination with a combined GVWR of 24,500 pounds. 
According to EI, these vehicles are operated by EI drivers under strict 
supervision. EI states the subject vehicle would also be operated at a 
GVW less than 26,000 pounds and, therefore, would not pose a hazard 
that is unique or different from those inherent in operating the other 
two vehicles currently owned and operated by EI. EI states it would 
continue to monitor drivers, require them to undergo regular DOT 
physical examinations, and maintain all other aspects of the EI driver 
safety program.
    EI advises that if FMCSA does not grant the exemption:
    A. Current EI drivers not holding or unable to obtain a CDL could 
not operate the subject vehicle combination, reducing flexibility in 
scheduling and possibly affecting their continued employment;
    B. EI would need to hire or contract new CDL drivers, at a higher 
rate, to operate this vehicle combination; and
    C. EI would be subject to additional overhead and administrative 
requirements of maintaining a full CDL driver program as required by 
the FMCSRs.
    A copy of EI's application for exemption, along with supporting 
documentation, is available for review in the docket for this notice.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA requests 
public comment on EI's application for exemption from 49 CFR 383.5. 
FMCSA will consider all comments received by close of business on 
August 8, 2007. Comments will be available for examination in the 
docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. FMCSA will file comments received after the comment closing 
date in the public docket and will consider them to the extent 
practicable. In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also continue to 
file in the public docket relevant information that becomes available 
after the comment closing date. Interested persons should monitor the 
public docket for new material.

    Issued on: June 29, 2007.
Larry W. Minor,
Acting Associate Administrator, Policy and Program Development.
 [FR Doc. E7-13277 Filed 7-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.