Commercial Driver's License: Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles; Application for Exemption, 19170-19171 [2014-07695]

Download as PDF 19170 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 66 / Monday, April 7, 2014 / Notices Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes. The communication between motor carriers and their drivers must take place at least two times per day. It is estimated that it will take 5 minutes to maintain a daily communication record for each driver. Expiration Date: May 31, 2014. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 967,000 hours [11.6 million trips × 5 minutes/60 minutes per record = 966,666.66 rounded to 967,000]. Background The Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) is responsible for implementing regulations to issue safety permits for transporting certain Hazardous Materials (HM) in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. The HM Safety Permit regulations (49 CFR part 385, Subpart E) require carriers to complete a ‘‘Combined Motor Carrier Identification Report and HM Permit Application’’ (Form MCS–150B). The HM Safety Permit regulations also require carriers to have a security program. As part of the HM Safety Permit regulations, carriers are required to develop and maintain route plans so that law enforcement officials can verify the correct location of the HM shipment. The FMCSA requires companies holding permits to develop a communications plan that allows for the periodic tracking of the shipment. This information covers the record of communications that includes the time of the call and location of the shipment. The records must be kept by either the driver (e.g., recorded in the log book) or the company for at least six months after the initial acceptance of a shipment of hazardous material for which a safety permit is required. Comments From the Public mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES General Summary FMCSA received three comments to the 60-day Federal Register notice published on December 10, 2013 (78 FR 74222) regarding the Agency’s Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently-Approved Information Collection Request: Hazardous Materials Safety Permits. Comments were received from Boyle Transportation, a business consultant and engineer, and Landstar Transportation Logistics. Comments and responsive considerations are as follows: Boyle Transportation commented that it is necessary to track shipments more than two times a day; tracking technologies are widely available in the industry and carriers should maintain VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:49 Apr 04, 2014 Jkt 232001 fully staffed operations center to monitor shipments. FMCSA responded that the requirements stated in 49 CFR 385.415(c)(1) are a minimum requirement for Hazardous Materials Safety Permits (HMSP) carriers and carriers are encouraged to use state-ofthe art monitoring and tracking devices. The business consultant and engineer stated that we should start taking a stand against pollution. There was no return address in the comment for FMCSA to send a response, and the comment is beyond the scope of this ICR. Landstar Transportation Logistics asks that if a carrier is using a satellite tracking system to monitor a hazardous materials load, FMCSA should eliminate the redundant requirement for operators to make specific contact with the carrier at the beginning and end of each duty tour, and at the pickup and delivery of each permitted load. FMCSA responded that the requirement is not viewed as redundant and the requirements stated in 49 CFR 385.415(c)(1) are a basic and minimum requirement for all HMSP carriers and carriers are encouraged to use state-ofthe-art tracking devices, but their use is not required. Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FMCSA to perform its functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for the FMCSA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information. Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87 on: March 31, 2014. G. Kelly Leone, Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2014–07690 Filed 4–4–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2014–0096] Commercial Driver’s License: Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles; Application for Exemption Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00126 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. ACTION: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV) for a limited exemption from the Agency’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) regulation. Section 383.77(b)(1) allows a State to waive the CDL skills test described in 49 CFR 383.113 for applicants regularly employed or previously employed within the last 90 days in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Virginia DMV proposes that it be allowed to extend the 90-day timeline to one year following the driver’s separation from military service. Virginia DMV believes the 90-day timeframe is too short to take advantage of the waiver for many of the qualified discharged veterans reentering and settling into civilian life. FMCSA requests public comment on Virginia DMV’s application for exemption. In addition, because the issues concerning the Virginia DMV request could be applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public comment whether the exemption, if granted, should cover all State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs). SUMMARY: Comments must be received on or before May 7, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket Management System Number FMCSA– 2014–0096 by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12– 140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the exemption process, see the Public Participation heading below. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or DATES: E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 66 / Monday, April 7, 2014 / Notices comments received, go to www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets, or go to the street address listed above. Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316). Public participation: The Federal eRulemaking Portal is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You can obtain electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the ‘‘help’’ section of the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site. 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 online. Comments received after the comment closing date will be included in the docket and will be considered to the extent practicable. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Pearlie Robinson, FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards; Telephone: 202–366–4325. Email: MCPSD@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Background FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant exemptions from certain parts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, including any safety analyses that have been conducted. The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the request. The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted, and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of the Agency must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with the reasons for denying or granting the application and, if granted, the name of the person or class of persons receiving the exemption, and the regulatory provision VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:49 Apr 04, 2014 Jkt 232001 from which the exemption is granted. The notice must also specify the effective period and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)). Request for Exemption Virginia DMV requests an exemption from 49 CFR 383.77(b)(1), which allows States to waive the skills test described in section 383.113 for applicants regularly employed or previously employed within the last 90 days in a military position requiring operation of a CMV. Virginia DMV proposes that it be allowed to extend the 90-day timeline to one year following the driver’s separation from military service. Virginia DMV has a comprehensive Troops to Trucks program that assists service members in obtaining a Virginia CDL and civilian employment in the motor carrier industry. Feedback from the Troops to Trucks military partners has identified the 90-day limit as an obstacle to service members transitioning to civilian life. Virginia DMV contends that the 90day timeframe is too short for many of the qualified veterans to utilize while reentering civilian life. According to Virginia DMV, since July 2012 183 service members have utilized the 90-day waiver through the Virginia Troops to Trucks program. It anticipates that an exemption would allow an additional 60 to 100 recent veterans to participate in the program per year. The one-year timeframe is consistent with FMCSA’s November 2013 Report to Congress regarding a program to assist veterans to acquire CDLs. The American Trucking Associations has estimated that the motor carrier industry needs about 96,000 new drivers every year. Providing additional flexibility in section 383.77(b)(1) will help to expedite the transition of fully trained military truck drivers to civilian employment. Virginia DMV believes this goal is in the Nation’s best interest. A more accessible waiver period would greatly benefit returning veterans. This is consistent with FMCSA’s belief that the skills test waiver serves an important function for military personnel returning to the civilian workforce, as stated in the May 9, 2011 Federal Register notice that created the 90-day waiver (76 FR 26864). In addition, because the issues concerning the Virginia DMV request could be applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public comment on whether the exemption, if PO 00000 Frm 00127 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19171 granted, should cover all State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs). A copy of Virginia DMV’s application for exemption is available for review in the docket for this notice. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b)(4), FMCSA requests public comment on Virginia DMV’s application for an exemption from 49 CFR 383.77(b)(1). The Agency will consider all comments received by close of business on May 7, 2014. Comments will be available for examination in the docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The Agency will consider to the extent practicable comments received in the public docket after the closing date of the comment period. Issued on: March 31, 2014. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2014–07695 Filed 4–4–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration Docket Number MARAD–2014–0051] Ex-USNS COMET Available for Donation Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice: Vessel Available for Donation. AGENCY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) plans to dispose of an obsolete vessel, the ex-USNS COMET (T–AK–269), which is currently located at its Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, California. MARAD, in consultation with the California State Historic Preservation Office, determined that the vessel is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion c. The ex-USNS COMET is considered to be the first purposebuilt oceangoing ‘‘roll-on/roll-off’’ vessel. Roll-on/roll-off, or Ro/Ro, describes how wheeled-vehicular cargo is loaded and unloaded. MARAD is authorized to provide qualified public and non-profit organizations the opportunity to obtain, via donation, obsolete ships from the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) for use as memorials and/or in other non-commercial enterprises. Accordingly, MARAD is issuing this notice to provide the public and nonprofit organizations such an opportunity. For donation application SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19170-19171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07695]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0096]


Commercial Driver's License: Commonwealth of Virginia, Department 
of Motor Vehicles; Application for Exemption

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

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

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

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the 
Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV) 
for a limited exemption from the Agency's commercial driver's license 
(CDL) regulation. Section 383.77(b)(1) allows a State to waive the CDL 
skills test described in 49 CFR 383.113 for applicants regularly 
employed or previously employed within the last 90 days in a military 
position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). 
Virginia DMV proposes that it be allowed to extend the 90-day timeline 
to one year following the driver's separation from military service. 
Virginia DMV believes the 90-day timeframe is too short to take 
advantage of the waiver for many of the qualified discharged veterans 
reentering and settling into civilian life. FMCSA requests public 
comment on Virginia DMV's application for exemption. In addition, 
because the issues concerning the Virginia DMV request could be 
applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public comment whether 
the exemption, if granted, should cover all State Driver's Licensing 
Agencies (SDLAs).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 7, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket 
Management System Number FMCSA-2014-0096 by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and 
docket number. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the exemption process, see the Public 
Participation heading below. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or

[[Page 19171]]

comments received, go to www.regulations.gov, and follow the online 
instructions for accessing the dockets, or go to the street address 
listed above.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a 
Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 
2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
    Public participation: The Federal eRulemaking Portal is available 
24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You can obtain electronic 
submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the ``help'' section 
of the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site. 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 online. Comments received after the 
comment closing date will be included in the docket and will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Pearlie Robinson, FMCSA Driver and 
Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle 
Safety Standards; Telephone: 202-366-4325. Email: MCPSD@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant 
exemptions from certain parts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations. FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in 
the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the 
public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the 
application, including any safety analyses that have been conducted. 
The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the 
request.
    The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted, 
and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a 
level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be 
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of 
the Agency must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 
381.315(b)) with the reasons for denying or granting the application 
and, if granted, the name of the person or class of persons receiving 
the exemption, and the regulatory provision from which the exemption is 
granted. The notice must also specify the effective period and explain 
the terms and conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed 
(49 CFR 381.300(b)).

Request for Exemption

    Virginia DMV requests an exemption from 49 CFR 383.77(b)(1), which 
allows States to waive the skills test described in section 383.113 for 
applicants regularly employed or previously employed within the last 90 
days in a military position requiring operation of a CMV. Virginia DMV 
proposes that it be allowed to extend the 90-day timeline to one year 
following the driver's separation from military service.
    Virginia DMV has a comprehensive Troops to Trucks program that 
assists service members in obtaining a Virginia CDL and civilian 
employment in the motor carrier industry. Feedback from the Troops to 
Trucks military partners has identified the 90-day limit as an obstacle 
to service members transitioning to civilian life.
    Virginia DMV contends that the 90-day timeframe is too short for 
many of the qualified veterans to utilize while reentering civilian 
life.
    According to Virginia DMV, since July 2012 183 service members have 
utilized the 90-day waiver through the Virginia Troops to Trucks 
program. It anticipates that an exemption would allow an additional 60 
to 100 recent veterans to participate in the program per year. The one-
year timeframe is consistent with FMCSA's November 2013 Report to 
Congress regarding a program to assist veterans to acquire CDLs. The 
American Trucking Associations has estimated that the motor carrier 
industry needs about 96,000 new drivers every year. Providing 
additional flexibility in section 383.77(b)(1) will help to expedite 
the transition of fully trained military truck drivers to civilian 
employment.
    Virginia DMV believes this goal is in the Nation's best interest. A 
more accessible waiver period would greatly benefit returning veterans. 
This is consistent with FMCSA's belief that the skills test waiver 
serves an important function for military personnel returning to the 
civilian workforce, as stated in the May 9, 2011 Federal Register 
notice that created the 90-day waiver (76 FR 26864).
    In addition, because the issues concerning the Virginia DMV request 
could be applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public 
comment on whether the exemption, if granted, should cover all State 
Driver's Licensing Agencies (SDLAs).
    A copy of Virginia DMV's application for exemption is available for 
review in the docket for this notice.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b)(4), FMCSA 
requests public comment on Virginia DMV's application for an exemption 
from 49 CFR 383.77(b)(1).
    The Agency will consider all comments received by close of business 
on May 7, 2014. Comments will be available for examination in the 
docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. The Agency will consider to the extent practicable comments 
received in the public docket after the closing date of the comment 
period.

    Issued on: March 31, 2014.
 Larry W. Minor,
 Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-07695 Filed 4-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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