Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration August 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The FMCSA requests approval to revise and extend an information collection (IC) entitled, ``Training Certification for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operators,'' that relates to the prerequisite training requirements for drivers of vehicles for which a commercial driver's license (CDL) is required. On May 23, 2007, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. No comments were received.

This rule establishes initial fees for 2007 and a fee bracket structure for the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement. This action is required under the Uniform Carrier Registration Act of 2005, enacted as Subtitle C of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.

The FMCSA announces its intent to proceed with a project to demonstrate the ability of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate safely in the United States, beyond the commercial zones along the U.S.-Mexico border. On May 1, 2007, FMCSA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its plans to initiate a project as part of the Agency's implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border trucking provisions, and requesting public comment on those plans. On June 8, 2007, FMCSA published a notice in response to section 6901(b)(2)(B) of the ``U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007'' (the 2007 Act) seeking public comment on certain additional details concerning the demonstration project. The FMCSA has reviewed, assessed and evaluated the required safety measures as noted in the previous notice, and considered all the comments received as of July 31, 2007 in response to the May 1 and June 8 notices. Once the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General completes his report to Congress, as required by section 6901(b)(1) of the 2007 Act, and the Agency completes any follow-up actions needed to address any issues that may be raised in the report, FMCSA will proceed with the demonstration project.

FMCSA announces that the MRB will hold its next meeting on October 15, 2007. The meeting will provide the public an opportunity to observe and participate in MRB deliberations about the revision and development of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) medical standards, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 52 individuals for exemptions from the prohibition against persons with insulin- treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.

The FMCSA published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2007, a document announcing regulatory guidance concerning its definition of ``accident.'' This notice corrects that document by providing the correct telephone number for the agency contact.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 52 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcement and concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.