Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration July 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Transportation announces that it will hold a national Motorcoach Safety Summit (National Summit), hosted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to exchange information and ideas on the best possible approaches to reduce the number of motorcoach crashes, injuries, and fatalities and raise passenger awareness. Leading up to the National Summit, the Department will hold four regional roundtable discussions. Seating is limited for all events. Individuals with diverse experience, expertise, and perspectives are encouraged to attend. Please visit our dedicated Web site at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/motorcoach/2011 as details for each continue to evolve.

This notice amends FMCSA's June 29, 2011, notice announcing July and August, 2011, subcommittee meetings of the Agency's Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC). Because a final decision on the location for the August 1-2, 2011, MCSAC subcommittee meeting had not been made at the time the June 29, 2011, notice was published, the Agency amends the previous notice to provide that information. Also, in consideration of the complexity of the technical issues discussed by the subcommittee during the July 11-12, 2011, meeting, the meeting time is being extended on the first day of the August 1-2, 2011, meeting.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 8 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

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 its review and approval. The FMCSA requests approval to revise an ICR entitled, ``Application for Certificate of Registration for Foreign Motor Carriers and Foreign Motor Private Carriers,'' that requires Mexico-domiciled for-hire and private motor carriers to file an application Form OP-2 if they wish to register to transport property only within municipalities in the United States on the U.S.- Mexico international borders or within the commercial zones of such municipalities. FMCSA invites public comment on the ICR.

FMCSA announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) that evaluates the potential environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of its United States-Mexico cross- border long-haul trucking pilot program. This pilot program is part of FMCSA's implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border long-haul trucking provisions. This pilot program would allow Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate throughout the United States for up to 3 years. U.S.-domiciled motor carriers would be granted reciprocal rights to operate in Mexico for the same period. Participating Mexican carriers and drivers would be required to comply with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including those concerned with motor carrier safety, customs, immigration, vehicle registration and taxation, and fuel taxation.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 22 individuals for exemption 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 CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 16 individuals for exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals to qualify as drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the Federal vision standard.

FMCSA published a final rule in the Federal Register on Monday, May 9, 2011, that will be effective on July 8, 2011. This final rule amends the commercial driver's license (CDL) knowledge and skills testing standards and establishes new minimum Federal standards for States to issue the commercial learner's permit (CLP). Since the final rule was published, FMCSA identified minor discrepancies regarding section references in the regulatory text of the final rule. This document corrects those section references.