|
[Federal Register: April 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 62)]
[Notices]
[Page 16884-16885]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap05-127] =======================================================================
----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Public Meeting on Implementation of the North American Standard
for Cargo Securement AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: FMCSA announces a public meeting concerning implementation of
the North American Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling
Cargo. The meeting's purpose is to discuss a process for ensuring
consistent interpretation of the harmonized cargo securement standards
by FMCSA and the Canadian Provinces, such as interpretation issues
raised by U.S. enforcement agencies and motor carriers and potential
implementation issues for Canadian Provinces and motor carriers
operating in Canada. On September 27, 2002, FMCSA published a final rule revising its
regulations on cargo securement for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs)
operated in interstate commerce; and motor carriers were given until
January 1, 2004 to comply with the new regulations. The agency's new
standards were based on the North American Cargo Securement Standard
Model Regulations, which reflected at the time the results of a multi-
year comprehensive research program to evaluate U.S. and Canadian cargo
securement regulations, motor carrier industry best practices, and
recommendations from public meetings involving U.S. and Canadian
industry experts, Federal, State, and Provincial enforcement officials,
and other interested parties. Since then, Canada's Council of Ministers
Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety approved a new
National Safety Code Standard for cargo securement (September 23,
2004). Full implementation of Canada's new cargo securement
requirements is expected by this summer. DATES: April 21-22, 2005. The public meeting begins on April 21, from 1
p.m. to 5 p.m., and on April 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting is at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401
Second Street NW., Albuquerque, New Mexico. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry W. Minor, Director of the
Office of Bus and Truck Standards and Operations, FMCSA, phone (202)
366-4009; FAX to (202) 366-8842; or e-mail: Larry.Minor@fmcsa.dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background FMCSA published a final rule revising its regulations concerning
protection against shifting and falling cargo for CMVs operated in
interstate commerce, on September 27, 2002 (67 FR 61212). Motor
carriers had until January 1, 2004 to comply with the new regulations.
The regulations were intended to reduce the number of crashes caused by
cargo shifting on or within, or falling from, CMVs operating in
interstate commerce, and to harmonize U.S., Canadian, and Mexican cargo
securement regulations. On September 23, 2004, Canada's Council of
Ministers Responsible for [[Page 16885]] Transportation and Highway Safety approved a new National Safety Code
Standard for cargo securement. The new Canadian securement requirements
are expected to be fully implemented by this summer, 2005. Maintaining Uniformity Between U.S. and Canadian Cargo Securement
Standards FMCSA believes it is necessary to continue working with U.S. and
Canadian industry experts, Federal, State, and Provincial enforcement
officials and other interested parties to maintain harmonization of
U.S. and Canadian cargo securement standards. A major part of this
effort includes uniformity in interpreting the meaning of requirements
adopted by the U.S. and Canada. While there are some differences
between certain provisions adopted by FMCSA and Canada's National
Safety Code Standard 10, the contents of most of the Model Regulations
have been adopted, or will be adopted shortly, by almost all
jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada. To ensure consistency in the
interpretation and enforcement of the requirements, FMCSA is working
with its Canadian partners to develop a process for sharing information
about requests for interpretation, and exchanging technical information
that will be helpful to the regulatory agencies in developing their
responses to such requests. FMCSA will continue to work with its
Canadian partners to ensure that interpretations are provided in an
efficient and timely manner to all interested parties. As a first step, FMCSA is holding a public meeting to provide all
interested parties an opportunity to participate in discussions between
the agency and its Canadian counterparts about interpretations and
other implementation issues. Additional Meeting Information The meeting is on April 21-22, 2005, at the Albuquerque Convention
Center (Enchantment 1 Room), 401 Second Street NW., Albuquerque, New
Mexico. On April 21, the meeting is from 1 to 5 p.m.; and on April 22,
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This meeting is free of charge and open to all
interested parties. The public meeting is being held immediately after the Commercial
Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA's) 2005 Annual Conference ends. If you
are interested in attending CVSA's conference sessions and committee
meetings, you must register with CVSA and pay the appropriate
registration fee. For further information about registering, you should
contact CVSA at (202) 775-1623. Issued on: March 28, 2005.
Annette M. Sandberg,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-6488 Filed 3-31-05; 8:45 am]
|
