OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OFFICIAL ORDER NO. ____109658_____

 

SUBJECT: DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY, SUSPENSION OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, AND EXEMPTION OF HOURS OF SERVICE AND STOPPAGE AT WEIGH STATIONS

 

WHEREAS, severe weather having been forecasted which may result in widespread electrical outages to a significant portion of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,  disrupting the delivery of vital services and products and thus affecting the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens;· and

WHEREAS, due to the anticipated massive and significant volumes of power outages, it has' necessitated utility companies to respond to this emergency with utility vehicles from other states;

and

 

WHEREAS, Kentucky has been requested to render mutual aid to assist such repair vehicles in their response entering and exiting the Commonwealth, 

and

WHEREAS, failure to immediately respond to such power outages poses a significant risk to the public health and safety within the affected areas; 

and

WHEREAS, KRS 186.05 requires special registration for out-of-state vehicles; and WHEREAS, 49 CFR Part 3.9 49.CFR.390.23, KRS 2 81.730, 601 KAR 1:005 impose maximum, driving time upon the drivers of utility repair vehicles; 

and

WHEREAS, KRS 189.270 and 601KAR 1:018 impose standards and establish procedures fo the issuance of permits for overweight and/or over dimensional vehicles; 

and

 

NOW,  THEREFORE,  pursuant  to  the  authority  vested  in  me  by 189.23, 189.233, 281.7301 and 49 CFR 390.23:

 

 

 

 

1. I hereby Declare that conditions exist that require relief from the hours of service imposed upon utility repair response vehicles;

2. That conditions exist further requiring  a waiver of stopping at all weigh stations for these utility repair vehicles responding to the affected areas from out of state;

3. That utility repair vehicles and their operators shall be exempt from the hours of service imposed under 49 CFR part 395, 601 DAR 1:005 and KRS 281.730 during the period of this emergency;

4. That utility vehicles providing relief as set forth herein shall be exempt from permit fees for overweight/over dimensional vehicles;

5. That the IRP Registration Requirements for vehicles providing relief services and relief supplies to the affected areas shall be waived;

6. That all other safety requirements shall remain in full force and effect;

7. This declaration of emergency shall remain in effect until 12:01 AM EDT, July 23 2015. 

 

 

_________ Signature__________

Michael W. Hancock, Secretary Kentucky Transportation Cabinet