July 29, 1998

The FHWA is announcing a public meeting to solicit information that will assist the agency in implementing section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21), effective on June 9, 1998, governing waivers, exemptions, and pilot programs. Section 4007 amended 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) by changing the agency's authority to grant waivers and exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and to conduct pilot programs. The new statutory language requires the FHWA, within 180 days of enactment of TEA 21, to establish procedures by which a person may request a waiver or an exemption.

The FHWA recognizes the public's interest in how the agency applies its waiver and exemption authority. For that reason, we are scheduling a public meeting to obtain comments and ideas from interested persons to assist the FHWA in implementing section 4007 expeditiously.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, August 20, 1998, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., in Room 2230 of the DOT Headquarters Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.

The announcement of this meeting was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 1998. Internet users can view all comments received by the U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, by accessing the Motor Carrier Regulatory Web site at http://mchs.fhwa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsrhome.htm. Comments for inclusion in the docket must be received no later than August 20, 1998. A copy of the entire notice also can be obtained from this Web site.

If your publication would like more information on this meeting, please contact Dianne Porter at 202-366-4073.

Sincerely yours,

George L. Reagle
Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers