September 26, 2003

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today published for public comment its draft order on agency procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

The FMCSA NEPA order would establish a process for assessing environmental impacts, and for preparing environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for FMCSA actions. The order would apply to decisions to conduct research activities, promulgate regulations, award grants, conduct major acquisitions, and other FMCSA activities.

The FMCSA, formerly part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), had been operating under FHWA's NEPA order. The FMCSA has now drafted its own procedures for complying with NEPA to ensure that it actively incorporates environmental considerations into the agency's decision-making process.

The FMCSA is soliciting public comments on the draft order before making it final. Written comments concerning it should be sent by Nov. 10, 2003, to the DOT Docket Facility, Attn: Docket No. FMCSA-2002-14095, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or faxed to (202) 493-2251. The draft order also can be viewed on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov/ . Comments may be submitted electronically via that same web site.

The FMCSA was established as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation on Jan. 1, 2000, by the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Its primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

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