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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6161-6163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3387]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

49 CFR Part 395

FHWA Docket No. MC-96-28
RIN 2125-AD93

Public Meetings for Drivers and Other Interested Persons

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing seven public meeting listening sessions 
for commercial motor vehicle drivers and other interested persons to 
speak with FHWA officials about their problems with the FHWA's hours-
of-service regulations. This action is necessary to inform the public 
about the dates, times, and locations of the listening sessions. The 
FHWA hopes to hear from the public, specifically drivers of trucks and 
buses, about how the hours-of-service regulations affect their 
professional, personal, and family life. All oral comments will be 
transcribed and placed in the rulemaking docket for the FHWA's 
consideration.

DATES: Session 1--Monday, March 10, 1997, Kansas City, Missouri.
    Session 2--Wednesday, March 12, 1997, Billings, Montana.
    Session 3--Friday, March 14, 1997, Ontario, California.
    Session 4--Friday, March 14 through Saturday, March 15, 1997, 
Ontario, California.
    Session 5--Tuesday, March 18, 1997, Doswell, Virginia.

[[Page 6162]]

    Session 6--Wednesday, March 26, 1997, Birmingham, Alabama.
    Session 7--Monday, March 31, 1997, Washington, District of 
Columbia.
    The listening sessions will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. 
local time, on each of these dates, except for Sessions 4 and 7. The 
ending time may be extended at any session to accommodate the 
attendees, except for Session 7 in Washington, D.C. The listening 
session for Session 4 will start at 10:00 p.m. March 14, 1997 and end 
at 4:00 a.m. March 15, 1997, local time. Session 7 in Washington, D.C. 
will end at 4:00 p.m. local time.
    Written comments to the general ANPRM should be submitted to the 
public docket no later than March 31, 1997. Late comments will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES:

    Written Comments. Written comments should be sent to: Docket Clerk, 
Attn: FHWA Docket No. MC-96-28, Federal Highway Administration, 
Department of Transportation, Room 4232, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, D.C. 20590. Persons who require acknowledgment of the 
receipt of their comments must enclose a stamped, self-addressed 
postcard. Comments may be reviewed at the above address from 8:30 a.m. 
through 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    General Information. To request time to be heard at the Washington, 
D.C. listening session and for other general information about all 
listening sessions, contact Mr. Stan Hamilton, Office or Motor Carrier 
Planning and Customer Liaison, telephone (202) 366-0665.
    Specific ANPRM Information. For information concerning the 
rulemaking, contact Mr. David Miller, Office of Motor Carrier Research 
and Standards, (202) 366-1790.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Addresses for Listening Sessions

    The listening sessions will be held at these locations:
    Session 1--Monday, March 10, 1997, Kansas City, Missouri, Park 
Place Hotel, 1601 North Universal (on west side of Interstate 435), 
Kansas City, Missouri 64120, Hotel Telephone: (816) 483-9900. 
Directions to Session 1: From Interstate 435, exit number 57. Truck 
tractor-trailer combinations and motorcoaches may park at the Flying J 
Truck Stop (on the east side of Interstate 435, exit 57). A van shuttle 
service will be provided.
    Session 2--Wednesday, March 12, 1997, Billings, Montana, Holiday 
Inn Plaza, 5500 Midland Road, Billings, Montana 59101, Hotel Telephone: 
(406) 248-7701. Directions to Session 2: From Interstate 90, use exit 
446 (Midland Road). Hotel parking area capacity: 70 truck tractor-
trailer combinations. Additional truck and motorcoach parking may be 
found at Sinclair West Parkway Truck Stop, 5400 Laurel Road (exit 446 
toward City Center, one block north of Interstate 90 and hotel). A van 
shuttle service will be provided.
    Session 3--Friday, March 14, 1997, Ontario, California, Ontario 
Airport Hilton Hotel, 700 North Haven Avenue, Ontario, California 
91764-4902, Hotel Telephone: 909-980-0400. Directions to Sessions 3 and 
4: From Interstate 10, truck tractor-trailer combinations and 
motorcoaches exit onto southbound Milliken Avenue. Park at the Ontario 
Union 76 Truck Stop. Truck stop parking capacity: 500 truck tractor-
trailer combinations. A van shuttle service will be provided. Truck 
tractors with no trailers, ``bobtails,'' may park at the hotel by 
exiting Interstate 10 on to northbound Haven Avenue. Turn right at 
Inland Empire Boulevard. Only ``bobtails'' may park in the hotel 
parking lot.
    Session 4--Friday night, March 14 through Saturday, before dawn, 
March 15, 1997, Ontario, California, Ontario Airport Hilton Hotel, 700 
North Haven Avenue, Ontario, California 91764-4902, Hotel Telephone: 
909-980-0400.
    Session 5--March 18, 1997, Doswell, Virginia, Doswell All-American 
Travel Plaza, Interstate 95 at exit 98, Doswell, Virginia 23047, All-
American Telephone: (804) 876-3712. Directions to Session 5: From 
Interstate 95, use exit 98 (same exit as King's Dominion Amusement 
Park). All trucks and motorcoaches may park at the travel/truck stop 
plaza.
    Session 6--March 26, 1997, Birmingham, Alabama, Birmingham-
Jefferson Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza (950 22nd Street, North), 
Birmingham, Alabama 35203, Civic Center Telephone: (800) 972-8007. 
Listening sessions will be held in Medical Forum Rooms A and B.
    Motorcoaches and truck tractor-trailer combinations may park at the 
Best Western Hotel across the street from the Civic Center. Best 
Western Hotel parking area capacity: 15 to 20 truck tractor-trailer 
combinations. Additional motorcoach and truck parking may be found at 
the Civic Center large vehicle parking lot at 18th Street and 11th 
Avenue North (approximately four blocks from Civic Center--Medical 
Forum). Directions to Session 6: Interstate 65 North: From Montgomery 
going North, exit onto Interstate 20 and 59 North toward Atlanta. Exit 
onto 22nd Street North exit number 125-B. Proceed north one block to 
23rd Street. Turn left. Proceed west one block to Civic Center 
Boulevard. Interstate 65 South: From Huntsville/Nashville going south, 
exit onto Interstate 20 and 59 North toward Atlanta. Merge immediately 
to the right side of the freeway and exit onto 22nd Street North exit 
number 125-B. Proceed north one block to 23rd Street. Turn left. 
Proceed west one block to Civic Center Boulevard. Interstate 20 and 59 
North: From Tuscaloosa and points Southwest, exit onto 22nd Street 
North exit number 125-B. Proceed north one block to 23rd Street. Turn 
left. Proceed west one block to Civic Center Boulevard. Interstate 20 
and 59 South: From Atlanta, exit at Carraway Boulevard exit number 125-
A. Follow signs to 11th Avenue North. Follow the Civic Center signs to 
Civic Center Boulevard. Turn right onto Civic Center Boulevard.
    Session 7--March 31, 1997, Washington, D.C., DOT Building, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Room 2230, Telephone (202) 366-1790. Session 7 
Directions: From the left lane of Interstate 295, exit onto Westbound 
East Capitol Street, drive around Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial 
Stadium. Park in the south RFK Stadium lot, marked Lot 8. Walk to the 
Metrorail subway system (about five city blocks). It is on the opposite 
side of the D.C. Armory from the parking lot. When you walk to the 
front of the D.C. Armory, the Metrorail station will be on your right 
about two more blocks. It is located at the intersection of 19th Street 
and ``A'' Street, S.E.
    Enter the station by going down the escalator. Obtain a farecard 
from the vending machine ($1.10 one-way). Place the farecard in an 
entrance gate marked with a green arrow. Be sure you take the farecard 
out of the machine when it comes out, you will need the farecard when 
you get to L'Enfant Plaza station. If you need help buying a farecard 
or passing through the entrance gate, please ask the station attendant 
for assistance. Board a train going toward Van Dorn or Vienna. Flashing 
lights near a track means a train is about to enter the station on that 
track. Trains run about every 15 minutes. The L'Enfant Plaza station is 
five (5) stations away from the Stadium/Armory station.
    When exiting the subway trains, use the escalators to the left 
(rear of the train) to go up to the U.S. Department of Transportation. 
Place the farecard in an exit gate marked with a green arrow. If you 
purchased a farecard for $1.10, the exit gate will keep your farecard. 
If you bought a farecard for more than $1.10, be sure you take the 
farecard out

[[Page 6163]]

of the machine when it comes out, as you will need the farecard to re-
enter the station for the return trip. If you need help passing through 
the exit gate, please ask the station attendant for assistance. After 
exiting the exit gate, ride the second set of escalators to the plaza. 
Enter the U.S. DOT building through the Southwest Entrance (farthest 
entrance to the right across the plaza as you get off the escalator). A 
map on a column at the top of the escalator will also indicate the 
Southwest corner of the DOT building.
    When you are ready to return to the RFK Stadium parking lot, re-
enter the L'Enfant Plaza metrorail station at the DOT building. 
Purchase an additional farecard, enter the station and go down to the 
platform on the lowest level. Board a blue or orange train headed 
toward New Carrollton or Addison Road. When you get off the escalator, 
the correct train track will be to your left. Take the train five (5) 
stops to the Stadium/Armory station and walk back to the RFK Stadium 
parking lots by going around the D.C. Armory.
    The FHWA is providing this opportunity to listen particularly to 
drivers who must live with, and follow, these regulations on a daily 
basis. The FHWA is specifically interested in hearing about problems 
drivers have with any aspect of the hours-of-service issue.
    The FHWA will not have developed any proposals for this rulemaking 
by the time these listening sessions are held. These sessions are being 
held to obtain additional information that may assist us in formulating 
proposals that would minimize crashes, minimize regulatory burdens, are 
cost-effective, and are easy to understand. The FHWA would like to 
develop new proposals based upon supportable scientific data or, if 
scientific data is not supportable, by the best available professional 
judgment. The FHWA does not intend to base new proposals upon anecdotal 
information or intuitive opinion.
    Anecdotal information or intuitive opinions from drivers and other 
members of the public, however, may assist us in developing proposals 
that are easy to understand, comply with, and are enforceable.
    At all listening sessions, except in Washington, D.C., FHWA 
officials will recognize and listen to all persons with an interest in 
the hours-of-service regulations. An individual will not be required to 
make a formal statement at these listening sessions. It is not 
necessary to request time to be heard at the sessions, except for the 
Washington, D.C. session. All persons will be given an opportunity to 
participate. All discussions and comments made at the listening 
sessions will be recorded and transcribed and will be placed in the 
rulemaking docket.

For Washington, D.C. Participants Only

    All persons who would like to participate at the Washington, D.C. 
session must request notice of their desire to participate by 
telephoning Mr. Stan Hamilton at (202) 366-0665 by 4:00 p.m. eastern 
standard time on Friday, March 28, 1997.
    All persons participating at the Washington, D.C. session will be 
subject to Federal and DOT workplace security measures. All persons 
will need identification with their picture on it and must display the 
identification to DOT Security officers. The DOT's Security office will 
search all non-Government personnel. Please leave knives, guns, and 
other weapons at home. These weapons may be confiscated by DOT Security 
officers or the Metropolitan Police Department.
    All persons will be required to sign-in at the guard's desk, walk-
through metal detection devices (and possibly be searched with a hand-
held metal detection device). All handbags and packages will be X-rayed 
by detection equipment. All visitors to DOT will be required to wear a 
``Visitor'' badge at all times while in the DOT building.
    The DOT's Security office will limit and monitor the public's 
access and movement through the DOT building. All persons requesting to 
participate in the session, but failing to satisfy DOT Security 
requirements, will be denied entry into the building and will forfeit 
their opportunity to participate in the Washington, D.C. listening 
session. Such persons will be allowed to submit written comments to the 
docket, at the above address, by the close of business on March 31, 
1997.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315 and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: February 6, 1997.
George L. Reagle,
Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers.
[FR Doc. 97-3387 Filed 2-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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