[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19654-19655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10934]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary


NAFTA Land Transportation Subcommittee and Transportation 
Consultative Group, Meeting

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of International Transportation 
and Trade.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice (1) announces the third annual joint plenary 
session of the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) Land 
Transportation Standards Subcommittee (LTSS) and the Transportation 
Consultative Group (TCG) and other related meetings; (2) invites 
representatives of non-governmental entities to participate in a 
listening session immediately preceding the plenary meeting and to 
attend a briefing at a later date; and (3) reports that the Working 
Group on Rail Safety Standards has completed its required work under 
the NAFTA, and that rail-

[[Page 19655]]

related work will now be conducted under the TCG.

BACKGROUND: The Land Transportation Standards Subcommittee (LTSS) was 
established by the North American Free Trade Agreement's (NAFTA) 
Committee on Standards-Related Measures to examine the land 
transportation regulatory regimes in the United States, Canada, and 
Mexico, and to seek to make certain standards more compatible. The 
Transportation Consultative Group (TCG) was formed by the three 
countries' departments of transportation to address non-standards-
related issues that affect cross-border movements among the countries, 
but that are not included in the NAFTA.
    The LTSS Working Group on Rail Safety Standards has completed its 
NAFTA-mandated work, and has determined that safety regulations for 
rail operating personnel involved in cross-border operations and for 
locomotives and other rail equipment are mostly compatible. The working 
group's final report is available for review at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT) at the address below. A working group has been 
created under the TCG to analyze economic aspects of rail operations 
and to seek to increase compatibility of certain regulations not 
covered by the NAFTA's LTSS work program.

MEETINGS AND DEADLINES: The third annual joint LTSS/TCG plenary session 
will be held June 17-20, 1996, at the Holiday Inn On-the-Bay, 1355 
North Harbor Drive, San Diego, California. All LTSS and TCG working 
groups (with the exception of the TCG working group on Maritime & Ports 
Policy) will meet during the same week and at the same location. The 
following working groups continue to operate under the LTSS: 
Compliance, Driver and Vehicle Standards; Vehicle Weights and 
Dimensions; Traffic Control Devices for Highways; and Hazardous 
Materials Standards. Five working groups operate under the TCG: Cross-
Border Operations and Facilitation; Rail Safety and Economic Issues; 
Automated Data Exchange; Science and Technology; and Maritime and Ports 
Policy.
    Also at the same San Diego site, on June 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 
noon, a listening session will be held for representatives of the 
truck, bus, rail, and chemical manufacturing industries, transportation 
labor unions, brokers and shippers, public safety advocates, and others 
who have notified us of their interest to attend and have submitted 
copies of their presentations, in English and Spanish, to the address 
below by May 24. This is an opportunity for presenters to voice their 
concerns, provide technical information, and offer suggestions relevant 
to achieving greater standards compatibility and improving cross-border 
trade.
    A briefing to report on the outcome of the San Diego meetings will 
be conducted at DOT at the address below, in Room 9230, on July 23, 
from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Interested parties may notify DOT of their 
interest to attend this briefing by calling the phone number listed 
below by July 16.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: LTSS-related documents, including working 
group reports and statements received by DOT from industry 
associations, transportation labor unions, public safety advocates, and 
others, will be available for review in Docket no. OST-95-246, at the 
address below, Room PL-401, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., e.s.t., 
Monday through Friday, except national holidays.

Address and Phone Numbers

    Individuals and organizations interested in participating in the 
listening session may send notice of their interest and copies of their 
presentations to Ronale Taylor, U.S. Department of Transportation, OST/
X-20, Room 10300, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. 
Respondents may also send information by fax at (202) 366-7417.
    For additional information, call (202) 366-2892.

    Dated: April 29, 1996.
Nancy K. MacRae,
Acting Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade.
[FR Doc. 96-10934 Filed 5-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P