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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 117 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29264-29266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14464]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2007-28043]

Hours of Service (HOS) of Drivers; Renewal of American 
Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Exemption From the 14-Hour Rule During 
Independence Day Celebrations

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the American 
Pyrotechnics Association (APA) exemption for 61 member motor carriers 
from FMCSA's regulation that drivers of commercial motor vehicles 
(CMVs) may not drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty. No 
comments were submitted to the public docket; consequently, the Agency 
confirms the renewal of the exemption.

DATES: This exemption is effective during the periods of June 28, 2009, 
through July 8, 2009, and June 28, 2010, through July 8, 2010, 
inclusive.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas L. Yager, Chief, FMCSA 
Driver and Carrier Operations Division, Office of Bus and Truck 
Standards and Operations; Telephone: 202-366-4325, E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may renew an exemption 
from the hours of service (HOS) requirements in 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) for 
up to two years if it finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a 
level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that 
would be achieved absent such exemption'' (49 CFR 381.305(a)). APA, a 
trade association representing the domestic fireworks industry, applied 
for renewal of a limited exemption from the HOS rules on behalf of 61 
of its member motor carriers, and approximately 3,000 of their CMV 
drivers for an eleven-day period surrounding Independence Day in 2009, 
and a similar period in 2010, as previously announced in the Federal 
Register (74 FR 24069, May 22, 2009). A copy of the application is 
included in the docket referenced at the beginning of this notice. The 
list of APA member companies covered by the exemption from 49 CFR 
395.3(a)(2) is included as an Appendix to this notice.
    The HOS rules prohibit a property-carrying CMV driver from driving 
after the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours 
off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)(2)). During the periods June 28-July 8, 2009, 
and June 28-July 8, 2010, inclusive, the companies named in the 
Appendix and approximately 3,000 CMV drivers employed by them, will be 
exempt from section 395.3(a)(2) if they are operating in conjunction 
with the staging of fireworks shows celebrating Independence Day. These 
CMV drivers hold a commercial driver's license with hazardous materials 
endorsement. They also are trained pyrotechnicians. They transport 
fireworks and set up and stage fireworks shows.
    Section 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) prohibits a driver from driving after 
the 14th hour after coming on duty and does not permit off-duty periods 
to extend the 14-hour limit. This exemption permits CMV drivers engaged 
in these operations to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any 
length from the calculation of the 14-hour duty period. These drivers 
must continue to obtain 10 consecutive hours off duty prior to the 14-
hour period, and remain subject to the 11-hour driving time limit, the 
60- and 70-hour on-duty limits, and all other HOS rules.
    APA sought renewal of this exemption because compliance by its 
members with the current 14-hour rule would impose a substantial 
economic hardship on numerous cities, towns and municipalities, as well 
as its member companies, with regard to their Independence Day 
celebrations. APA

[[Page 29265]]

has consistently maintained that the operational demands of this unique 
industry minimize the risk of CMV crashes. It maintains that renewal of 
the exemption will not adversely affect the safety of the fireworks 
transportation provided by these motor carriers, and actually improve 
safety in the storage of hazardous materials.
    The FMCSA decision to grant the request for renewal of the 
exemption from 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) was based on the merits of the 
application for renewal of the exemption. The Agency continues to 
believe that these APA operations, conducted under the terms and 
conditions of this limited exemption, will achieve a level of safety 
that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be absent 
such exemption. Unless these motor carriers and their drivers fail to 
meet the terms and conditions specified in the May 22, 2009, notice of 
approval of this exemption, the exemption will remain in effect during 
the periods of June 28, 2009, through July 8, 2009, and June 28, 2010, 
through July 8, 2010, inclusive.

    Issued on: June 12, 2009.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.

Appendix to Notice of Renewal of American Pyrotechnics Association (APA)
  Exemption from the 14-Hour HOS Rule During 2009 and 2010 Independence
                            Day Celebrations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Motor carrier                   Address          DOT 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alonzo Fireworks Display, Inc...  12 County Rd 75,                420639
                                   Mechanicsville, NY
                                   12118.
American Promotional Events,      555 North Gilbert               564520
 Inc.--West/TNT Fireworks.         Street, Fullerton, CA
                                   92833.
American Promotional Events,      4511 Helton Drive,             0121384
 Inc.--East Coast/TNT Fireworks.   Florence, AL 35630.
American Promotional Events--     2120 Milwaukee Way,             013086
 Northwest/TNT Fireworks.          Tacoma, WA 98421.
Arrowhead Fireworks Co., Inc....  3625 Normanna Rd,               125673
                                   Duluth, MN 55803.
Atlas Enterprises Inc...........  6601 Nine Mile Azle            0116910
                                   Rd, Fort Worth, TX
                                   76135.
Atomic Fireworks................  3660 W. Sunshine,               130200
                                   Springfield, MO.
Atomic Fireworks................  999 Sumter Highway,             446835
                                   Bishopville, SC.
Atomic Fireworks................  PO Box 190, South               095166
                                   Pittsburg, TN.
B.J. Alan Company...............  555 Martin Luther               262140
                                   King, Jr Blvd.,
                                   Youngstown, OH 44502.
Central States Fireworks, Inc...  18034 Kincaid Street,          1022659
                                   Athens, IL 62613.
Colonial Fireworks Company......  5225 Telegraph Road,            177274
                                   Toledo, OH 43612.
Falcon Fireworks................  3411 Courthouse Road,          1037954
                                   Guyton, GA 31312.
Fireworks & Stage FX America....  PO Box 488, Lakeside,           908304
                                   CA 92040.
Fireworks by Grucci, Inc........  1 Grucci Lane,                  324490
                                   Brookhaven, NY 11719.
Fireworks Productions, Inc......  PO Box 294, Maryland            464796
                                   Line, MD.
Garden State Fireworks, Inc.....  383 Carlton Road,               435878
                                   Millington, NJ 07946.
Galaxy Fireworks, inc...........  204 E MLK Jr Blvd,              809731
                                   Tampa, FL 33603.
Gateway Fireworks Displays......  PO Box 39327, St               1325301
                                   Louis, MO 63139.
Global Pyrotechnics Solutions,    10476 Sunset Drive,            1183902
 Inc..                             Dittmer, MO 63023.
Hamburg Fireworks Display Inc...  4300 Logan Lancaster            395079
                                   Rd, Lancaster, OH.
Ingram Enterprises dba Fireworks  6597 W Independence            0268419
 over America.                     Drive, Springfield,
                                   MO 65802.
International Fireworks Mfg. Co.  242 Sycamore Road,              385065
                                   Douglasville, PA
                                   19518.
Island Fireworks Company........  N735 825th St, Hager            414583
                                   City, WI 54014.
J&M Displays, Inc...............  18064 170th Ave,                377461
                                   Yarmouth, IA 52660.
Jake's Fireworks/Fireworks        2311 A West 4th St,             449599
 Spectacular.                      Pittsburg, KS 66762.
July 4 Ever.....................  382 Rock Cut Rd,                803442
                                   Walden, NY 12586.
Kellner's Fireworks Inc.........  478 Old Rte 8,                  481553
                                   Harrisville, PA.
Lantis Fireworks and Lasers.....  PO Box 491, Draper, UT          195428
                                   84202.
Lantis Fireworks Inc............  130 Sodrac Dr, N Sioux          534052
                                   City, DK 57049.
Legion Fireworks Co., Inc.......  10 Legion Lane,                 554391
                                   Wappingers Falls, NY
                                   12590.
Lew's Fireworks, Inc............  45788 US Hwy 212,               333792
                                   Watertown, SD 57201.
Mad Bomber/Planet Productions...  PO Box 294, Kingsbury,          777176
                                   IN 46345.
Melrose Display Company.........  7620 Little Mount Rd,           434586
                                   Taylorsville, KY
                                   40071.
Melrose North Pyrotechnics......  9405 River Rd SE,               434586
                                   Clear Lake, MN 55319.
Melrose Pyrotechnics, Inc.......  PO Box 302, Kingsbury,          434586
                                   IN 46345.
Melrose South Pyrotechnics......  4652 Catawga River Rd,          545033
                                   Catawga, SC 29704.
Montana Display Inc.............  9480 Inspiration               1030231
                                   Drive, Missoula, MT
                                   59808.
Precocious Pyrotechnics, Inc....  4420-278th Ave NW,              435931
                                   Belgrade, MN 56312.
Pyro Engineering Inc., dba/Bay    110 Route 110, Suite            530262
 Fireworks.                        102, Huntington
                                   Station, NY 11746.
Pyro Shows Inc..................  701 W. Central Ave,             456818
                                   LaFollette, TN 37766.
Pyro Spectaculars, Inc..........  3196 N Locust Ave,              029329
                                   Rialto, CA 92376.
Pyrotechnics by Presutti, Inc...  PO Box 42, St                    51974
                                   Clairsville, OH 43950.
Pyrotecnico.....................  302 Wilson Rd., New             526749
                                   Castle, PA 16105.
Pyrotecnico of Louisiana, LLC...  60 West Ct,                     548303
                                   Mandeville, LA 70471.
RES Specialty Pyrotechnics......  21595 286th St, Belle           523981
                                   Plaine, MN 56011.
Rich Brothers Company...........  700 S Marion Rd, Sioux          001356
                                   Falls, SD 57106.
Rozzi's Famous Fireworks, Inc...  11605 North Lebanon            0483686
                                   Rd, Loveland, OH
                                   45140.
Skyworks, Ltd...................  13513 W. Carrier Rd.,          1421047
                                   Carrier, OK 73727.
Spielbauer Fireworks Co, Inc....  220 Roselawn Blvd,              046479
                                   Green Bay, WI 54301.
Stonebraker-Rocky Mountain        5650 Lowell Blvd, Unit         0029845
 Fireworks Co..                    E, Denver, CO 80221.
Thunder Fireworks...............  5207 187th St, E,               463284
                                   Tacoma, WA 98446.
Vermont Fireworks Co., Inc./      2235 Vermont Route 14           310632
 Northstar Fireworks Co., Inc..    South, East
                                   Montpelier, VT 05651.
Wald & Co., Inc.................  PO Box 319, Greenwood,          087079
                                   MO 64034.

[[Page 29266]]

 
Walt Disney Entertainment.......  5700 Maple Road, Lake           148477
                                   Buena Vista, FL 32830.
Western Enterprises, Inc........  PO Box 160, Carrier,            203517
                                   OK 73727.
Western Fireworks, Inc..........  14592 Ottaway Rd. NE,           838585
                                   Aurora, OR 97002.
Winco Fireworks Int. LLC........  1992 NW Hwy 50, Lone            259688
                                   Jack, MO.
Wolverine Fireworks Display,      205 W Seidlers,                 376857
 Inc..                             Kawkawlin, MI.
Young Explosives Corp...........  PO Box 18653,                   450304
                                   Rochester, NY.
Zambelli Fireworks MFG, Co.,      PO Box 1463, New                033167
 Inc..                             Castle, PA 16103.
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[FR Doc. E9-14464 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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