99-34069. Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties; Delegation to the Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration  

  • [Federal Register Volume 65, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2000)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 220-221]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-34069]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Office of the Secretary
    
    49 CFR Parts 1
    
    [Docket No. OST-2000-6681]
    
    
    Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties; Delegation to 
    the Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
    
    AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: A new administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
    Administration, was established within the United States Department of 
    Transportation pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 
    1999 [Public Law No. 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 (December 9, 1999)]. 
    Pursuant to the statute, the effective date of the new administration 
    is January 1, 2000. Accordingly, by this action, the Secretary 
    delegates to the Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
    Administration, functions required for the operation of this new 
    agency.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective on January 1, 2000.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neill L. Thomas, Office of Motor 
    Carrier Research and Standards, HMCS-10, (202) 366-4009, Federal Motor 
    Carrier Safety Administration; or Mr. Charles Medalen, Chief Counsel 
    Service Business Unit, HCC-20, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway 
    Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
    SW., Washington, DC 20590.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Electronic Access
    
        An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
    computer, modem and suitable communications software from the 
    Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
    512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's 
    home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing 
    Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
    
    Background
    
        The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 [Public Law No. 
    106-159, 113 Stat. 1748 (December 9, 1999)] amends title 49, United 
    States Code, establishing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
    Administration. There are certain functions that each modal 
    administrator within the Department of
    
    [[Page 221]]
    
    Transportation is responsible for carrying out. This rule amends 49 CFR 
    part 1 to reflect the Secretary's delegation of authority to the 
    Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It should 
    be noted, however, that section 101(f) of the Motor Carrier Safety 
    Improvement Act of 1999 gives the Secretary discretion to delegate the 
    authority to promulgate safety standards for commercial motor vehicles 
    and equipment subsequent to initial manufacture. The Secretary reserves 
    this authority to himself until further notice.
        The Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has 
    the authority to redelegate the functions described in this document if 
    not inconsistent with statute, departmental regulations, policies, and 
    orders governing delegation of functions.
        As the rule relates to Departmental organization, procedure, and 
    practice, notice and comment on it are unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 
    553(b). This action makes no substantive changes to the motor carrier 
    safety regulations. It simply amends 49 CFR Part 1 to delegate to the 
    Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator authorities relevant to 
    motor carrier safety. Therefore, prior notice and opportunity to 
    comment are unnecessary, and good cause exists to dispense with the 30-
    day delay in the effective date requirement so that the Federal Motor 
    Carrier Safety Administration may operate pursuant to the changes noted 
    above beginning January 1, 2000.
        Ministerial amendments to a number of other parts in title 49 of 
    the Code of Federal Regulations that pertain to functions of the new 
    Administration will be issued in the near future.
    
    List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1
    
        Authority delegations (Government agencies), Organization and 
    functions (Government agencies).
    
        Issued this 29th day of December, 1999 at Washington, DC.
    Rodney E. Slater,
    Secretary of Transportation.
    
        For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of 
    Transportation amends 49 CFR Part 1 as follows:
    
    PART 1--[AMENDED]
    
        1. Revise the authority citation for Part 1 to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322; 46 U.S.C. 2104(a); 28 U.S.C. 2672; 31 
    U.S.C. 3711(a)(2); Pub. L. 101-552, 104 Stat. 2736; Pub. L. No. 106-
    159, 113 Stat. 1748.
    
        2. In Sec. 1.2, add paragraph (k) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.2  Definitions.
    
    * * * * *
        (k) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator.
        3. In Sec. 1.3(b), add paragraph (b)(11) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.3  Organization of the Department.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
        (11) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, headed by the 
    Administrator.
        4. In Sec. 1.4, add paragraph (m) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.4  General Responsibilities.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
        (m) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Is responsible 
    for:
        (1) Managing program and regulatory activities, including 
    administering laws and promulgating and enforcing regulations on safety 
    matters relating to motor carrier safety;
        (2) Carrying out motor carrier registration and authority to 
    regulate household goods transportation;
        (3) Developing strategies for improving commercial motor vehicle, 
    operator, and carrier safety;
        (4) Inspecting records and equipment of commercial motor carriers, 
    and investigating accidents and reporting violations of motor carrier 
    safety regulations; and
        (5) Carrying out research, development, and technology transfer 
    activities to promote safety of operation and equipment of motor 
    vehicles for the motor carrier transportation program.
        5. In Sec. 1.45(c)(1), amend paragraph (c)(1) (vii) by removing the 
    word ``and''; amend paragraph (c)(1) (viii) by replacing the period 
    with ``; and''; and add paragraph (c)(1) (ix) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.45  Delegations to all Administrators.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (1) * * *
        (ix) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
    * * * * *
        6. Amend 1.73 as follows:
        a. Revise the heading to read as set forth below.
        b. Revise the introductory text to read as set forth below.
        c. Amend paragraph (g) by adding before the period ``, except for 
    the authority to promulgate safety standards for commercial motor 
    vehicles and equipment subsequent to initial manufacture''.
        d. Amend paragraph (l) by adding before the period ``, except for 
    the authority to promulgate safety standards for commercial motor 
    vehicles and equipment subsequent to initial manufacture''.
        e. Add paragraph (o) to read as set forth below.
    
    
    Sec. 1.73  Delegation to the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier 
    Safety Administration.
    
        The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admnistration 
    is delegated authority to:
    * * * * *
        (o) Carry out the functions and exercise the authority vested in 
    the Secretary by 23 U.S.C. 502(a)(1)(A).
    
    [FR Doc. 99-34069 Filed 12-30-99; 11:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-62-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/1/2000
Published:
01/04/2000
Department:
Transportation Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
99-34069
Dates:
This final rule is effective on January 1, 2000.
Pages:
220-221 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. OST-2000-6681
PDF File:
99-34069.pdf
CFR: (5)
49 CFR 1.2
49 CFR 1.3
49 CFR 1.4
49 CFR 1.45
49 CFR 1.73