[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18245-18246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9848]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. OST-95-246]
North American Free Trade Agreement's Land Transportation
Standards Subcommittee and Transportation Consultative Group: Annual
Plenary Session
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice (1) announces the fifth joint annual 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; and (2) invites
representatives of non-governmental entities with an interest in land
transportation issues to participate in a listening session immediately
preceding the plenary meeting and to attend a briefing at a later date.
Only U.S., Canadian, and Mexican government officials may attend the
plenary and working group meetings.
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's LTSS work program.
MEETINGS AND DEADLINES: The fifth joint annual LTSS/TCG plenary session
will be held from June 8 to 11, 1998, at the Delta Montreal Hotel, 475
President Kennedy Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, HRA 2T4. The
following LTSS working groups will meet during the same week and at the
same location: (1) Compliance and Driver and Vehicle Standards; (2)
Vehicle Weights and Dimensions; and (3) Hazardous Materials
Transportation Standards. Similarly, the following TCG working groups
are expected to meet: (1) Cross-Border Operations and Facilitation; (2)
Rail Safety and Economic Issues; (3) Automated Data Exchange; (4)
Science and Technology; and (5) Maritime and Ports Policy
Also at the same Montreal site, on June 8, 1998, from 2:00 p.m. to
6:00 p.m., a listening session will be held for representatives of the
truck, bus, and rail industries, transportation labor unions, brokers
and shippers, chemical manufacturers, insurance industry, 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 15. 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. While written statements may be of
any length, oral presentations will be limited to 10 minutes per
presenter. After May 15, statements may be submitted for the record,
and requests to present oral comments at the listening session will be
accommodated only on a time-available basis.
Although participation in the LTSS and TCG plenary and working
group meetings is limited to government officials only, representatives
of non-governmental entities also are invited to take part in parallel
topical discussions, visits to transport facilities, and a final
briefing by the heads of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican delegations to
be held on June 12.
Hotel reservations may be arranged by calling the Delta Montreal
directly at (514) 286-1986 or 1-800-268-1133. In order to ensure that
they receive the special group rate, callers must mention the group
name ``NAFTA 1998 Conference'' and reserve before May 7, 1998.
A briefing to report on the outcome of the Montreal meetings will
be conducted at DOT at the address below, in Room 8236-38, on June 30,
from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Interested parties may notify DOT of their
interest to attend this briefing by calling (202) 366-2892 by June 26.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: LTSS-related documents, including working
group reports and statements received
[[Page 18246]]
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 must send notice of their
interest and copies of their presentations to Maria Lameiro, U.S.
Department of Transportation, OST/X-20, Room 10300, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590. Respondents may also send information by fax
at (202) 366-7417. For additional information, call (202) 366-2892.
Dated: April 9, 1998.
Bernard Gaillard,
Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade.
[FR Doc. 98-9848 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P
