[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
