Negotiated Rulemaking Committee To Revise the Motor Carrier Financial and Operating Data Collection Program; Rescheduling of Meeting and Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Establishment

Federal Register Notice
February 7, 1997
Volume 62, Number 26

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of rescheduled meeting; Extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: On January 23, 1997, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that BTS would hold a public meeting on its proposal to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to examine the relevant issues and attempt to reach a consensus in developing regulations governing the collection of financial and operating data from motor carriers of property. The meeting was to take place in Washington, D.C., on February 10, 1997. The notice also extended to February 28, 1997, the comment period on the proposal to establish the negotiated rulemaking committee, on the proposed membership of the Committee, and on the proposed issues for consideration by the Committee.

Due to scheduling conflicts with several people and entities that wish to participate, BTS has decided to reschedule the public meeting. The new meeting date is March 31, 1997, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time. In addition, BTS is further extending the comment period to April 30, 1997.

DATES: Rescheduled meeting. The meeting will be held Monday, March 31, 1997, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time.

Extended comment period. Interested parties may file comments and nominations for committee membership on or before April 30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Meeting. The meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C., in conference room 2230 of the Nassif Building. Since access to the DOT building is controlled, all persons who plan to attend the meeting must notify David Mednick on (202) 366-8871 prior to March 27. Attendance is open to the interested public but limited to space available. Persons with a disability requiring special services, such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired, should contact Mr. Mednick at least seven days prior to the meeting.

Comment Period. When sending comments and/or nominations, send the original plus three copies. Mail to Docket Clerk, Docket No. BTS-96- 1979, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room PL- 401, Washington, D.C. 20590. Commenters desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a stamped, self-addressed postcard. The Docket Clerk will date stamp the postcard and mail it back to the commenter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Mednick, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, K-2, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590; by phone at (202) 366-8871; by e-mail at david.mednick@bts.gov; or by Fax at (202) 366-3640.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On December 9, 1996, BTS published a notice in the Federal Register proposing to establish a negotiated rulemaking advisory committee (the Committee) under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act. 61 FR 64849. The Committee would consider the relevant issues and attempt to reach a consensus on regulations governing the collection of financial and operating data from motor carriers of property. This effort also is in response to the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative, which specifically directed agencies to increase use of regulatory negotiation in rulemaking proceedings. The Committee would be composed of people who represent the interests that would be substantially affected by the rule.

On January 23, 1997, BTS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing it would hold a public meeting on the proposal on February 10, 1997. 62 FR 3492. The purpose of the meeting was to better determine the utility of negotiating a rule on this matter. While negotiated rulemaking would attempt to resolve issues surrounding the motor carrier data collection program, several initial matters deserve attention. First, do we need to amend the existing rule and, if so, is negotiated rulemaking the best process for updating the motor carrier data collection program? Second, if so, what are the core issues in dispute and differing legitimate needs of the interested parties? Third, which organizations or interests should be represented on the Committee? Because of scheduling conflicts, the original date of the public meeting is being changed. This notice reschedules that meeting and provides an extension for submitting comments on the proposal published December 19, 1996.

No Other Changes to the January 23, 1996, Notice

No other changes are made to the January 23, 1996, notice by this supplementary notice.

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 4, 1997.

Robert A. Knisely,
Deputy Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

[FR Doc. 97-3168 Filed 2-5-97; 10:30 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-FE-P