Pre-Trip Safety Information for Motorcoach Passenger

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 166 / Monday, August 28, 2006 / Notices
31315, each of the 19 applicants has
satisfied the entry conditions for
obtaining an exemption from the vision
requirements (64 FR 40404; 64 FR
66962; 67 FR 17102; 69 FR 51346; 64 FR
68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 38311; 65 FR
20245; 67 FR 46016; 67 FR 57267; 67 FR
10471; 67 FR 19798; 67 FR 15662; 67 FR
37907). Each of these 19 applicants has
requested timely renewal of the
exemption and has submitted evidence
showing that the vision in the better eye
continues to meet the standard specified
at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the
vision impairment is stable. In addition,
a review of each record of safety while
driving with the respective vision
deficiencies over the past two years
indicates each applicant continues to
meet the vision exemption standards.
These factors provide an adequate basis
for predicting each driver’s ability to
continue to drive safely in interstate
commerce. Therefore, FMCSA
concludes that extending the exemption
for each renewal applicant for a period
of two years is likely to achieve a level
of safety equal to that existing without
the exemption.

mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES

Request for Comments
FMCSA will review comments
received at any time concerning a
particular driver’s safety record and
determine if the continuation of the
exemption is consistent with the
requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315. However, FMCSA requests that
interested parties with specific data
concerning the safety records of these
drivers submit comments by September
27, 2006.
FMCSA believes that the
requirements for a renewal of an
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315 can be satisfied by initially
granting the renewal and then
requesting and evaluating, if needed,
subsequently comments submitted by
interested parties. As indicated above,
the Agency previously published
Notices of final disposition announcing
its decision to exempt these 19
individuals from the vision requirement
in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). The final
decision to grant the exemption to each
of these individuals was based on the
merits of each case and only after
careful consideration of the comments
received in response to the Notices
announcing the applications. The
Notices of applications stated in detail
the qualifications, experience, and
medical condition of each applicant for
an exemption from the vision
requirements. That information is
available by consulting the above cited
Federal Register publications.

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:09 Aug 25, 2006

Jkt 208001

Interested parties or organizations
possessing information that would
otherwise show that any, or all of these
drivers, are not currently achieving the
statutory level of safety should
immediately notify FMCSA. The
Agency will evaluate any adverse
evidence submitted and, if safety is
being compromised or if continuation of
the exemption would not be consistent
with the goals and objectives of 49
U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA will
take immediate steps to revoke the
exemption of a driver.
Issued on: August 21, 2006.
Pamela M. Pelcovits,
Director, Office of Policy Plans and
Regulation.
[FR Doc. E6–14178 Filed 8–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2005–21324]

Pre-Trip Safety Information for
Motorcoach Passengers
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:

SUMMARY: FMCSA seeks comments on
its proposed plan to implement National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
recommendations for providing pre-trip
safety information to motorcoach
passengers. The NTSB recommends that
the agency require, and develop
minimum guidelines for, pre-trip safety
information to be provided by
motorcoach companies to passengers.
FMCSA, in conjunction with
stakeholders, has developed a basic plan
for all motorcoach companies to
implement a passenger safety awareness
program. FMCSA proposes a flexible
plan that would approve several
methods of informing motorcoach
passengers using visual and/or audio
presentation, with or without
technology assistance. FMCSA seeks
motorcoach industry and stakeholder
input in finalizing the plan. The goal of
this initiative is to develop, and
encourage adoption of, passenger safety
awareness guidelines suited for diverse
motorcoach operational types.
DATES: We must receive your comments
by November 27, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by Docket Number FMCSA–
2005–21324, by any of the following
methods:

PO 00000

Frm 00090

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

50971

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Agency Web Site: http://
dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments on the DOT
electronic docket site.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–
0001. Please submit three copies of
written comments.
• Hand Delivery: Submit three copies
of written comments to Room PL–401
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: Comments must refer to
Docket Number FMCSA–2005–21324.
All comments received will be posted
without change to http://dms.dot.gov,
including any personal information
provided. For detailed instructions on
submitting comments, see the ‘‘Public
Participation’’ heading of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document. For a summary of DOT’s
Privacy Act Statement or information on
how to obtain a complete copy of DOT’s
Privacy Act Statement please see the
‘‘Privacy Act’’ heading of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read the application or comments
received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any
time or to Room PL–401 on the plaza
level of the Nassif Building, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Mr.
Peter Chandler, Commercial Passenger
Carrier Safety Division (MC–ECP), 202–
366–5763; Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001.
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
ET, Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation
The DMS is available 24 hours each
day, 365 days each year. You can get
electronic submission and retrieval help
and guidelines under the ‘‘Help’’ section
of the DMS Web site. If you want us to
notify you of receiving your comments,
please include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope or postcard or print
the acknowledgement page displaying
after received of on-line comments.

E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM

28AUN1

50972

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 166 / Monday, August 28, 2006 / Notices

mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES

Privacy Act
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78) or you
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
I. Background
On February 26, 1999, NTSB issued
five recommendations to the Secretary
of Transportation. This public notice
addresses the two 1999
recommendations subsequently
delegated to FMCSA:
H–99–7, Provide guidance on the
minimum information to be included
in safety briefing materials for
motorcoach operators.
H–99–8, Require motorcoach operators
to provide passengers with pre-trip
safety information.
NTSB made similar recommendations
to the American Bus Association (ABA)
and the United Motorcoach Association
(UMA). The two 1999 recommendations
were in response to a motorcoach crash
on I–95 near Stony Creek, Virginia. On
July 29, 1997, a 1985 Transportation
Manufacturing Corporation motorcoach
operated by Rite-Way Transportation,
Inc. drifted off the side of I–95 and
down an embankment into the
Nottoway River, where it came to rest
on its left side. At the time, a driver and
34 passengers were onboard the
motorcoach. One passenger was fatally
injured. The driver and 3 passengers
sustained serious injuries; 28 passengers
sustained minor injuries. NTSB believed
this fatal accident highlighted the need
for motorcoach passengers to receive
pre-trip safety information similar to the
emergency evacuation information
given during pre-flight safety briefings
for commercial airline passengers.
During several motorcoach crash
investigations by NTSB, passengers
described a general sense of panic
because they did not know what to do
or how to get out of the motorcoach.
In the spring of 2003, FMCSA held
informal meetings with ABA, UMA, and
the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
(CVSA) which culminated in a working
group to address the NTSB
recommendations. Individuals from the
motorcoach operating industry,
motorcoach manufacturers, insurance
industry, safety consulting industry,
trade associations, State agencies, and
other Federal regulatory agencies

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:09 Aug 25, 2006

Jkt 208001

comprised the working group. the
working group met initially via
conference call on August 19, 2003, and
reached consensus on a response to the
NTSB recommendations on September
16, 2003.
The working group concluded it
would be best to initially encourage the
motorcoach industry to take voluntary
action to improve pre-trip safety
awareness. Motorcoach industry
officials asserted it is impossible to
develop a uniform passenger safety
awareness regulation, flexible enough
for industry-wide application, due to
wide-ranging operational variances
within the motorcoach industry. The
group believed development and
promotion of a list of best practices is
a more effective and realistic alternative
to ensure motorcoach passengers receive
safety information. This notice
announces FMCSA’s intent to work
together with stakeholders on these
safety guidelines. The guidelines would
allow motorcoach companies to conduct
pre-trip safety briefings as they deem
appropriate.
In an April 1, 2005, letter to FMCSA,
the NTSB stated that the activities
described above will provide
motorcoach passengers with increased
information about safety, and are
responsive to recommendation H–99–7.
In addition, NTSB stated such activities
also provide an acceptable alternate
approach to recommendation H–99–8.
Based upon FMCSA’s actions taken and
plans made, NTSB classified
recommendation H–99–7 as ‘‘Open—
Acceptable Response’’ and
recommendation H–99–8 as ‘‘Open—
Acceptable Alternate Response.’’ After
reaching general consensus among
stakeholders about a basic plan for
motorcoach passenger safety awareness
and developing a model informational
pamphlet, FMCSA will submit such
information and material to the NTSB
for review. At such time, FMCSA and its
safety partners will also begin
monitoring crashes and complaints to
verify that motorcoach companies are
presenting pre-trip safety information to
their passengers.
II. Proposed Basic Plan for Motorcoach
Passenger Safety Awareness
Minimum Safety Topics To Be Covered
1. Driver Direction—Advise
passengers to look to the driver for
direction and follow his/her
instructions.
2. Avoiding Slips and Falls—Warn
passengers to exercise care when
boarding and de-boarding the
motorcoach, and to use the handrail
when ascending or descending steps.

PO 00000

Frm 00091

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

Encourage passengers to remain seated
as much as possible while the
motorcoach is in motion. If it is
necessary to walk while the motorcoach
is moving, passengers should always
use handrails and supports.
Keep the aisle free of all property and
debris.
3. Emergency Contact—Advise
passengers to call 911 via cellular
telephone in the event of an emergency.
4. Emergency exits—Point out the
location of all emergency exits (pushout windows, roof vent, and side door)
and explain how to operate them,
including the emergency door release
located on the dash or in the stairwell.
Emphasize that, whenever feasible, the
motorcoach door should be the primary
exit choice. Encourage able-bodied
passengers to assist any injured or
mobility-impaired passengers during an
emergency evacuation.
5. Restroom Emergency Push Button
on Switch—Inform motorcoach
passengers of the emergency signal
advice in the restroom.
6. Fire extinguisher—Point out the
location of the fire extinguisher.
Alternative Methods of Presenting the
Safety Information
1. During passenger boarding:
a. Informational pamphlets
distributed to motorcoach passengers
during boarding.
2. After passenger boarding,
immediately prior to moving the
motorcoach:
a. Suggestion by the driver for
passengers to review informational
pamphlets located in the pouches or
sleeves on the back of seats.
b. Oral presentation on safety
information by the motorcoach driver
(similar to the presentations by airline
flight attendants prior to take-off) with
or without informational pamphlets as
visual aids.
c. Automated audio presentation
broadcasting a cassette tape or compact
disk over the motorcoach audio system.
d. Automated video presentation
using a videotape or DVD on the
motorcoach video system.
Timing and Frequency of the
Presentation
Demand-responsive motorcoach
operations such as charter and tour
service should present the safety
information to motorcoach passengers
after boarding, prior to movement of the
motorcoach.
At a minimum, fixed route
motorcoach service operations should
present the safety information at all
major stops or terminals after boarding,
prior to movement of the motorcoach.

E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM

28AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 166 / Monday, August 28, 2006 / Notices
III. Request for Comments
FMCSA requests comments on the
adequacy and comprehensiveness of the
basic plan as well as recommendations
for additional plan details.
Issued on: August 21, 2006.
David H. Hugel,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 06–7182 Filed 8–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2000–7257; Notice No. 40]

Railroad Safety Advisory Committee;
Notice of Meeting
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of the Railroad Safety
Advisory Committee (RSAC) meeting.

mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES

AGENCY:

SUMMARY: FRA announces the next
meeting of the RSAC, a Federal
Advisory Committee that develops
railroad safety regulations through a
consensus process. The RSAC meeting
topics include opening remarks from the
FRA Administrator, the private crossing
safety inquiry, electronically controlled
pneumatic brakes, a summary of the
Collision Analysis Working Group Final
Report, an update on Remote Control
Locomotive training efforts, and a status
report on the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking on Railroad Operating
Rules. Status reports will be given on
the Passenger Safety, Roadway Worker,
Continuous Welded Rail, and
Locomotive Standards working groups.
The Committee may possibly be asked
to vote to accept a task on medical
standards. This agenda is subject to
change, and may include briefings on
railroad security and other issues.
DATES: The meeting of the RSAC is
scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m.,
and conclude at 4 p.m., on Thursday,
September 21, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The meeting of the RSAC
will be held at the Washington Plaza
Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW.,
Washington, DC 20005, (202) 842–1300.
The meeting is open to the public on a
first-come, first-serve basis, and is
accessible to individuals with
disabilities. Sign and oral interpretation
can be made available if requested 10
calendar days before the meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Butera, RSAC Coordinator,
FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Stop
25, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493–

VerDate Aug<31>2005

15:09 Aug 25, 2006

Jkt 208001

6212 or Grady Cothen, Deputy Associate
Administrator for Safety Standards and
Program Development, FRA, 1120
Vermont Avenue, NW., Mailstop 25,
Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493–6302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463), FRA is giving notice of a meeting
of the RSAC. The meeting is scheduled
to begin at 9:30 a.m., and conclude at 4
p.m., on Thursday, September 21, 2006.
The meeting of the RSAC will be held
at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10
Thomas Circle, NW., Washington, DC
20005, (202) 842–1300.
RSAC was established to provide
advice and recommendations to the
FRA on railroad safety matters. The
RSAC is composed of 54 voting
representatives from 31 member
organizations, representing various rail
industry perspectives. In addition, there
are non-voting advisory representatives
from the agencies with railroad safety
regulatory responsibility in Canada and
Mexico, the National Transportation
Safety Board, the Federal Transit
Administration, and the Transportation
Security Administration. The diversity
of the Committee ensures the requisite
range of views and expertise necessary
to discharge its responsibilities.
See the RSAC Web site for details on
pending tasks at: http://rsac.fra.dot.
gov/. Please refer to the notice published
in the Federal Register on March 11,
1996, (61 FR 9740) for more information
about the RSAC.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 23,
2006.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety
Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E6–14257 Filed 8–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
Voluntary Intermodal Sealift
Agreement (VISA)/Joint Planning
Advisory Group (JPAG)
Maritime Administration, DOT.
Synopsis of July 26 and 27, 2006
meeting with VISA participants.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

Mr.
Taylor E. Jones II, Director, Office of
Sealift Support, (202) 366–2323.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The VISA
program requires that a notice of the
time, place, and nature of each JPAG
meeting be published in the Federal
Register. The full text of the VISA
program, including these requirements,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

PO 00000

Frm 00092

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

50973

is published in 70 FR 55947–55955,
dated September 23, 2005.
On July 26 and 27, 2006, the Maritime
Administration (MARAD) and the U.S.
Transportation Command
(USTRANSCOM) co-hosted a meeting of
the VISA JPAG at the Military Sealift
Command in Washington, DC. Meeting
attendance was by invitation only, due
to the nature of the information
discussed and the need for a
government-issued security clearance.
Of the 52 U.S.-flag carrier corporate
participants enrolled in the VISA
program, 17 companies participated in
the JPAG meeting. In addition,
representatives from MARAD and the
Department of Defense (DOD) attended
the meeting.
Margaret LeClaire, Deputy Director,
Strategy, Plans, Policy & Programs,
USTRANSCOM, and James Caponiti,
Associate Administrator for National
Security, MARAD, welcomed the
participants. Ms. LeClaire noted that
this JPAG was a table-top exercise to
match industry capabilities to military
requirements related to the findings of
DOD’s Mobility Capabilities Study
(MCS). She asked industry participants
to be creative and to collaborate as
necessary to offer solutions. She noted
that there were DOD representatives
present to answer specific questions
related to the exercise. Mr. Caponiti
remarked that while some progress has
been made in recent JPAG meetings
regarding the findings of DOD’s
Mobility Capabilities Study, he
expected that this exercise would
provide the government with a better
appreciation of industry capabilities. He
requested that industry representatives
itemize their concerns related to the
exercise so that they might be addressed
after the meeting.
VISA participants coordinated their
efforts to ensure that commercial
resources were utilized in an efficient
and innovative manner. As a result of
the exercise there was general
agreement that there was more
capability in the commercial industry
than was assumed in the MCS to meet
timelines and satisfy requirements. The
participants noted that their responses
were based on numerous assumptions.
It was agreed that a closer examination
of equipment, infrastructure and
intermodal constraints was needed, and
that factors such as market conditions
and trade seasonality should be
considered and evaluated before final
conclusions could be reached.
The following VISA companies
participated in the July 26 and 27, 2006
JPAG meeting: American President
Lines, Ltd.; American Roll-On Roll-Off
Carrier, LLC; American Shipping Group;

E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM

28AUN1