Federal Register: March 18, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 51)
DOCID: fr18mr09-100 FR Doc E9-5956
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Docket ID: [Docket No. FMCSA-2007-28055]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr18mr09-100
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of termination of demonstration project.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Demonstration Project on NAFTA Trucking Provisions
DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective March 11, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The FMCSA announces termination of the demonstration project that allowed up to 100 Mexicodomiciled motor carriers to operate beyond the U.S. border commercial zones, and the same number of U.S. carriers to operate in Mexico. Section 136 of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009, of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, prohibits FMCSA from using appropriated funds to continue the demonstration project.
SUMMARY:
Demonstration Project on NAFTA Trucking Provisions; Termination
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Former Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters and Mexico's Secretary of Communications and Transportation Luis T[eacute]llez Kuenzler announced a demonstration project to implement certain trucking provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in February 2007. The demonstration project was initiated on September 6, 2007, after the Department of Transportation (DOT) complied with a number of conditions imposed by section 6901 of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007, Public Law 11028, 121 Stat. 112, 183, May 25, 2007. Further details regarding DOT's compliance with these conditions may be found in Federal Register notices published on June 8 and August 17, 2007 (72 FR 31877 and 72 FR 46263, respectively). The demonstration project was initially expected to last one year (see 72 FR 23883, May 1, 2007). On August 6, 2008, FMCSA announced that the demonstration project was being extended from one year to the full three years allowed by statute (73 FR 45796).
On March 11, 2009, the President signed into law the Omnibus
Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law 1118, division I, title I, 123
Stat. 524. Section 136 of the Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 (Division I,
title I of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009) provides: ``[N]one of
the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act may
be used, directly or indirectly, to establish, implement, continue, promote, or in any way permit a crossborder motor carrier
demonstration program to allow Mexicandomiciled motor carriers to
operate beyond the commercial zones along the international border
between the United States and Mexico, including continuing, in whole or
in part, any such program that was initiated prior to the date of the enactment of this Act.''
In accordance with section 136, FMCSA has terminated the cross
border demonstration project that began on September 6, 2007. The
Agency has ceased processing applications by prospective project
participants and has taken other necessary steps to comply with the
provision. Further, as a condition of participating in this project,
Mexicodomiciled motor carriers were required to submit to FMCSA Form
OCE46 (Request for Revocation of Registration). This form requests
that any registration issued by FMCSA pursuant to the crossborder
demonstration project be revoked upon termination of the project. The
Agency has processed these forms and revoked all registrations issued in connection with the crossborder demonstration project.
Issued on: March 13, 2009.
Rose A. McMurray,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. E95956 Filed 31709; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910EXP
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Mr. Dom Spataro, Division Chief, Telephone (202) 3662995; email dominick.spataro@dot.gov, or Mr. Marcelo Perez, Transportation Specialist, Telephone 5129165440 extension 228, email marcelo.perez@dot.gov of the North American Borders Division, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.