[Federal Register: May 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 86)]
[Notices]
[Page 23794-23797]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05my03-122]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[FMCSA Docket FMCSA-2002-13295]
Oregon Department of Transportation Application for Exemptions
for Farmers
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Secretarial Decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) is denying the
Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) application for exemptions
from all the requirements of 49 CFR part 393, concerning parts and
accessories necessary for the safe operation of commercial motor
vehicles (CMVs), and 49 CFR part 396, concerning the inspection, repair
and maintenance of CMVs, on behalf of motor carriers certified by and
registered with ODOT as farmers. ODOT
[[Page 23795]]
and the vast majority of persons responding to the December 26, 2002,
notice published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) believe the exemptions would have little if any impact on
highway safety. The Department of Transportation (DOT) finds that
granting the exemptions would not achieve a level of safety equivalent
to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be achieved by
complying with the Federal regulations. Neither ODOT nor the persons
submitting comments in support of the exemptions application presented
specific alternatives to the Federal requirements concerning safety
equipment on CMVs, and the inspection, repair and maintenance of such
vehicles, which the agency could consider likely to achieve the
requisite level of safety.
DATES: The decision is effective on May 5, 2003.
ADDRESSES: You can review the docket comments discussed in this
document by visiting the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets
Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20590-0001. You can also see the comments at http://dmses.dot.gov.
Please use the docket number that appears in the heading of this
document to locate the comments. You can examine and copy this document
and all comments received at the same Internet address or at the
Dockets Management Facility from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry W. Minor, Office of Bus and
Truck Standards and Operations, (202) 366-4009, Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-
0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Sections 31315 and 31136 of title 49 of the United States Code
(U.S.C.) provide the authority to grant exemptions from certain
portions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). An
exemption provides time-limited regulatory relief from one or more
FMCSRs given to a person or class of persons subject to the
regulations, or who intend to engage in an activity that would make
them subject to the regulations. An exemption provides the person or
class of persons with relief from the regulations for up to two years,
and may be renewed. These sections also require the agency to consider
whether the terms and conditions for the exemption would achieve a
level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of
safety that would be obtained by complying with the regulations when
evaluating applications for exemptions.
An interim final rule implementing section 4007 of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) (codified at 49
U.S.C. 31315) was published on December 8, 1998 (63 FR 67600). These
regulations at 49 CFR part 381 establish the procedures to be followed
by persons requesting waivers, or applying for exemptions from the
FMCSRs, and the procedures used to process them.
A notice must be published in the Federal Register for each
exemption requested, explaining the request that has been filed;
providing the public with an opportunity to inspect the safety analysis
and any other relevant information; and requesting public comment on
the exemption (49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4)(A)) and 49 CFR 381.315).
In granting a request for an exemption, a notice must be published
in the Federal Register identifying: (1) The person or class of persons
who will receive the exemption; (2) what regulation is covered by the
exemption; (3) how long the exemption is in effect; and (4) all terms
and conditions of the exemption. The terms and conditions established
by the agency must ensure that the exemption will likely achieve a
level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that
would be achieved by complying with the regulation.
ODOT Application for Exemptions
ODOT applied for exemptions from all the requirements of 49 CFR
parts 393 and 396 on behalf of all motor carriers certified and
registered with ODOT as farmers. A copy of the application is included
in the docket referenced at the beginning of this notice. The
exemptions would be applicable only when these carriers are engaged in
transportation related to farm operations and the commercial motor
vehicle (CMV) is registered with ODOT as a farm vehicle. The exemptions
would not be applicable when these carriers operate as for-hire
carriers.
ODOT indicated that it was requesting the exemptions primarily
because the State could lose Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
(MCSAP) funding from FMCSA for having laws and regulations, applicable
to interstate operations, that are less stringent than the Federal
requirements. ODOT believed that, based on discussions with legislators
and public meetings with farm groups, it was unlikely that the Oregon
legislature would revise the law.
ODOT believed the level of safety for farmers operating under the
exemptions would be equivalent to the level of safety that would be
provided by the Federal safety regulations because the State would
continue to enforce its rules of the road and equipment regulations
applicable to all motorists and motor vehicles. Farm vehicles in Oregon
are currently required to comply with State requirements related to
parts and accessories, including brakes, lights, mudguards and fenders,
emissions and exhaust, windows, horns, mirrors, etc. Furthermore, ODOT
has the authority to inspect any vehicle to verify compliance.
Request for Comments
On December 26, 2002 (67 FR 78855), the agency requested public
comment from all interested parties on ODOT's application for
exemptions in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) and 31136(e).
Interested persons were requested to consider each exemption
separately, to the greatest extent practicable. The notice indicated
that a decision could grant or deny either or both portions of the
application based on the comments received, and any other relevant
information.
Discussion of Comments
One hundred and fourteen comments were received in response to the
December 26 notice. The comments included those from: Advocates for
Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates); Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
(CVSA); farmers and other agricultural-related businesses,
associations, or groups in Oregon (101 comments); the Oregon Trucking
Associations, Inc.; and four State motor carrier enforcement agencies
(Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety; Idaho State Police;
Indiana State Police; ODOT, Motor Carrier Transportation Division).
Comments were also received from Michael Millard, an individual who did
not identify his occupational interest. In addition, comments were
received from two members of the U.S. House of Representatives (Darlene
Hooley and Greg Walden) and three members of the Oregon State House of
Representatives (Alan Brown, Chairman of the House Transportation
Committee; Jeff Kropf, Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural
Resources Committee; and Karen Minnis, Speaker of the House).
The overwhelming majority (109 out of 114) of the commenters were
in favor of granting the exemption application. The Idaho State Police
and Indiana State Police believe an exemption should be
[[Page 23796]]
granted but only for the purpose of providing ODOT with sufficient time
to adopt compatible safety regulations for the interstate operation of
farm vehicles. Advocates, the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle
Safety, and Michael Millard believe the ODOT's exemptions application
should be denied.
Commenters in Favor of Granting the Exemptions
Generally, most of the commenters in favor of granting the
exemptions believe that Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) provide
sufficient safety requirements for farm vehicles. They believe that the
State's requirements concerning vehicle safety equipment and motor
carrier operations would ensure safety. Most of the commenters also
considered the Federal requirements to be redundant of the State
regulations.
The commenters believe that denying the ODOT exemptions application
would result in ODOT being required to adopt regulations that are
compatible with agency rules applicable to interstate motor carriers,
and to increase the State's enforcement activities concerning farm
vehicle operations, such as conducting more roadside inspections of
these vehicles. Commenters indicated that accident involvement of farm
vehicles is low compared to other types of commercial vehicle
operations in the State and that limited enforcement resources should
not be focused on farm vehicles. They indicated that most of the farm
trucks are small trucks operated short distances at low speeds, and
that the safety record for the operation of such vehicles suggests that
it is unnecessary to apply the Federal safety rules to them.
Commenters in favor of granting the exemptions also emphasized that
a significant portion of Oregon's truck safety program is funded
through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Motor Carrier
Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). They argued that ODOT's program
would be greatly reduced if the State lost MCSAP funding.
Commenters Opposed to Granting the Exemptions
Advocates argued that (1) exemption authority cannot be used to
evade compliance with Federal regulations; (2) procedurally, ODOT
cannot apply for exemptions on behalf of entities who are not a part of
ODOT, (3) there is insufficient information to support granting the
exemptions, and (4) granting the exemptions would not make Oregon
eligible for MCSAP grants. Advocates consider the exemptions to be an
effort to avoid the consequences of Oregon's failure to comply with the
MCSAP requirements, and believe that the statute authorizing the
exemptions does not indicate that a State governmental entity may apply
for exemptions.
The Indiana State Police (Indiana) believe that granting the
exemptions would be inconsistent with MCSAP goals of achieving
uniformity and compatibility of State regulations with Federal rules.
However, Indiana believes ODOT should be provided a temporary exemption
to enable the Oregon legislature to amend the ORS. The Idaho State
Police (Idaho) echoed those views. Idaho does not believe the public
interest would be served by withholding MCSAP funds from Oregon.
DOT Response to Comments
The DOT does not believe there is sufficient information to support
a determination that the exemptions are likely to achieve a level of
safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by
complying with the applicable Federal safety rules.
Although ODOT and most of the commenters argued that the State
rules provide sufficient safety requirements, there are too few details
in the ORS and Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) to ensure that all
parts and accessories on CMVs operated by motor carriers certified by,
and registered with, ODOT as farmers are maintained at the same level
required of CMVs subject to 49 CFR parts 393 and 396. This is
especially true given that OAR section 740-100-0010 adopts by reference
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, including parts 393 and
396. There is no clear indication what safety rules would remain in
force if all of the requirements as presented in 49 CFR parts 393 and
396, and adopted by reference in OAR section 740-100-0010, are deemed
unnecessary. Therefore, there is no readily apparent means to compare
the safety requirements that ODOT would enforce under the terms and
conditions of the exemptions, with the specific rules under 49 CFR
parts 393 and 396. These requirements include whether motor carriers
certified by and registered with ODOT as farmers, would be required to
ensure that their vehicles have retroreflective sheeting and reflex
reflectors to reduce the incidence of passenger vehicles crashing into
CMVs at nighttime; automatic brake adjusters, and brake adjustment
indicators (for air braked vehicles manufactured on or after October
20, 1994); antilock braking systems; rear impact guards and rear impact
protection; safe fuel systems and fuel tanks; and, adequate means of
protection against shifting and falling cargo. While it may be possible
to establish and enforce safety rules concerning these issues with less
specificity than the current Federal regulations, doing so would
certainly involve a lower standard of safety by failing to describe in
meaningful detail minimum standards that would ensure an appropriate
level of motor carrier safety.
Although the ODOT application cited ORS chapter 811, 815, and 816
as providing rules to ensure safety, the references are nothing more
than statutory authority for the ODOT to develop detailed regulations.
The statutes, in and of themselves, do not establish requirements
applicable to motor carriers. A discussion of statutory authority,
without describing in detail how that authority was exercised in the
regulations promulgated, is not sufficient basis for concluding that
the exemptions would not have an adverse impact on safety.
As for commenters who believe that the adoption of compatible
regulations would necessitate increased inspections of farm-plated
vehicles, there is no requirement for States participating in MCSAP to
shift their enforcement focus from motor carriers with well-documented
safety problems, to populations of motor carriers with better safety
performance records, simply because the rules are applicable to the
latter group. The MCSAP is a Federal grant program that provides
financial assistance to States to reduce the number and severity of
accidents and hazardous materials incidents involving CMVs. The goal of
the MCSAP is to reduce CMV-involved accidents, fatalities, and injuries
through consistent, uniform, and effective CMV safety programs.
Investing grant monies in appropriate safety programs will increase the
likelihood that safety defects, driver deficiencies, and unsafe motor
carriers practices will be detected and corrected before they become
contributing factors to accidents. The MCSAP also establishes, under 49
CFR part 350, the conditions for participation by States and local
jurisdictions and promotes the adoption and uniform enforcement of
safety rules, regulations, and standards compatible with the FMCSRs and
Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) for both interstate and
intrastate motor carriers and drivers. While part 350 has the effect of
requiring that States be aware of motor carrier safety problems within
their jurisdiction and develop appropriate strategies for
[[Page 23797]]
improving safety, States have the flexibility and discretion to
determine the level of enforcement warranted for a given segment of the
motor carrier population operating in the State. The State would
identify its planned activities in its annual Commercial Vehicle Safety
Plan (CVSP) that must be submitted to the FMCSA. Therefore, ODOT would
submit its CVSP identifying CMV enforcement activities, based on ODOT's
analysis of safety data. The FMCSA would then review the plan to ensure
compliance with the requirements of 49 CFR part 350.
The DOT is committed to working with ODOT to ensure compliance with
the MCSAP requirements. This action does not take exception to ODOT's
CVSP, but to the State's failure to rescind an incompatible statute
applicable to CMVs operating in interstate commerce. Therefore,
adopting compatible laws and regulations should not be considered a
Federal mandate to include an expanded enforcement program for motor
carriers certified by and registered with ODOT as farmers. Requiring
compatible laws and regulations does not negate the State's flexibility
in managing its enforcement program. The DOT will continue to work with
ODOT officials to achieve full compliance with 49 CFR part 350.
With regard to the comments from Advocates, the Department agrees
that exemptions must not be used to evade compliance with part 350.
However, the Department does not consider ODOT's request to represent
such an effort. ODOT presented an application in which the State
proposed that its requirements, while significantly less specific than
the applicable Federal rules, would achieve the requisite level of
safety. After reviewing the public comments and the application for
exemptions, the DOT concluded--as did Advocates--that there is
insufficient information to support such a determination, and that the
Department must therefore deny the application. The fact that the
application had shortcomings should not be construed as an attempt by
ODOT to evade compliance with the MCSAP requirements.
In response to Advocates comment about procedural requirements
concerning exemptions applications, and the impact the exemptions would
have on ODOT's MCSAP eligibility, the DOT disagrees. Neither the
statutes authorizing the granting of exemptions (49 U.S.C. 31315 and
31136(e)), nor the implementing regulations under 49 CFR part 381
explicitly prohibit a State or other entity from submitting
applications for exemptions on behalf of motor carriers subject to the
FMCSRs. Although it is unusual for a non-motor carrier entity to submit
such a request, it is not prohibited and it is not unique. Exemptions
have been granted in the past concerning fuel tank fill rates and
certification markings on fuel tanks in response to applications from
Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation submitted on behalf
of motor carriers operating vehicles manufactured by those
companies.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ On March 27, 2002, an exemption renewal was granted to the
Ford Motor Company (Ford) (67 FR 14765) and General Motors
Corporation (GM) (67 FR 14764) submitted on behalf of motor carriers
operating certain vehicles built by these manufacturers. These
exemptions enable motor carriers to continue operating commercial
motor vehicles (CMVs) manufactured by Ford and GM which are equipped
with fuel tanks that do not meet the FMCSA's requirements that fuel
tanks be capable of receiving fuel at a rate of at least 20 gallons
per minute and be labeled or marked by the manufacturer to certify
compliance with the design criteria.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In regard to MCSAP eligibility, the granting of the exemptions
would only temporarily, and indirectly, resolve ODOT's incompatible
regulation. Exemptions granted pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31315 or 31136(e)
preempt incompatible State rules. During the time period that
exemptions are in effect, States are prohibited from enforcing any law
or regulation that conflicts with or is inconsistent with the
exemptions with respect to a person operating under the exemptions.
This means that if the exemptions from 49 CFR parts 393 and 396 had
been granted for motor carriers certified by and registered with ODOT
as farmers, without limiting the applicability of the exemptions to
interstate motor carrier operations within the State boundaries of
Oregon, all States would have been prohibited from enforcing parts 393
and 396 against farm-plated vehicles from Oregon that traveled through
their jurisdiction. The only vehicle-related safety requirements would
have been provided through the terms and conditions of the exemptions
itself rather then the current safety regulations applicable to other
motor carriers operating CMVs in interstate commerce. Given that the
exemptions would have automatically preempted any Oregon laws or
regulations that were incompatible with its own terms, it is difficult
to see how the exemption application could be granted and still
withhold Oregon's MCSAP funds as punishment for failure to adopt parts
393 and 396, which ODOT would be prohibited from enforcing during the
period of the exemptions. Furthermore, if there were sufficient
information to support granting the exemptions, the State would have
been considered to have effectively demonstrated that the terms and
conditions of the exemptions ensure a level of safety equivalent to or
greater than the level of safety obtained by compliance with parts 393
and 396, which would suggest that the State requirements, while
significantly less specific than the Federal requirements, are indeed
compatible in terms of safety outcomes, and would therefore satisfy
MCSAP requirements.
DOT Decision
In consideration of the comments submitted in response to the
agency's December 26, 2002, notice and for the reasons stated above,
the Secretary denies ODOT's application for exemptions from the
requirements of 49 CFR parts 393 and 396, on behalf of motor carriers
certified by and registered with ODOT as farmers. The exemption
application does not demonstrate that the exemptions would achieve a
level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that
would be achieved by complying with the Federal regulations. The State
of Oregon must adopt State laws or regulations compatible with 49 CFR
parts 393 and 396, applicable to motor carriers certified by and
registered with ODOT as farmers, that are operating in interstate
commerce, in a timely manner, to fulfill its obligations under 49 CFR
part 350. The DOT will work with ODOT to ensure to the greatest extent
practicable, the continued funding of their CVSP while compatible laws
or regulations are being developed.
Issued on: April 30, 2003.
Norman Y. Mineta,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 03-11080 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am]