Pilot Program on NAFTA Long-Haul Trucking Provisions

Topics:  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Kenneth M. Leonard
Federal Register
October 3, 2011

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61138-61139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25389]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 [Docket No. FMCSA-2011-0097]


Pilot Program on NAFTA Long-Haul Trucking Provisions

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces the availability of a Final Environmental 
Assessment (FEA) that evaluates the potential environmental impacts 
resulting from the implementation of its United States-Mexico cross-
border long-haul trucking pilot program. FMCSA received five comments 
to its draft environmental assessment (DEA) and responds to those 
comments in the FEA. FMCSA concludes that the potential environmental 
impacts from the pilot program are not significant and do not warrant 
additional environmental analysis in the form of an Environmental 
Impact Statement. FMCSA issues a Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) based on the conclusions in the FEA, which is also available in 
the docket.
    Instructions: To view the FEA or the FONSI, go to the online docket 
(Regulations.gov) at http://www.regulations.gov/ and enter in the 
docket number (FMCSA-2011-0097) and search for the ``Final 
Environmental Assessment'' or ``FONSI.''

[[Page 61139]]

    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time or to 
DOT Headquarters, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form for all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment. You may review the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 3316), or you may visit 
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-785.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael M. Johnsen, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Analysis Division, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-4111.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background on the Pilot Project on the U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Long-
Haul Trucking Program

    The pilot program is part of FMCSA's implementation of the North 
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border long-haul trucking 
provisions. This pilot program would allow Mexico-domiciled motor 
carriers to operate throughout the United States for up to 3 years. 
U.S.-domiciled motor carriers would be granted reciprocal rights to 
operate in Mexico for the same period. Participating Mexican carriers 
and drivers would be required to comply with all applicable U.S. laws 
and regulations, including those concerned with motor carrier safety, 
customs, immigration, vehicle registration and taxation, and fuel 
taxation. The safety of the participating carriers would be tracked 
closely by FMCSA with input from the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory 
Committee, a Federal advisory committee. For further information 
regarding this pilot program, including additional background and 
comments, please see the Federal Register notice of the Pilot Program 
on NAFTA Long Haul Trucking Provisions in docket FMCSA-2011-0097.

Final Environmental Assessment

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) (section 102(2)(c)), as implemented by the Council on 
Environment Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), FMCSA's Order 
5610.1, issued March 1, 2004 (69 FR 9680), and other applicable 
guidance and requirements, FMCSA prepared a DEA for the U.S.-Mexican 
cross-border long-haul trucking program. FMCSA analyzed the potential 
impacts to the environment that may result from implementing the pilot 
project. In the DEA, FMCSA evaluated environmental issues such as 
emissions from vehicles, air quality impacts, and other pertinent 
matters, and requested public comments. FMCSA received five comments to 
the DEA and responded to those comments in the FEA. Additionally, after 
reviewing those comments, FMCSA has concluded that the potential 
environmental impacts from the pilot program are not significant and do 
not warrant additional environmental analysis in the form of an 
Environmental Impact Statement. Accordingly, FMCSA is issuing a FONSI 
based on the conclusions in the FEA, which is also available in the 
docket.

    Issued on: September 27, 2011.
Kenneth M. Leonard,
Special Projects Officer, Office of Research and Information 
Technology, FMCSA.
[FR Doc. 2011-25389 Filed 9-30-11; 8:45 am]
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