Household Goods Consumer Protection Working Group: Membership Solicitation

T. F. Scott Darling, III
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
20 April 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23354-23355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09113]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0116]


Household Goods Consumer Protection Working Group: Membership 
Solicitation

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

ACTION: Notice, request for applications and nominations to the 
Household Goods Consumer Protection Working Group.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its intent to establish the Household Goods 
(HHG) Consumer Protection Working Group (Working Group). The Fixing 
America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act requires FMCSA to establish 
this Working Group to provide recommendations on how to better educate 
and protect HHG moving customers (consumers) during an interstate HHG 
move. FMCSA solicits applications and nominations of interested persons 
to serve on the Working Group. As required by the FAST Act, the Working 
Group must be composed of individuals with expertise in consumer 
affairs, educators with expertise in how people learn most effectively, 
and representatives of the interstate HHG moving industry. The FAST Act 
mandates that the Working Group make its recommendations and the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT) publish them no later than December 
4, 2016.

DATES: Applications/Nominations for the Working Group must be received 
electronically on or before May 20, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Rodgers, Chief, Commercial 
Enforcement and Investigations Division, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Phone (202) 366-0073; Email 
kenneth.rodgers@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

FAST Act

    Section 5503 of the FAST Act (Pub. L. 114-94) (December 4, 2015) 
requires the Working Group to provide recommendations to the Secretary 
of Transportation, through the FMCSA Administrator. The Working Group 
will operate in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA, 5 U.S.C. App 2).
    As required by Section 5503 of the FAST Act, the Working Group will 
make recommendations in three areas relating to ``how to best convey to 
consumers relevant information with respect to the Federal laws 
concerning the interstate transportation of household goods by motor 
carrier.'' Those areas are:
    1. How to condense the FMCSA ``Ready to Move ?'' moving tips 
document published in April 2006 (FMCSA-ESA-03-005) into a more 
consumer friendly format;
    2. How best to use state-of-the-art education techniques and 
technologies for conveying relevant information with respect to Federal 
statutes and regulations concerning the interstate transportation of 
HHG (including how to optimize use of the Internet as an educational 
tool); and
    3. How to reduce and simplify the paperwork required of motor 
carriers and shippers in interstate transportation.
    Section 5503 also mandates that the Secretary of Transportation 
appoint a Working Group that is comprised of (i) individuals with 
expertise in consumer affairs; (ii) educators with expertise in how 
people learn most effectively; and (iii) representatives of the FMCSA 
regulated interstate HHG moving industry.
    The working group will terminate one year after the date its 
recommendations are submitted to the Secretary of Transportation.

II. Member and Meeting Information

    If members are appointed from the private sector, they will serve 
without pay, but the FMCSA Administrator may allow a member, when 
attending Working Group meetings (or sub-group meetings of such group), 
to be reimbursed for expenses authorized under Section 5703 of Title 5, 
United States Code and the Federal Travel

[[Page 23355]]

Regulation System (41 CFR Subtitle F), relating to per diem, travel, 
and transportation. Non-Federal employee Working Group members 
appointed as individuals with expertise in consumer affairs or as 
educators with expertise in how people learn most effectively also will 
be deemed Special Government Employees (SGEs), as defined by 18 U.S.C. 
202(a). SGE status means Federal ethics rules apply, in part, to these 
non-Federal employee members and such members may be required to file 
confidential financial disclosure reports to detect and resolve any 
real or apparent financial conflicts of interest with the Working 
Group.
    The Working Group members who are individuals with expertise in 
consumer affairs or who are educators with expertise in how people 
learn most effectively cannot be subject to the registration and 
reporting requirements of the Lobbying Disclosure Act (2 U.S.C. 1605). 
See 79 FR 47482 (Revised Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyists to 
Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions)(August 13, 
2014)).
    The FMCSA Designated Federal Official who will oversee the Working 
Group anticipates calling a series of meetings on the following dates:
     May 24, 2016
     June 28, 2016
     July 26, 2016
     August 30, 2016
     September 27, 2016
    Meetings will be in person and/or via teleconference. All meetings 
in furtherance of this FAST Act mandate will be open to the general 
public, unless cause exists (albeit unlikely) to close the meeting to 
the public under an exception provided under the FACA. Notice of each 
meeting will be published in the Federal Register at least 15 calendar 
days prior to the date of the meeting.

III. Request for Nominations

    The DOT, through FMCSA, seeks applications and nominations for 
membership to the Working Group. Applicants or nominees must be either: 
(i) Individuals with expertise in consumer affairs; (ii) educators with 
expertise in how people learn most effectively; or (iii) 
representatives of the FMCSA-regulated interstate household goods 
moving industry. The DOT will consider professional credentials such as 
experience, education, and achievements. The Department also endeavors 
to appoint members of diverse views and interests to ensure the 
committee is balanced, with appropriate consideration of background.
    Qualified individuals may self-apply or be nominated by any 
individual or organization. To be considered, applicants and nominators 
should submit the following information:
    (1) Name, title, and relevant contact information (including phone 
and email address) and a description of the interests the applicant/
nominee shall represent;
    (2) Any letter(s) of support from an individual, a company, union, 
trade association, or non-profit organization on letterhead, containing 
a brief description why the applicant/nominee should be considered for 
membership;
    (3) A resume or short biography of the applicant/nominee, including 
professional and academic credentials; and
    (4) An affirmative statement that the applicant/nominee meets all 
Working Group eligibility requirements.
    Please do not send company, trade association, or organization 
brochures or any other information. Should more information be needed, 
DOT staff will contact the applicant/nominee, obtain information from 
the applicant/nominee's past affiliations, or obtain information from 
publicly available sources, such as the Internet.
    Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. To ensure that 
recommendations to the Secretary take into account the needs of the 
diverse groups served by DOT, membership shall include, to the extent 
practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Applicants and nominators should submit the above information via 
electronic transmission to Kenneth Rodgers, FMCSA Office of Enforcement 
and Compliance, at kenneth.rodgers@dot.gov. The submission must be 
received on or before May 20, 2016.

    Issued on: April 13, 2016.
T. F. Scott Darling, III,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-09113 Filed 4-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P