[Federal Register: May 22, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 98)]
[Notices]
[Page 28755-28759]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22my07-129]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2007-28043]
Hours of Service (HOS) of Drivers; Renewal of American
Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Exemption From the 14-Hour Rule during
Independence Day Celebrations
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemption; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the American
Pyrotechnics Association (APA) exemption from FMCSA's regulation that
drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) may not drive after the
14th hour of coming on duty. The exemption for 70 motor carriers and
approximately 3,000 drivers is applicable for a period beginning 7 days
prior to and 2 days immediately following Independence Day in 2007 and
2008. Drivers who operate CMVs in conjunction with staging fireworks
shows celebrating Independence Day will be allowed to exclude off-duty
and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14
hours. These drivers will not be allowed to drive after
[[Page 28756]]
accumulating a total of 14 hours of on-duty time, following 10
consecutive hours off duty, and will continue to be subject to the 11-
hour driving time limit, and the 60- and 70-hour on-duty limits. The
terms and conditions of the current exemption will remain in place for
a second two-year period. FMCSA believes that with the terms and
conditions in place, APA will maintain a level of safety that is
equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be
obtained by complying with the regulation.
DATES: This renewed exemption is effective from June 28 through July 6,
2007, and from June 28 through July 6, 2008. The exemption expires on
July 7, 2008. Comments must be received on or before June 21, 2007.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to the DOT Docket Management System
(DMS), referencing Docket Number FMCSA-2007-XXXXX, using any of the
following methods:
Web Site: http://dmses.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.
Hand Delivery: 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.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and
docket numbers for this notice. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or 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. The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365
days each year. If you want us to notify you that we received your
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard
or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting
comments on-line.
Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review the Department of Transportation's complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477; Apr. 11, 2000). This information is also available at http://dms.dot.gov
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, Driver and
Carrier Operations Division, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and
Operations, MC-PSD, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Telephone: 202-366-
4009. E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may renew an exemption
from the hours of service (HOS) requirements in 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) for
a 2-year period if it finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a
level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that
would be achieved absent such exemption.'' The procedures for
requesting an exemption (including renewals) are prescribed in 49 CFR
part 381. FMCSA has evaluated the American Pyrotechnics Association
(APA) application for a renewal on its merits and decided to renew the
exemption for the 70 companies requested for a two-year period. The
list of APA member companies covered by the exemption from 49 CFR
395.3(a)(2) is included as an Appendix to this Notice.
APA Application for an Exemption Renewal
APA applied for the renewal of an exemption from the HOS rules,
specifically 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2), which prohibits drivers from operating
property-carrying CMVs after the 14th hour of coming on duty. APA
requested that drivers covered by the exemption be allowed to exclude
off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of
the 14-hour rule. Drivers would not be allowed to drive after the
accumulation of 14 hours of on-duty time following 10 consecutive hours
off duty. The exemption would be applicable to 70 motor carriers and
approximately 3,000 drivers responsible for operating about 3,000 CMVs.
APA is seeking a renewal of this exemption because full compliance with
the 14-hour rule imposes a substantial economic hardship on their
member companies. A copy of the request for a renewal is included in
the docket referenced at the beginning of this notice.
APA, a trade association representing the domestic fireworks
industry, asserts that full compliance with the current HOS regulations
during the brief period surrounding Independence Day imposes a
substantial economic hardship on its members that operate fireworks for
the public. According to their original exemption request submitted in
December 2004, APA member-company drivers are trained pyrotechnicians,
each holding a commercial driver's license (CDL) with a hazardous
materials (HM) endorsement. These drivers transport fireworks and
equipment to remote locations under demanding schedules. During the
week before Independence Day, APA members are engaged to stage multiple
shows in a very compressed period of time. To meet the surge of
business in this 1-week period under the current HOS rules, companies
would be required to hire a second driver for most trips. This would
result in a substantial increase in the cost of these shows, and as a
result, many shows would be cancelled. Alternatively, APA members would
be forced to significantly decrease their engagements. In either case,
APA members would have to decrease the number of shows they provide,
thereby denying many Americans a primary component of their
Independence Day celebration.
Method To Ensure an Equivalent or Greater Level of Safety
APA believes that the renewal of the exemption will not adversely
affect the safety of the motor carrier transportation provided by their
member companies. These companies operated under the existing exemption
for two years with no reports of incidents of any kind. Moreover,
according to the APA, the exemption will enhance safety by decreasing
the number of CMVs stationed with HM 1.3 and 1.4 products aboard at
locations throughout the country. Under the exemption, CMVs will be
able to return to their home base, which is a secured area for these
types of products.
In their original exemption request, APA stated they believe that
the operational demands of this unique industry minimize the risks of
CMV crashes. In the last few days before the Independence Day holiday,
drivers spend their driving time transporting fireworks relatively
short distances from the nearest distribution point to the site
[[Page 28757]]
of the fireworks display. Most of their on-duty time, however, is
devoted to installing, wiring, and double-checking fireworks displays.
Pyrotechnicians drive to the site of the fireworks display in the early
morning and return late in the evening, thus avoiding much of the heavy
traffic typical of the holiday. After setting the fireworks display in
daylight in order to reduce the possibility of mistakes, the
pyrotechnicians/drivers typically have several hours off duty in the
late afternoon and early evening, just before the shoot. This enables
them to rest or nap, reducing or eliminating the fatigue caused by the
day's activities, and making their return trip later that evening
safer.
In addition to driving at off-peak hours and having an opportunity
for substantial rest periods during their tour of duty, pyrotechnicians
who drive back to a hotel or motel in the 15th or 16th hours after
coming on duty will be required to take 10 consecutive hours off-duty,
like other drivers. Although FMCSA believes the 14-hour limit is
generally conducive to safety, the current HOS regulations allow
certain short-haul drivers a 16-hour driving ``window'' once a week,
providing specified conditions are met. Because pyrotechnician-drivers
operate like short-haul drivers (relatively little driving, a variety
of work), FMCSA has concluded that the 9-day yearly exemption requested
by APA is not likely to adversely affect motor carrier safety.
Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) and 31136(e), FMCSA
requests public comments on APA's request for a renewal of its
exemption from the requirements of 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2). FMCSA will
review all comments received and determine whether the renewal of the
exemption is consistent with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and
31136(e). Comments received after the comment closing date will be
filed in the public docket and will be considered to the extent
practicable.
FMCSA believes the requirements for a renewal of an exemption under
49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) can be satisfied by initially granting the
renewal and then requesting and subsequently evaluating comments
submitted by interested parties. As indicated earlier, the Agency
previously published a notice announcing its decision to exempt these
APA member companies (and drivers) from the HOS rules in 49 CFR
395.3(a)(2). The decision to renew the exemption for these companies
and drivers was based on the merits of the APA application, and only
after careful consideration of the comments submitted in response to
the May 6, 2005 notice (70 FR 24160).
Interested parties or organizations possessing information that
would otherwise show that any or all of these APA member companies are
not achieving the requisite statutory level of safety should
immediately notify FMCSA. The Agency will evaluate any information
submitted and, if safety is being compromised or if the continuation of
the exemption is inconsistent with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) and 31136(e),
FMCSA will immediately take steps to revoke the exemption of the
company or companies and driver(s) in question.
Terms of the Exemption
Period of the Exemption
The exemption from the requirements of 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) (the 14-
hour rule) is effective June 28, 2007, and is applicable from June 28
through July 6, 2007, and from June 28 through July 6, 2008. The
exemption expires on July 7, 2008.
Extent of the Exemption
This exemption is restricted to drivers employed by the companies,
firms and entities listed in the appendix to this notice. The drivers
are entitled to a limited exemption from the requirements of 49 CFR
395.3(a)(2). This regulation, 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2), currently prohibits a
driver from driving after the 14th hour of coming on duty and does not
permit off-duty periods to extend the 14-hour limit. Drivers covered by
this exemption may exclude off-duty and sleeper berth time of any
length from the calculation of the 14-hour limit. This exemption is
contingent on each driver driving no more than 11 hours in a 14-hour
period. The exemption is further contingent on each driver having a
full 10 hours off duty following 14 hours on duty prior to beginning a
new driving period. The drivers must comply with all other requirements
of 49 CFR part 395.
Preemption
During the period the exemption is in effect, no state shall
enforce any law or regulation that conflicts with or is inconsistent
with this exemption with respect to a person operating under the
exemption.
Notification to FMCSA
Each company, firm and entity listed in the appendix to this notice
must notify FMCSA within 5 business days of any of the following:
1. An accident (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5), involving any of the
motor carrier's CMVs, operating under the terms of this exemption. The
notification must include the following information:
a. Date of the accident,
b. City or town, and State, in which the accident occurred, or
closest to the accident scene,
c. Driver's name and license number,
d. Vehicle number and State license number,
e. Number of individuals suffering physical injury,
f. Number of fatalities,
g. The police-reported cause of the accident, and
h. Whether the driver was cited for violation of any traffic laws,
or motor carrier safety regulations.
2. The total driving time and the total on-duty time period prior
to the accident.
Termination
FMCSA does not believe the motor carriers and drivers covered by
this exemption will experience any deterioration of their safety
record. However, should this occur, FMCSA will take all steps necessary
to protect the public interest, including revocation of the exemption.
FMCSA will immediately revoke the exemption for failure to comply with
its terms and conditions. Each motor carrier and each driver may be
subject to periodic monitoring by FMCSA during the period of the
exemption.
Issued on: April 20, 2007
Rose A. McMurray,
Chief Safety Officer, Assistant Administrator.
Appendix to Notice of Renewal of American Pyrotechnics Association
(APA) Exemption from the 14-Hour Rule during Independence Day
Celebrations
[[Page 28758]]
List of Apa Members Covered by Exemption From 14 Hour Rule in Hours of Service for Drivers Regulation
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DOT
Company name Address Address 2
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Add Fire, Inc............................ 11370 NE 8 Ave.................................. Miami, FL 33161................................. 481513
Alonzo Fireworks Display, Inc............ 12 County Rd 75................................. Mechanicsville, NY 12118........................ 420639
American Promotional Events, Inc--West/ 555 North Gilbert Street........................ Fullerton, CA 92833............................. 564520
TNT Fireworks.
American Promotional Events of Texas, LP/ 1101 114th Street............................... Lubbock, TX 79423............................... 1144209
TNT Fireworks.
American Promotional Events, Inc--East 4511 Helton Drive............................... Florence, AL 35630.............................. 0121384
Coast/TNT Fireworks.
American Promotional Events--Northwest/ 2120 Milwaukee Way.............................. Tacoma, WA 98421................................ 013086
TNT Fireworks.
Arrowhead Fireworks Co., Inc............. 3625 Normanna Rd................................ Duluth, MN 55803................................ 125673
Atlas Enterprises Inc.................... 6601 Nine Mile Azle Rd.......................... Fort Worth, TX 76135............................ 0116910
Atomic Fireworks......................... 3660 W. Sunshine................................ Springfield, MO................................. 130200
Atomic Fireworks......................... 999 Sumter Highway.............................. Bishopville, SC................................. 446835
Atomic Fireworks......................... P.O. Box 190.................................... South Pittsburg, TN............................. 095166
B.J. Alan Company........................ 555 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd................. Youngstown, OH 44502-1102....................... 262140
Central States Fireworks, Inc............ 18034 Kincaid Street............................ Athens, IL 62613................................ 1022659
Ches-Lee Enterprises, Inc................ P.O. Box 64..................................... Bastrop, TX 78602............................... 533725
Colonial Fireworks Company............... 5225 Telegraph Road............................. Toledo, OH 43612................................ 177274
Falcon Fireworks......................... 3411 Courthouse Road............................ Guyton, GA 31312................................ 1037954
Fireworks & Stage FX America............. P.O. Box 488.................................... Lakeside, CA 92040.............................. 908304
Fireworks by Grucci, Inc................. 1 Grucci Lane................................... Brookhaven, NY 11719............................ 324490
Fireworks of Alabama..................... 3325 Poplar Lane................................ Adamsville, AL 35005............................ 579933
Fireworks Productions, Inc............... P.O. Box 294.................................... Maryland Line, MD............................... 464796
Garden State Fireworks, Inc.............. 383 Carlton Road................................ Newington, NJ 07946............................. 435878
Galaxy Fireworks, Inc.................... 204 E MLK Jr Blvd............................... Tampa, FL 33603................................. 809731
Gateway Fireworks Displays............... P.O. Box 39327.................................. St Louis, MO 63139.............................. 1325301
Global Pyrotechnics Solutions, Inc....... 10476 Sunset Drive.............................. Dittmer, MO 63023............................... 1183902
Hamburg Fireworks Display Inc............ 4300 Logan Lancaster Rd......................... Lancaster, OH................................... 395079
Ingram Enterprises dba Fireworks over 6597 W Independence Drive....................... Springfield, MO 65802........................... 0268419
America.
International Fireworks Mfg. Co.......... 242 Sycamore Road............................... Douglasville, PA 19518.......................... 385065
Island Fireworks Company................. N735 825th St................................... Hager City, WI 54014............................ 414583
J&M Displays, Inc........................ 18064 170th Ave................................. Yarmouth, IA 52660.............................. 377461
Jake's Fireworks, Inc.................... 2311 A West 4th St.............................. Pittsburg, KS 66762............................. 449599
July 4 Ever.............................. 382 Rock Cut Rd................................. Walden, NY 12586................................ 803422
Kellner's Fireworks Inc.................. 478 Old Rte 8................................... Harrisville, PA................................. 481553
Kuhn Fireworks Display Co................ 2240 Homebrook Trail SW......................... Pequot Lakes, MN 56472.......................... 1057310
Lantis Fireworks and Lasers.............. P.O. Box 491.................................... Draper, UT 84202................................ 195428
Lantis Fireworks, Inc.................... 130 Sodrac Dr................................... N Sioux City, DK 57049.......................... 534052
Legion Fireworks Co., Inc................ 10 Legion Lane.................................. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590...................... 554391
Lew's Fireworks, Inc..................... 45788 U.S. Hwy 212.............................. Watertown, SD 57201............................. 333792
Mad Bomber/Planet Productions............ P.O. Box 418.................................... Kingsbury, IN 46345............................. 777176
Melrose Display Company.................. 7620 Little Mount Rd............................ Taylorsville, KY 40071.......................... 434586
Melrose North Pyrotechnics............... 9405 River Rd SE................................ Clear Lake, MN 55319............................ 434586
Melrose Pyrotechnics, Inc................ P.O. Box 302.................................... Kingsbury, IN 46345............................. 434586
Melrose South Pyrotechnics............... 4652 Catawga River Rd........................... Catawga, SC 29704............................... 545033
Montana Display Inc...................... 9480 Inspiration Drive.......................... Missoula, MT 59808.............................. 1030231
Precocious Pyrotechnics, Inc............. 4420-278th Ave NW............................... Belgrade, MN 56312.............................. 435931
Premier Pyrotechnics Inc................. 25255 Hwy K..................................... Richland, MO 65556.............................. 0853895
Pyro Engineering Inc, dba/Bay Fireworks.. 110 Route 110, Suite 102........................ Huntington Station, NY 11746.................... 530262
Pyro Shows Inc........................... 701 W. Central Ave.............................. LaFollette, TN 37766............................ 456818
Pyro Spectaculars, Inc................... 3196 N Locust Ave............................... Rialto, CA 92376................................ 029329
Pyro Services, Inc dba, Pyrotechnics by P.O. Box 1931................................... Kilgore, TX 75663............................... 1264631
Lamb & Choice Express.
Pyrotechnics by Presutti, Inc............ P.O. Box 42..................................... St Clairsville, OH 43950........................ 51974
Pyrotecnico.............................. 302 Wilson Rd................................... New Castle, PA 16105............................ 526749
Pyrotecnico of Louisiana, LLC............ 60 West Ct...................................... Mandeville, LA 70471............................ 548303
Red Rocket Fireworks Co. Inc............. 311 Evergreen................................... Strafford, MO 65757............................. 239756
RES Specialty Pyrotechnics............... 21595 286th St.................................. Belle Plaine, MN 56011.......................... 523981
Rich Brothers Company.................... 700 S Marion Rd................................. Sioux Falls, SD 57106........................... 001356
Rozzi's Famous Fireworks, Inc............ 11605 North Lebanon Rd.......................... Loveland, OH 45140.............................. 0483686
Salish Fireworks......................... 10041 S March Pt Rd............................. Anacortes, WA 98221............................. 678702
Skypainter Fireworks Intl. Inc........... 1714 Prince Philip Street....................... Clearwater, FL 33755............................ 1079555
Spielbauer Fireworks Co, Inc............. 220 Roselawn Blvd............................... Green Bay, WI 54301............................. 046479
Stonebraker-Rocky Mountain Fireworks Co.. 5650 Lowell Blvd, Unit E........................ Denver, CO 80221................................ 0029845
Thunder Fireworks........................ 5207-187th St E................................. Tacoma, WA 98446................................ 463284
Vermont Fireworks Co., Inc/Northstar 2235 Vermont Route 14 South..................... East Montpelier, VT 05651....................... 310632
Fireworks Co., Inc.
Wald & Co., Inc.......................... P.O. Box 319.................................... Greenwood, MO 64034-0319........................ 087079
Walt Disney Entertainment................ 5700 Maple Road................................. Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830...................... 148477
Western Enterprises, Inc................. P.O. Box 160.................................... Carrier, OK 73727............................... 203517
Western Fireworks, Inc................... 14592 Ottaway Rd. NE............................ Aurora, OR 97002................................ 838585
Winco Fireworks Int. LLC................. 1992 NW Hwy 50.................................. Lone Jack, MO................................... 259688
[[Page 28759]]
Wolverine Fireworks Display, Inc......... 205 W Seidlers.................................. Kawkawlin, MI................................... 376857
Young Explosives Corp.................... P.O. Box 18653.................................. Rochester, NY................................... 450304
Zambelli Fireworks MFG, Co., Inc......... P.O. Box 1463................................... New Castle, PA 16103............................ 033167
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[FR Doc. E7-9841 Filed 5-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P