Update on Relevant U.S. Regulations

FMCSA Requests Comments on FRS ICR
On Aug. 28, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requested comments on the FMCSA Registration System (FRS) information collection request (ICR). FMCSA is replacing its Unified Registration System with a new, online registration system, which is the FRS. Comments are due by Sept. 27.

NHTSA Announces Safety Research Portfolio Public Meeting
On Aug. 23, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it will hold a virtual meeting with the agency’s Vehicle Safety Research and Behavioral Safety Research offices to share information on activities within the agency’s research programs. The virtual meeting will take place Oct. 28-Oct. 30. Advanced registration is required.

FMCSA Updates CVSA Level VI OOSC Incorporation by Reference
On Aug. 21, FMCSA published a final rule to amend the Hazardous Materials Safety Permit regulations to update the incorporation by reference of CVSA’s “North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and Level VI Inspection Procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria for Commercial Highway Vehicles Transporting Transuranics and Highway Route Controlled Quantities of Radioactive Materials as defined in 49 CFR Part 173.403.” The amendment updates the regulations to reference the April 1 version of the Level VI Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC). The final rule is effective Sept. 20.

PHMSA Releases Interpretation on CG-7 Pressure Relief Valves
On Aug. 6, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) released a clarification to the Hazardous Materials Regulations related to CG-7 pressure relief valves and the definition of industrial motor fuel. PHMSA shared that CG-7 pressure relief valves commonly found on 20, 40, 60 and 100 pound propane cylinders do not require requalification if they are not used in industrial motor fuel service.

Update on Exemptions

FMCSA Requests Comments on WMH Exemption Application
On Aug. 22, FMCSA requested comments on an application from Waste Management Holdings Inc. (WMH) for an exemption from certain driver qualification requirements and drug and alcohol clearinghouse regulations when its drivers are transferred among two or more WMH carriers with different USDOT numbers. Comments are due by Sept. 23.

CVSA Active Exemption Tracker
CVSA maintains a list of active exemptions issued by FMCSA. The exemption tracker can be found at www.cvsa.org under the “Inspections” tab at the top of the page.