Hours of Service of Drivers: Renewal of American Pyrotechnics Association Exemption from the 14-Hour Rule during Independence Day Celebrations

Federal Register: June 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 117)

Notices

Page 29264-29266

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr19jn09-140

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 final disposition.

SUMMARY: FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the American

Pyrotechnics Association (APA) exemption for 61 member motor carriers from FMCSA's regulation that drivers of commercial motor vehicles

(CMVs) may not drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty. No comments were submitted to the public docket; consequently, the Agency confirms the renewal of the exemption.

DATES: This exemption is effective during the periods of June 28, 2009, through July 8, 2009, and June 28, 2010, through July 8, 2010, inclusive.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas L. Yager, Chief, FMCSA

Driver and Carrier Operations Division, Office of Bus and Truck

Standards and Operations; Telephone: 202-366-4325, 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 up to two years 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'' (49 CFR 381.305(a)). APA, a trade association representing the domestic fireworks industry, applied for renewal of a limited exemption from the HOS rules on behalf of 61 of its member motor carriers, and approximately 3,000 of their CMV drivers for an eleven-day period surrounding Independence Day in 2009, and a similar period in 2010, as previously announced in the Federal

Register (74 FR 24069, May 22, 2009). A copy of the application is included in the docket referenced at the beginning of this notice. 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.

The HOS rules prohibit a property-carrying CMV driver from driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3(a)(2)). During the periods June 28-July 8, 2009, and June 28-July 8, 2010, inclusive, the companies named in the

Appendix and approximately 3,000 CMV drivers employed by them, will be exempt from section 395.3(a)(2) if they are operating in conjunction with the staging of fireworks shows celebrating Independence Day. These

CMV drivers hold a commercial driver's license with hazardous materials endorsement. They also are trained pyrotechnicians. They transport fireworks and set up and stage fireworks shows.

Section 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) prohibits a driver from driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty and does not permit off-duty periods to extend the 14-hour limit. This exemption permits CMV drivers engaged in these operations to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14-hour duty period. These drivers must continue to obtain 10 consecutive hours off duty prior to the 14- hour period, and remain subject to the 11-hour driving time limit, the 60- and 70-hour on-duty limits, and all other HOS rules.

APA sought renewal of this exemption because compliance by its members with the current 14-hour rule would impose a substantial economic hardship on numerous cities, towns and municipalities, as well as its member companies, with regard to their Independence Day celebrations. APA

Page 29265

has consistently maintained that the operational demands of this unique industry minimize the risk of CMV crashes. It maintains that renewal of the exemption will not adversely affect the safety of the fireworks transportation provided by these motor carriers, and actually improve safety in the storage of hazardous materials.

The FMCSA decision to grant the request for renewal of the exemption from 49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) was based on the merits of the application for renewal of the exemption. The Agency continues to believe that these APA operations, conducted under the terms and conditions of this limited exemption, will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be absent such exemption. Unless these motor carriers and their drivers fail to meet the terms and conditions specified in the May 22, 2009, notice of approval of this exemption, the exemption will remain in effect during the periods of June 28, 2009, through July 8, 2009, and June 28, 2010, through July 8, 2010, inclusive.

Issued on: June 12, 2009.

Larry W. Minor,

Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.

Appendix to Notice of Renewal of American Pyrotechnics Association (APA)

Exemption from the 14-Hour HOS Rule During 2009 and 2010 Independence

Day Celebrations

Motor carrier

Address

DOT

Alonzo Fireworks Display, Inc... 12 County Rd 75,

420639

Mechanicsville, NY 12118.

American Promotional Events,

555 North Gilbert

564520

Inc.--West/TNT Fireworks.

Street, Fullerton, CA 92833.

American Promotional Events,

4511 Helton Drive,

0121384

Inc.--East Coast/TNT Fireworks. Florence, AL 35630.

American Promotional Events--

2120 Milwaukee Way,

013086

Northwest/TNT Fireworks.

Tacoma, WA 98421.

Arrowhead Fireworks Co., Inc.... 3625 Normanna Rd,

125673

Duluth, MN 55803.

Atlas Enterprises Inc........... 6601 Nine Mile Azle

0116910

Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76135.

Atomic Fireworks................ 3660 W. Sunshine,

130200

Springfield, MO.

Atomic Fireworks................ 999 Sumter Highway,

446835

Bishopville, SC.

Atomic Fireworks................ PO Box 190, South

095166

Pittsburg, TN.

B.J. Alan Company............... 555 Martin Luther

262140

King, Jr Blvd.,

Youngstown, OH 44502.

Central States Fireworks, Inc... 18034 Kincaid Street,

1022659

Athens, IL 62613.

Colonial Fireworks Company...... 5225 Telegraph Road,

177274

Toledo, OH 43612.

Falcon Fireworks................ 3411 Courthouse Road,

1037954

Guyton, GA 31312.

Fireworks & Stage FX America.... PO Box 488, Lakeside,

908304

CA 92040.

Fireworks by Grucci, Inc........ 1 Grucci Lane,

324490

Brookhaven, NY 11719.

Fireworks Productions, Inc...... PO Box 294, Maryland

464796

Line, MD.

Garden State Fireworks, Inc..... 383 Carlton Road,

435878

Millington, NJ 07946.

Galaxy Fireworks, inc........... 204 E MLK Jr Blvd,

809731

Tampa, FL 33603.

Gateway Fireworks Displays...... PO Box 39327, St

1325301

Louis, MO 63139.

Global Pyrotechnics Solutions, 10476 Sunset Drive,

1183902

Inc..

Dittmer, MO 63023.

Hamburg Fireworks Display Inc... 4300 Logan Lancaster

395079

Rd, Lancaster, OH.

Ingram Enterprises dba Fireworks 6597 W Independence

0268419 over America.

Drive, Springfield,

MO 65802.

International Fireworks Mfg. Co. 242 Sycamore Road,

385065

Douglasville, PA 19518.

Island Fireworks Company........ N735 825th St, Hager

414583

City, WI 54014.

J&M Displays, Inc............... 18064 170th Ave,

377461

Yarmouth, IA 52660.

Jake's Fireworks/Fireworks

2311 A West 4th St,

449599

Spectacular.

Pittsburg, KS 66762.

July 4 Ever..................... 382 Rock Cut Rd,

803442

Walden, NY 12586.

Kellner's Fireworks Inc......... 478 Old Rte 8,

481553

Harrisville, PA.

Lantis Fireworks and Lasers..... PO Box 491, Draper, UT

195428 84202.

Lantis Fireworks Inc............ 130 Sodrac Dr, N Sioux

534052

City, DK 57049.

Legion Fireworks Co., Inc....... 10 Legion Lane,

554391

Wappingers Falls, NY 12590.

Lew's Fireworks, Inc............ 45788 US Hwy 212,

333792

Watertown, SD 57201.

Mad Bomber/Planet Productions... PO Box 294, Kingsbury,

777176

IN 46345.

Melrose Display Company......... 7620 Little Mount Rd,

434586

Taylorsville, KY 40071.

Melrose North Pyrotechnics...... 9405 River Rd SE,

434586

Clear Lake, MN 55319.

Melrose Pyrotechnics, Inc....... PO Box 302, Kingsbury,

434586

IN 46345.

Melrose South Pyrotechnics...... 4652 Catawga River Rd,

545033

Catawga, SC 29704.

Montana Display Inc............. 9480 Inspiration

1030231

Drive, Missoula, MT 59808.

Precocious Pyrotechnics, Inc.... 4420-278th Ave NW,

435931

Belgrade, MN 56312.

Pyro Engineering Inc., dba/Bay 110 Route 110, Suite

530262

Fireworks.

102, Huntington

Station, NY 11746.

Pyro Shows Inc.................. 701 W. Central Ave,

456818

LaFollette, TN 37766.

Pyro Spectaculars, Inc.......... 3196 N Locust Ave,

029329

Rialto, CA 92376.

Pyrotechnics by Presutti, Inc... PO Box 42, St

51974

Clairsville, OH 43950.

Pyrotecnico..................... 302 Wilson Rd., New

526749

Castle, PA 16105.

Pyrotecnico of Louisiana, LLC... 60 West Ct,

548303

Mandeville, LA 70471.

RES Specialty Pyrotechnics...... 21595 286th St, Belle

523981

Plaine, MN 56011.

Rich Brothers Company........... 700 S Marion Rd, Sioux

001356

Falls, SD 57106.

Rozzi's Famous Fireworks, Inc... 11605 North Lebanon

0483686

Rd, Loveland, OH 45140.

Skyworks, Ltd................... 13513 W. Carrier Rd.,

1421047

Carrier, OK 73727.

Spielbauer Fireworks Co, Inc.... 220 Roselawn Blvd,

046479

Green Bay, WI 54301.

Stonebraker-Rocky Mountain

5650 Lowell Blvd, Unit

0029845

Fireworks Co..

E, Denver, CO 80221.

Thunder Fireworks............... 5207 187th St, E,

463284

Tacoma, WA 98446.

Vermont Fireworks Co., Inc./

2235 Vermont Route 14

310632

Northstar Fireworks Co., Inc..

South, East

Montpelier, VT 05651.

Wald & Co., Inc................. PO Box 319, Greenwood,

087079

MO 64034.

Page 29266

Walt Disney Entertainment....... 5700 Maple Road, Lake

148477

Buena Vista, FL 32830.

Western Enterprises, Inc........ PO Box 160, Carrier,

203517

OK 73727.

Western Fireworks, Inc.......... 14592 Ottaway Rd. NE,

838585

Aurora, OR 97002.

Winco Fireworks Int. LLC........ 1992 NW Hwy 50, Lone

259688

Jack, MO.

Wolverine Fireworks Display,

205 W Seidlers,

376857

Inc..

Kawkawlin, MI.

Young Explosives Corp........... PO Box 18653,

450304

Rochester, NY.

Zambelli Fireworks MFG, Co.,

PO Box 1463, New

033167

Inc..

Castle, PA 16103.

FR Doc. E9-14464 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P