House Representatives Call on DHS to Retract Agency’s Border Policies 
Thirty-three members of the House Northern Border Caucus sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary Michael Chertoff on Jan. 24 expressing their disapproval of the agency's border policies. DHS plans to proceed with the institution of new border crossing documentation requirements for land ports of entry beginning Jan. 31, 2008. The northern border caucus letter states that "DHS has not met, nor made significant progress toward meeting, the requirements necessary for full implementation, including offering an affordable, secure alternative passport card and installing infrastructure necessary to process passport cards. Thus, it is not reasonable for your Department to move forward with these new documentation requirements when you have not demonstrated that border communities will not suffer undue economic burdens." The caucus is urging DHS to continue accepting oral declarations and government-issued photo identification cards as proof of citizenship until full implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
View the full letter online for more details.
NHTSA Seeks Comments on Consumer Complaint Information
Pursuant to Chapter 301 of Title 49 of the United States Code, manufacturers of motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment must notify owners and provide a free remedy (i.e., a recall) when it has been determined that a safety-related defect exists in the manufacturer’s product. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates possible safety defects and may order recalls. NHTSA solicits information from vehicle owners, which is used to identify and evaluate possible safety-related defects and provide evidence of the existence of such defects. Comments are invited on whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments must be received on or before March 24, 2008.
View the Federal Register notice for more details.
NHTSA Requests Extension for Generic Clearance for Customer Surveys
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requesting an extension of a currently approved information collection entitled, "General Clearance for Customer Surveys." Executive Order 12862 mandates that agencies survey their customers to identify the kind and quality of services they want and their level of satisfaction with existing services. Other requirements include the Governmental Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 which promotes a new focus on results, service quality and customer satisfaction. NHTSA will use surveys of the public and other external stakeholders to gather data as one input to decision-making on how to better meet the goal of improving safety on the nation’s highways. The data gathered on public expectations, NHTSA’s products and services, and specific information on transportation safety will be used by the agency as input to structure its processes and products, forecast safety trends and achieve the goals. Comments on this request must be received on or before March 24, 2008. View the
Federal Register notice for more details.
EPA Final Rule to Conform with SAFETEA-LU
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the transportation conformity rule to finalize provisions that were proposed on May 2, 2007. The Clean Air Act requires federally supported transportation plans, transportation improvement programs, and projects to be consistent with the purpose of the state air quality implementation plan. Most of these amendments are necessary to make the rule consistent with Clean Air Act section 176(c) as amended by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) on Aug. 10, 2005 (Pub. L. 109-59), including changes to the regulations to reflect that the Clean Air Act now provides more time for state and local governments to meet conformity requirements, provides a one-year grace period before the consequences of not meeting certain conformity requirements apply, allows the option of shortening the timeframe of conformity determinations and streamlines other provisions. This final rule also includes minor amendments that are not related to SAFETEA-LU, such as allowing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make categorical hot-spot findings for appropriate projects in carbon monoxide nonattainment and maintenance areas. EPA has consulted with DOT, and they concur with this final rule. This final rule is effective on Feb. 25, 2008. More details are available in the
Jan. 24, 2008 Federal Register notice.
DOT Proposes Modifications to Docket Management System
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposes to modify a system of records under the Privacy Act of 1974. The system is DOT’s Docket Management System (DMS), which is being modified to reflect: (1) Incorporation in the new Government-wide Federal DMS; (2) relocation of DOT’s Headquarters Building (HQ), in which DMS is located; and (3) new name of the organizational entity of which DMS is a part, and its location in the new DOT HQ. This system would not duplicate any other DOT system of records. The notice will be effective on Feb. 26, 2008, unless modified by a subsequent notice to incorporate comments received by the public. Comments must be received by Feb. 19, 2008 to be assured consideration. For more details, view the Jan. 17
Federal Register notice.
TSA Adapts to High TWIC Enrollment Numbers
On Jan. 23, 2008, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) TWIC Program Director Maurine Fanguy testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with an update on the first 100 days of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. In the first 100 days of the TWIC enrollment, TSA enrolled over 56,000 workers and pre-enrolled over 120,000 workers. TSA has reached over 2,000 enrollments daily and that number is climbing. The average enrollment time is just over 10 minutes. During the first few weeks in Baton Rouge, the wait times and throughput were higher than wanted. TSA has made adjustments to the enrollment process and wait times are down. TSA is also going to be piloting Card Activation appointments in Baton Rouge in early February. This will be rolled out nationally after successful piloting and TSA believes it will make card activation more convenient for workers.
View the entire testimony on the TSA's Web site.
GAO Observations on Implementing the WHTI
In a Dec. 20, 2007 letter to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, Committee on Homeland Security, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) expressed concern over the challenges that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces in its efforts to implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). GAO states that as DHS moves toward calendar year 2008, it faces challenges deploying technology and staffing and training officers to use it.
View the entire letter on the GAO Web site.
Accident Prevention Through Technology
On Jan. 22, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said that the auto industry has recognized the limitations of improving the crashworthiness of vehicles as a way to reduce highway fatalities and is now developing innovative technologies to help prevent accidents themselves. Speaking at the 2008 Washington, D.C. Auto Show, Rosenker noted that there are nearly 250 million vehicles registered in the United States; their operation results in 6 million police-reported crashes and more than 42,000 fatalities annually. Recently, the NTSB added the issue of preventing collisions using enhanced vehicle safety technology to its list of Most Wanted Safety Improvements. The complete text of Chairman Rosenker's speech is available on the
NTSB Web site.
Share the Road Safely Outreach Program Assessment
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its plan to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR will be used to collect information on commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and passenger car drivers’ awareness of the Share the Road Safely Outreach Program safety messages and activities. On Sept. 11, 2007, FMCSA published a
Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. The Agency received one comment on the ICR. Please submit your comments by Feb. 19, 2008. OMB must receive your comments by this date in order to act quickly on the ICR. For submission details and background information, view the Jan. 17
Federal Register notice.
FMCSA Requests Revisions to Motor Carrier Identification Report
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has requested approval to revise an Information Collection Request (ICR) entitled “Motor Carrier Identification Report,” which is used to identify FMCSA regulated entities, help prioritize the agency’s activities, aid in assessing the safety outcomes of those activities, and for statistical purposes. On Nov. 7, 2007, FMCSA published a
Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. No comments were received. Please send your comments by Feb. 19, 2008. For more details, view the
Jan. 17 Federal Register notice.
Rossides Named Permanent Deputy Administrator
On Jan. 9, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the selection of Gale Rossides as permanent deputy administrator. She had served in this role in an acting capacity since April 2007. Rossides was one of the federal executives selected to build TSA after its establishment in 2002 and has served in several executive leadership roles, including serving for a year as a senior advisor to the deputy secretary and under secretary for management for DHS. Most recently she held the position of associate administrator for Business Transformation and Culture, where she established TSA's Senior Leadership Team. She was also instrumental in the development of multiple operational and management initiatives, including an extensive career progression strategy, TSA's succession planning strategy, major policy issues on acquisitions and operations and critical incident management. As a career federal employee, Rossides will provide continuity and critical leadership, ensuring that TSA continues to mature as an agency while providing a consistently high level of security to our nation's transportation systems. View the
press release on TSA's Web site.
National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission Meeting
The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission has scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public. More details are available in the
Jan. 24 Federal Register notice.
Congressional Budget Office Predicts Growing Deficit
In a report entitled "The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2008 to 2018" the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that after three years of declining budget deficits, a slowing economy in 2008 will contribute to an increase in the deficit. Under an assumption that current laws and policies do not change, CBO projects that the budget deficit will rise to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008 from 1.2 percent in 2007. CBO states that enactment of legislation to provide economic stimulus or additional funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could further increase the deficit for this year. View
the entire report on the CBO Web site.
GAO Letter: FMCSA Has Developed Reasonable Framework for CSA 2010
In a Dec. 20, 2007 letter the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) stated that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed a reasonable framework for its Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) initiative. A key FMCSA effort to improve motor carrier safety is implementing CSA 2010. Through CSA 2010, FMCSA expects to reduce motor carrier crashes, fatalities and injuries by using better ways to identify unsafe carriers and drivers; assessing a larger portion of the motor carrier industry and holding carriers and drivers accountable for sustained performance by regularly determining their safety fitness; and expanding the range of interventions to be used with carriers and drivers that fail to comply with safety requirements.
A copy of the letter and a Dec. 7 briefing report is available on the GAO Web site.
Call For Topics: 2008 Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law Institute
We need your input! The AAMVA Legal Services Discipline has posted a "
Call for Topics" for the upcoming Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law Institute that will be held in Boulder, Colorado from Aug. 2-6, 2008. Please
download the document and return it to AAMVA as soon as possible.
"Click & Clack's As the Wrench Turns" Launches on PBS in Summer 2008
PBS confirmed Monday, Jan. 28, the title of its first-ever animated primetime series, a spin-off of Tom and Ray Magliozzi’s hit NPR show “Car Talk.” Tom and Ray announced the title on their Saturday, Jan. 26 program, saying they had lured submissions with the misleading promise of everlasting fame. CLICK & CLACK’S AS THE WRENCH TURNS will premiere in summer 2008 on PBS. The program takes off from the hit NPR show and follows the “on- and off-air” escapades of Tom and Ray Magliozzi (known to their listeners as “Click and Clack,” the Tappet brothers) as they try to fix cars, fend off disgruntled customers and seek out increasingly creative ways to goof off. In conjunction with the series, executive producer Howard K. Grossman developed an innovative partnership with AAMVA, whose membership includes all state motor vehicle agencies (DMVs) in the United States and Canada. In their role as strategic content partner to the series’ national outreach campaign, AAMVA will facilitate the communication of safety messages, focusing on distracted driving, safety belts and teen driving, to the driving public as they interact with AAMVA members and state and provincial motor vehicle agencies.
Share Information with Other Jurisdictions
If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following surveys:
Headlines
Member News
"Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity."
-Socrates