Inside This Issue...

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has scheduled the next Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors Meeting for March 26, 2008, 11am to 2pm (EDT), which will be held via telephone. Any interested person may call Avelino Gutierrez at (505) 827-4565 to receive the toll-free numbers and pass codes needed to participate in these meetings. View the Federal Register notice for more information.

President Bush, on Feb. 26, nominated Paul A. Schneider to be deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Schneider has been serving as acting deputy secretary since last fall. “As my acting deputy for the past four months, Paul has focused his vast management experience not only on day-to-day operations of the department, but also on ensuring a strong and smooth transition to the next administration and executing my top management priorities,” DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement. While serving as acting deputy, Schneider also held the title of DHS undersecretary for management.

A group of House Republicans are proposing a mandatory employee verification system that would screen out unauthorized workers and replace the current voluntary E-Verify system run by the Homeland Security Department. The New Employee Verification Act of 2008 (HR 5515) was introduced on Feb. 28, 2008, to amend the Social Security Act to prevent unauthorized earnings from being credited toward benefits under title II of such Act and to make improvements in provisions governing totalization agreements, to amend the Social Security Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent unauthorized employment, and to improve coordination of the provisions of such Acts, and for other purposes.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is requesting an extension of the Information Collection Request (ICR) entitled "Security Threat Assessment for Individuals Applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Driver's License." TSA published a Federal Register notice, with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments, of the collection of information on Dec. 28, 2007, 72 FR 73865. The collection involves applicant submission of biometric and biographic information for TSA’s security threat assessment in order to obtain the hazardous materials endorsement (HME) on a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by the U.S. and the District of Columbia. Send your comments by March 27, 2008. A comment to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. More details are available in the Feb. 26, 2008 Federal Register notice.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Feb. 29 a new initiative (Rural Safety Initiative) focused on improving rural safety. Information on the initiative, including a detailed description and the Department’s press release, can be found online. One of the key components of this program is the Rural Safety Innovation Program, which was announced in the Feb. 29 Federal Register. This program is an opportunity for local rural road owners to improve rural road safety through infrastructure and technological approaches using up to $15 million in available funds. Projects must be consistent with the objectives of the Rural Safety Innovation program as described in the notice. They also must meet the eligibility requirements of the programs as applicable. The Rural Safety Innovation Program is geared toward entities responsible for rural roads and highways such as counties, towns, townships and tribal governments partnering with the State Departments of Transportation to submit applications for rural safety projects. Applications must be received within 45 days of the publication of the notice. Those applicants selected will be invited to submit more detailed project proposals.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) sent a report to the Honorable James L. Oberstar, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, regarding medical and background checks for pilots, vessel masters and commercial drivers. Because of concerns raised by recent investigations of the reliability of pilot medical certifications, the Committee asked  GAO to first describe the requirements for medical and background checks for selected transportation workers. Accordingly, GAO addressed the following questions for (1) medical certification and (2) background checks: What are the regulations governing pilots, vessel masters, and commercial drivers and what role do government entities have in completing the certifications and background checks? A second report, which will be issued mid-2008, will provide information about the steps that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) takes to check the accuracy of pilot medical certificates. View the entire letter and supplemental information online at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08421r.pdf.

The Department of Homeland Security's Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee will meet on March 12, 2008 from 9am to 11:30am and 1pm to 4:30pm in El Paso, Texas. This meeting will be open to the public. Please note that the meeting may close early if the committee has completed its business. More information is available in the Federal Register notice.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is republishing the Privacy Act system of records for the Verification and Information System (VIS) previously published on April 9, 2007 (72 FR 17569) in order to: (1) add two new categories of records one derived from the Computer Linked Application Information Management System (CLAIMS 4) (62 FR 11919), and the other derived from the Redesigned Naturalization Automated Caseworker Systems (RNACS) (67 FR 20996); (2) update the category of records derived from Treasury Enforcement Communication Systems (TECS) (66 FR 52984) to include Real Time Arrivals (RTA) data; (3) correct the categories of individuals to include U.S. citizens; (4) reflect changes to the verification process of expanded use of the photo screening tool to make it mandatory for all employers that are verifying employment eligibility of their non-U.S. citizen employees if the individual’s photo is on file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service in the Biometric Storage System (72 FR 17172); and (5) update the routine uses to remove routine use L. for the sharing of VIS data because the other routine uses cover the allowable extent of sharing from VIS. These changes are more thoroughly spelled out in an accompanying Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) update and a PIA update that was published on Sept. 5, 2007, both of which can be found on the DHS Privacy Web site. Written comments must be submitted on or before March 31, 2008. View the Feb. 28 Federal Register notice for more details.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is initiating a program to develop a set of standard metrics and test procedures to assess the Driver-Vehicle Interface (DVI) of Advanced Crash Warning Systems (ACWS). ACWS are technologies to assist drivers who may be unaware of impending collisions by alerting them of potential threats. Examples include forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings, and road departure warnings. The DVI is the means by which ACWS communicate with drivers to help them avoid a threat. In order for ACWS to achieve their intended safety benefits, drivers need to be able to quickly understand the ACWS threat information and respond appropriately without confusion. The warning timing, reliability, warning modes, device controls, and displays are examples of the DVI characteristics that can affect the ability of drivers to achieve the intended safety benefits without possible adverse consequences. Crash Warning Interface Metrics (CWIM) are derived from tests of drivers’ performance using ACWS, indicating the compatibility of the DVI with drivers’ capabilities and needs. NHTSA invites comments, suggestions, and recommendations from all individuals and organizations that have an interest in the development and use of Crash Warning Interface Metrics. NHTSA requests comments to assist the agency in identifying, evaluating, and selecting CWIM and associated test methods for assessing the role of the DVI in influencing driver performance with ACWS. You should submit your comments early enough to ensure that Docket Management receives them not later than April 17, 2008. Late comments may be considered. Submission details and other information are available in the March 3 Federal Register notice.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invites public comments about its intention to request the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval for renewal of the existing information collection entitled "Customer Satisfaction Surveys." Executive Order 12862, “Setting Customer Service Standards,” requires federal agencies provide the highest quality service to customers by identifying them and determining what they think about services and products. The surveys covered in this clearance will provide the FHWA a means to gather this data directly from customers. The information obtained from the surveys will be used to assist in evaluating service delivery and processes. The responses to the surveys will be voluntary and will not involve information that is required by regulations. There will be no direct costs to the respondents other than their time. The FHWA plans to provide an electronic means for responding to the majority of the surveys via the World Wide Web. Please submit comments by April 28, 2008. View the Feb. 27 Federal Register notice for more details.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has made a technical correction to the annual fees and fee bracket structure for the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCR) that were published in the Federal Register of Aug. 24, 2007 (72 FR 48585). The fees and fee bracket structure are required under the Uniform Carrier Registration Act of 2005, enacted as Subtitle C of Title IV of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The effective date of this correction is Feb. 26, 2008. View the Federal Register notice.

The House Science Committee on Feb. 27, 2008 approved HR 3916, which requires the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that any federal government interagency or intra-agency agreement to develop and transition new technology explicitly characterizes the requirements, expected use, and concept of operations for that technology. The bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to terminate the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee on Dec. 31, 2012. The Under Secretary will be required to enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for an assessment of the basic science research needs in the border and maritime security domain. The bill also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Joint Planning and Development Office to research and develop technologies to permit routine operation of unmanned aerial vehicles within the national airspace for border and maritime security missions without degradation of existing safety levels for national airspace system users. Lastly, the bill requires: (1) the Under Secretary to research and develop technologies to permit detection of near surface voids, such as tunnels, with an emphasis on technologies with real time capability; and (2) the Under Secretary and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish a joint research and development program on anticounterfeit technologies and standards. View the entire bill online.

H. Con. Res. 304 was introduced in the House Feb. 27, 2008 expressing the sense of Congress that allowing motor carriers domiciled in Mexico to operate in the United States without adequate regulation jeopardizes the safety and security of U.S. citizens. View the bill summary and text online.

On Feb. 28, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) issued a Broad Agency Announcement to private industry, research organizations, and state and local governments seeking proposals under its SafeTrip-21 initiative that seeks field test sites and commercially available technology applications designed to fight congestion and improve the safety and performance of the nation’s transportation system. SafeTrip-21 seeks sites and technology applications that can be evaluated in a year-long, multi-application field test of safety and congestion-reducing technologies.  Field operational test and evaluation activities will begin at one or more selected sites following an initial exhibition of capabilities during ITS America’s 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems, November 16-20, 2008 in New York City.  SafeTrip-21 builds upon research into the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) information, navigation, and communications technologies to prevent accidents and alleviate congestion by providing drivers with real-time safety warnings, traffic and transit information, and advanced navigational tools.  Broad Agency Announcement No. DTRT57-08-R-20021, “SafeTrip-21 Field Test Sites and ITS Applications is available for viewing and downloading via FedBizOps, or directly at: http://volpedb.volpe.dot.gov/outside/owa/proc_docs/F2451/SOL_08R20021.pdf.

A National Performance and Registration Information Management System (PRISM) conference call is being scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 2:00pm (EDT), concluding by 3:30pm (EDT). The call in number and pass code will be forwarded prior to the call. Arrangements are being made to accommodate up to 75 lines for this call in an attempt to have all states participate at the same time. As always, we would like your input to make sure we cover items of interest to your state. E-mail suggested agenda topics to Tom.Lawler@dot.gov by close of business April 18, 2008. An agenda for the call will be forwarded to participants prior to the call. If you have questions,  contact Tom Lawler at (202)366-3866. The latest PRISM contacts list is available on AAMVA's Web site. Please review the contact information recorded for your state. If you have changes, e-mail Prismtechnicalsupport@volpe.dot.gov.

Want to see your photo on the cover of MOVE? Submit the best photo that depicts the theme for each issue of MOVE, and it will be used on the cover and viewed by thousands of readers! So get out your camera and brush up on those photography skills! Be sure to review the submission guidelines and release form. The deadline for the spring issue is March 12, 2008 and the theme is "Tools of the Trade." For more information visit http://www.aamva.org/Publications/Move/ or e-mail move@aamva.org. Good luck!

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• New Mexico – Electronic Tags and Print on Demand (Ends 03/12/2008)
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