Officials Temporarily Waive Rules in Katrina Rebuilding
n the wake of Hurricane Katrina, federal officials issued a number of waivers and rule suspensions for trucks participating in the relief efforts.
Among the waivers are:
• Because of concerns about fuel supply disruptions, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration exempted drivers who haul fuel in the Southern and Eastern United States from federal hours-of-service regulations until Oct. 5.
The states where the FMCSA waivers apply are: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. • Safety regulations, including hours-of-service rules and truck size and weight limits for trucks providing “direct emergency relief” were suspended in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas when President Bush declared a state of emergency in those states. The suspensions last until the federal government lifts the declarations.
• The hours-of-service rules and other safety rules were also suspended in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia for carriers hauling items in support of evacuations from the storm-affected areas. The suspended rules also apply to carriers transporting people because commercial vehicle regulations also apply to buses.
• The Environmental Protection Agency said it would not enforce rules requiring fuel distributors to verify that tank trailers had passed a tightness test. The Sept. 8 notice said the waiver would remain in effect for 45 days.
• EPA also extended until Oct. 3 a waiver allowing the use of high-sulfur diesel fuel in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
• The Internal Revenue Service said it would not issue penalties for trucks nationwide that use burn-dyed diesel until Oct. 5.
• The Transportation Security Administration said states could issue new hazardous materials endorsements for drivers seeking to haul fuel and other relief supplies without submitting fingerprints for a check, provided the driver passed a name database check.
In addition, several states also issued waivers and temporary rule changes:
font size=4>• Georgia suspended its motor fuel tax through the end of September.
• California and Michigan both said they would not impose a tax penalty for using dyed diesel for on-road vehicles.
• Mississippi waived its trip permit fee and other motor vehicle use fees until Sept. 30.
• New York state waived “state laws and regulations that govern the transport of oversized tractor-trailers to allow federal contractors to transport mobile homes for the hurricane relief effort.”
This article appears in the Sept. 26 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
