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Courtesy of NAA:

On August 31, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the extension of its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) Emergency Declaration which provides regulatory relief for motor carriers and drivers engaged in providing direct assistance in continued support of the Nation’s COVID–19 national emergency. The extension of the emergency declaration expires on October 15, 2022.

FMCSA announced via a Federal Register notice it is seeking public comment concerning the extent to which motor carriers currently rely on the emergency declaration to deliver certain commodities and whether there has been any impact on safety. Relative to US aquaculture, this includes motor carriers transporting live aquatic animals and feed.

DATES: Comments on this document must be received by September 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket Management System Number FMCSA– 2022–0189 by any of the following methods:

• Federal Rulemaking Portal: Click on Regulations.gov.
• Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12– 140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.

FMCSA seeks public comment on the usage of the emergency declaration for the covered products. Specifically, if the usage is fit for the intended purpose of the limited relief. Commenters are encouraged to share with FMCSA the source of the data or information and provide recommendations on additional actions FMCSA should consider in monitoring the use of the declaration. Further, any data or information FMCSA should use in determining whether continued extension or modification of the declaration is needed. FMCSA also seeks public comment on the safety and supply chain impacts of the emergency declaration. Each submission must include the Agency name, Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration, and the docket number, FMCSA–2022–0189.

Special Note:  The NAA strongly recommends farms and businesses benefiting from the emergency declaration comment in support. Highway safety advocates will oppose continuing the declarations. In your comments describe who you are and what you do, how road conditions and construction have slowed travel, the extreme importance of delivering healthy, farmed aquatic animals and feeds as just-in-time cargoes, and high demand for live aquatic animals and feeds during the pandemic.