Posted on 08/04/2012 4:58:19 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A bipartisan group of House members has called on the Department of Transportation to reverse regulatory guidance issued in June that limits the ability of supply trucks to service oil and gas fields.
Rep. Jeff Landry (R-La.) and 60 other members of the House argued in a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that the guidance will harm not just the oil and gas industry, but related industries that contribute to job growth. They also argue that the guidance reversed 50 years of established practice with little warning to the industry.
"Such a change significantly restricts the operations of individuals and businesses engaged in hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking' operations, thereby increasing their costs and restricting their ability to provide good-paying jobs to American citizens and low-cost energy to U.S. consumers," they wrote in a letter released Friday.
At issue is regulatory guidance that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released in June. For the first time in decades, the FMCSA said that some supply vehicles would not benefit from a policy that allows drivers of commercial vehicles to stay on duty beyond the 11-hour limit that the government imposes for safety reasons.
It is often necessary for drivers servicing oil and gas fields to stay on duty beyond 11 hours because these fields can be in remote areas accessible only by unpaved roads. In addition, once these trucks get to the oil or gas field, they are often forced to wait to load or unload, based on the activity going on at the site.
Under the FMCSA's regulatory guidance, only drivers of trucks related directly to oil and gas operations will still benefit from the ability to stay on duty for extended periods of time. But other drivers, such as those driving trucks supplying general supplies, or moving sand and water to and from the site, will be capped at 11 hours a day.
The House letter argued that this new guidance would create two classes of drivers that would make it much harder for the oil and gas site to coordinate its operations. It also warned that the change would require more drivers and more trucks, which would increase cost and produce more vehicle traffic.
"Considering the substandard condition of this infrastructure, we believe this increased traffic to be an untenable outcome of this Guidance," they wrote.
A House aide said members are pressing the FMCSA to reassess its guidance, and at the very least go through formal rulemaking process rather than make this change through a guidance document. An official process would also allow industry input into the decision.
"Changes of such magnitude must be made only after the industry has had proper time to review this change and submit comments to FMCSA," they wrote.
The aide said that while the FMCSA guidance took effect in early June, officials have since extended the comment period and are holding "listening sessions" across the country, which could be a sign that the FMCSA is open to adjusting the guidance.
just for show or do they mean it
I delivered sand to the fracking operation.
There were enough 'problems' that occured in the normal fracking operation that we could get a lot, and certainly sufficient, sleep that , though the log book restricted us ... our minds and bodies were not.
I always drove with a refrigerator full of food (as everyone I ever knew whom did this type of work) so I was never hungry.
The 11 hr restriction is waived with an "on site" category.
Most frackers have a catering service at least once a day and you ain't et yet 'til y'et one o' THEM meals.
Truck drivers get a bad rep from 70 or so years ago when guys with no brains would drink coffee, drop speed and stay awake for days just runnin' loads.
(I had to think ... my ... it's been almost 65 years since WW2 .. !!! )
The entire regulatory agenCIES should be defunded and put on the unemployment line for about 10 years.
That should be sufficient time for the bubble to stop bouncing and for intelligent Americans to right the wrongs that the enemies have been working on to destroy our nation .
“A bipartisan group of House members has called on the Department of Transportation to reverse regulatory guidance issued in June that limits the ability of supply trucks to service oil and gas fields.’
This is the kind of BS that should have every congresscritter saddling up and hunting down these fascists. Since when does congress need to beg unelected commies to please don’t regulate us. This shows, beyond a doubt, who is running this country - a bunch of unelected, unacountable fascist pigs.
If Congress doesn’t have the stones to heel these unelected pigs, then it’s time for states to step in and neutralize every federal fascist bureaucrat.
Shirley they jest?
After 3 1/2 years of this Regime's ignoring (breaking) every law and "rule" our government ever had and these ignoramuses all of a sudden think the skunks are going to change their stripes (or smell) under any circumstances?
What Constitution? "We don't need no stinkin' Constitution."
Anybody who the WON kept from the last Admin (Bush) could only be seen as a RINO, but Ray (the)Hood has been the worst. He can now be seen as a full-fledged, Leftist, loon, Moonbat doing Barry's bidding and I detest that asshat.
next January, every communist needs to be purged from any role in government.
We’ve been fracking for 70+ years... odd how it’s just now becoming a “problem”.
Everyone remember: SAFETY!
The government has usurped every liberty and freedom we have by using the secret weapon liberal women of America simply fawn over...SAFETY!
How in the hell did us that lived back before 1970 even survive without the government taking our rights away in the name of SAFETY!
In each and every case, the loss of freedom and liberty has been eroded by hundreds and thousands of government regulations that deal with our SAFETY. We have become a totally blameless society in which no one is responsible for their own actions.
I especially pin the blame on our liberated and liberal women who howl the loudest at the latest bad news posted in the MSM. The old saw “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” certainly applies to the political hacks and their response to the screams of “do something to save us and our children.”
It’s time for true Americans (those who are left) to try to educate these women and other liberals as to the terminal damage they have done to our rights and liberties.
Gun control is a classic outcome of women trading freedom for SAFETY.
Note: I realize that we do have many women who have their head’s on straight and are true conservatives and totally responsible for their own actions; however they are far outnumbered by the loud screaming hysteric liberal women who are actually scared of pieces of cold steel such a guns but will handle large kitchen knives without thought or fear.
The women on FR are totally exempt from the statements I make by painting with a broad brush (”broad” excuse the pun once again). Simply by being on this forum they exude responsibility for their own actions.
Health and Safety going CRAZY.
“just for show or do they mean it”
Does it really matter? The Founders of this country would would marvel at the inability of a testicle=free Congress to deal effectively with the bureaucratic administrative state.
I suppose the people will have to deal with them as well. In a just world, Secretary TheHood, would be unable to show his face in public, much less walk around freely among the productive in our society.
Tar and feathers are in order!
The DOT is just one more agency intentionally forcing regulations to kill business.
Pshaw. We all know that having Obama for another four years doesn’t mean a thing. Just because the communist can keep his agencies in Democrat hands and killing our economy does not mean the sky is falling.
/s
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