81 FR 72670 - Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 203 (October 20, 2016)

Pursuant to Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and in accordance with Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 102-3.65, and following consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the ACAT will be established for a 2-year period. It is the policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation to foster the safe deployment of advanced automated and connected vehicle technologies to achieve national goals while also understanding the long term societal and ethical impacts that these technological advancements may impose. Within that context, the objective of this committee is to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation on cross-modal matters relating to the development and deployment of automated vehicles and assess the state of Departmental research, policy and regulatory support within this framework. The committee may convene and determine topics and is assembled around subject areas related to transportation aspects including the safety, mobility, environmental sustainability, maintaining state of good repair, human impact, data use and cybersecurity. The ACAT shall undertake information gathering activities, develop technical advice, and present recommendations to the Secretary to further inform this policy, including--but not limited to--aviation automated navigation systems technologies, unmanned aircraft systems, automated and connected road and transit vehicle technologies, enhanced freight movement technologies, railroad automated technologies, and advanced technology deployment in surface transportation environments. In particular, the ACAT will perform these activities as they may relate to emerging or ``not-yet-conceived'' innovations to ensure DOT is prepared when disruptive technologies emerge and can better manage long term evolution of training and education, regulation, and safety oversight. The ACAT shall consider these topics and areas of application as they alleviate or exacerbate challenges to disabled and disadvantaged populations. Additionally, the establishment of the ACAT is necessary for the Department to carry out its mission and in the public interest. The Committee will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the rules and regulations issued in implementation of that Act. This notice also requests nominations for members of the Committee to ensure a wide range of member candidates and a balanced committee. The Under Secretary for Transportation may also make nominations to the Secretary to ensure balance on the committee.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72670-72672]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25392]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No.: DOT-OST-2016-0203]


Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation 
(DOT).

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Advisory Committee on Automation 
in Transportation (ACAT) and solicitation of nominations for 
membership.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA), and in accordance with Title 41, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Section 102-3.65, and following consultation with the 
Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, 
notice is hereby given that the ACAT will be established for a 2-year 
period.
    It is the policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation to foster 
the safe deployment of advanced automated and connected vehicle 
technologies to

[[Page 72671]]

achieve national goals while also understanding the long term societal 
and ethical impacts that these technological advancements may impose. 
Within that context, the objective of this committee is to provide 
information, advice, and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of 
Transportation on cross-modal matters relating to the development and 
deployment of automated vehicles and assess the state of Departmental 
research, policy and regulatory support within this framework. The 
committee may convene and determine topics and is assembled around 
subject areas related to transportation aspects including the safety, 
mobility, environmental sustainability, maintaining state of good 
repair, human impact, data use and cybersecurity.
    The ACAT shall undertake information gathering activities, develop 
technical advice, and present recommendations to the Secretary to 
further inform this policy, including--but not limited to--aviation 
automated navigation systems technologies, unmanned aircraft systems, 
automated and connected road and transit vehicle technologies, enhanced 
freight movement technologies, railroad automated technologies, and 
advanced technology deployment in surface transportation environments. 
In particular, the ACAT will perform these activities as they may 
relate to emerging or ``not-yet-conceived'' innovations to ensure DOT 
is prepared when disruptive technologies emerge and can better manage 
long term evolution of training and education, regulation, and safety 
oversight. The ACAT shall consider these topics and areas of 
application as they alleviate or exacerbate challenges to disabled and 
disadvantaged populations.
    Additionally, the establishment of the ACAT is necessary for the 
Department to carry out its mission and in the public interest. The 
Committee will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act and the rules and regulations issued in 
implementation of that Act.
    This notice also requests nominations for members of the Committee 
to ensure a wide range of member candidates and a balanced committee. 
The Under Secretary for Transportation may also make nominations to the 
Secretary to ensure balance on the committee.

DATES: The deadline for nominations for Committee members must be 
received on or before November 4, 2016.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should be emailed to 
[email protected] or faxed to the attention of John Augustine at (202) 
366-0263, or mailed to John Augustine, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Office of the Secretary Office of Policy, Room W84-306, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Any person needing 
accessibility accommodations should contact John Augustine at (202) 
366-0353.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Augustine, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Office of the Secretary, Office of Policy, Room W84-
306, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; phone (202) 366-
0353; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Transportation is hereby 
soliciting nominations for members of the ACAT. The Secretary of 
Transportation will appoint at least 15 Committee members. Members will 
be selected with a view toward achieving varied perspectives on 
automated transportation, including but not limited to (1) modes of 
transportation; (2) regional representation; (3) relevant policy areas 
such as safety, labor, and environment; (4) businesses developing 
automation technologies; and (5) government bodies. Committee members 
may serve for a term of 2 years or less and may be reappointed for 
successive terms, with no more than 2 successive terms. The Chair and 
Vice Chair of the Committee will be appointed by the Secretary from 
among the selected members, and the Committee is expected to meet 
approximately two times per year or as necessary. Subcommittees may be 
formed to address specific automation-related issues. Some Committee 
members may be appointed as special Government employees and will be 
subject to certain ethical restrictions, and such members will be 
required to submit certain information in connection with the 
appointment process.
    Process and Deadline for Submitting Nominations: Qualified 
individuals can self-nominate or be nominated by any individual or 
organization. To be considered for the ACAT, nominators should submit 
the following information:
    (1) Name, title, and relevant contact information (including phone, 
fax, and email address) of the individual requesting consideration;
    (2) A letter of support from a company, union, trade association, 
academic or non-profit organization on letterhead containing a brief 
description why the nominee should be considered for membership;
    (3) Short biography of nominee including professional and academic 
credentials;
    (4) An affirmative statement that the nominee meets all Committee 
eligibility requirements. Please do not send company, trade 
association, or organization brochures or any other information. 
Materials submitted should total two pages or less. Should more 
information be needed, DOT staff will contact the nominee, obtain 
information from the nominee's past affiliations, or obtain information 
from publicly available sources, such as the Internet.
    Nominations may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to the 
attention of John Augustine at (202) 366-0263, or mailed to John 
Augustine, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary 
Office of Policy, Room W84-306, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590. Nominations must be received before November 4, 2016. 
Nominees selected for appointment to the Committee will be notified by 
return email and by a letter of appointment.
    A selection team comprising representatives from several DOT 
offices will review the nomination packages. The selection team will 
make recommendations regarding membership to the Secretary of 
Transportation based on criteria including (1) professional or academic 
expertise, experience, and knowledge; (2) stakeholder representation; 
(3) availability and willingness to serve; and (4) skills working in 
committees and advisory panels. The Under Secretary of Transportation 
for Policy will submit a list of recommended candidates to the 
Secretary of Transportation for review and selection of Committee 
members.
    Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. To ensure that 
recommendations to the Secretary take into account the needs of the 
diverse groups served by DOT, membership shall include, to the extent 
practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Please note, however, 
that federally registered lobbyists and individuals already serving on 
another Federal advisory committee are ineligible for nomination.


[[Page 72672]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 13, 2016.
Blair C. Anderson,
Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-25392 Filed 10-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P