National Motor Carrier Safety (20.218)

Program

20.218 National Motor Carrier Safety

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

Authorization

Motor Carrier Act of 1991, Public Law 102-240, 49 U.S.C 31100-31104; Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century , Public Law 105-178; Motor Carrier Safety Reauthorization Act of 2005, Public Law 109-59; Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, Section 401-408, Public Law 97-424.

Program Number

20.218

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To reduce the number and severity of accidents and hazardous material incidents involving commercial motor vehicles by substantially increasing the level and effectiveness of enforcement activity and the likelihood that safety defects, driver deficiencies, and unsafe carrier practices will be detected and corrected.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance to States for the implementation of programs for the adoption and uniform enforcement of safety rules, regulations and standards compatible with the Federal Motor Carrier safety regulations and Federal hazardous materials regulations for both interstate and intrastate motor carriers and drivers.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

A qualified State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (a State).

Beneficiary Eligibility

General public.

Credentials/Documentation

Certification by the State that it meets the conditions for grant approval. Submission of a State Plan addressing the commercial motor carrier and highway hazardous materials safety within the State. Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Scheduled regional pre-planning conferences. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The State lead agency, designated by the Governor, must submit the State�s Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan, which includes a certification of eligibility, to the FMCSA Division Office along with FMCSA Application Form MCSAP-1.

Award Procedure

The amount of the basic MCSAP grant to a qualifying State will be determined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration based on the availability of funds, the eligibility of a State, and the formula set in 49 CFR 350. State will be required to sign a grant agreement.

Deadlines

Aug 01, 2009 Application for a grant must be filed with the FMCSA Division Office on or before August 1 of each year. The deadline may, for good cause, be extended by the Division Administrator/State Director for no more than 30 calendar days.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 30 to 60 days. From 30 to 60 days.

Appeals

From 30 to 60 days. State will be notified in writing of failure to submit a satisfactory State Plan. State will have 30 days to modify and resubmit the plan.

Renewals

Application for a grant must be made annually.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Public Law 49 CFR 350.323.

Matching Requirements: The MCSAP formula is described in 49 CFR 350.323 and is based on the most current approved statistics available. Most funds will be allocated each year among the States according to a formula based on four equally weighted (25 percent) factors: (1) road miles (all highways) as defined by the FHWA: (2) All vehicle miles traveled as defined by the FHWA; (3) Population - annual census estimates as issued by the U. S. Census Bureau; and (4) special fuel consumption (net after reciprocity adjustment) as defined by the FHWA. The Federal share shall not exceed 80 percent of the approved total project amount. The State must maintain the average level of expenditure of the State and its political subdivisions (not including amounts of the Government or State matching funds) for commercial motor vehicle safety programs, for enforcement of commercial motor vehicle size and weight limitations, drug interdiction, and State traffic safety laws and regulations for the 3 full fiscal years beginning after October 1 of the year 5 years prior to the beginning of each Government fiscal year . The State's share is at least 20 percent. The FMCSA shall, upon request, waive the requirement for matching funds to be provided by the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. Additional funds are allocated under the provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are awarded on an annual basis. Funds obligated to a State will remain available for expenditure for the fiscal year in which they were obligated and the next full fiscal year. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. A quarterly Activity Report is to be filed with the FMCSA Division Office.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records of all program activities covered in the State's Safety Plan and statistics pertaining to commercial motor vehicle accidents. Such records must be kept for 3 years following the year of funding.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2008, the program supported approximately 10,000 full and part-time State personnel nationwide who performed approximately 3 million inspections, resulting in increased uniformity in the enforcement of motor vehicle safety regulations throughout the United States and the promotion of commercial vehicle safety. Training was provided for State enforcement personnel through the delivery of commercial vehicle safety courses reaching over 13,000 State personnel nationwide. The program also supported national commercial vehicle safety activities related to inspection process improvements, data collection and analysis, judicial outreach, new entrant safety audits and drug interdiction. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8048-0-7-401.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $202,000,000; FY 09 est $209,000,000; FY 10 est $209,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not less than 0.44 percent or more than 4.94 percent of available funds for basic program grants. U.S. Territories may receive a fixed amount of $350,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: 49 CFR 1.48. 49 CFR 386-399, Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations; 49 CFR 100-180, Hazardous Materials Regulations, Government Printing Office, $14-$27 per volume.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. State-level office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as listed on the FMCSA website at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/offices/displayfieldroster.asp.

Headquarters Office

State Programs, MC-ESS 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Phone: 202-366-9579

Web Site Address

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Roadside driver and vehicle inspections, compliance reviews, and traffic enforcement. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The applicant must meet the statutory and administrative requirements contained in 49 CFR 350. The State Plan must provide for an effective commercial vehicle safety program.