EXECUTIVE ORDER
05-04

WHEREAS, emergencies may arise at any time, including but not limited to power outage due to tornado, rain, snow or ice storm, propane or gas shortages due to extremely cold conditions requiring carriers to travel out of state to haul fuel and distribute such fuel upon their return, flooding conditions, potential terrorist attack, or other unforeseen emergencies; and

WHEREAS, many of these emergencies occur after normal working hours or on holidays; and

WHEREAS, the safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the affected area may require the rapid identification of an emergency situation that necessitates the need to suspend federal commercial driver laws; and

WHEREAS, Section 390.23 of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, provides that a Governor of a State, or the Governor's authorized representatives having authority to declare emergencies, may declare an emergency thereby exempting motor carriers or drivers operating a commercial vehicle from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, including the drivers' hours of service regulations in Part 395 of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, both while providing assistance to the emergency relief efforts during the emergency, and while returning empty to the motor carrier's terminal or driver's normal work reporting location.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Matt Blunt, Governor of the State of Missouri, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby order as follows:

1. The Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation is authorized to issue an emergency declaration of a regional emergency within the meaning of 49 CFR section 390.23(a)(1) or a local emergency within the meaning of 49 CFR section 390.23(a)(2) for the limited purpose of temporarily suspending the usual requirements of Part 395 of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, with reference to motor carriers and operators of commercial motor vehicles, when such official determines that an emergency situation exists which requires the suspension of federal commercial driver laws. An emergency declaration issued pursuant to this order shall not exceed the duration of the motor carrier's or driver's direct assistance in providing emergency relief, or five days from the date of the initial declaration of the emergency, whichever is less.
2. The Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation shall notify the Governor's office as soon as possible of any emergency declarations issued pursuant to this order.

This order shall terminate on January 11, 2006, unless extended or revoked in whole or in part.

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