The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has declared a regional emergency in the southern region in response to the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill, which occurred April 20 in Gulf of Mexico

. In a letter on FMCSA's web site, Darrell L. Ruban, field administrator, grants an hours of service waiver for motor carriers and drivers who are transporting the necessary equipment, materials and supplies to the region.

The oil slick is now threatening the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The exemption is necessary for fast delivery of the essential equipment and supplies, including specialized oil well equipment to seal the ruptured well head, and booms, skimmers, chemical dispersants, flammable liquids and other oil containment equipment, Ruban said.

"Motor carriers and drivers transporting (i) specialized equipment to seal the ruptured well head and to effect other immediate and necessary repairs of the oil well and/or adjacent pipelines, (ii) booms, skimmers, chemical dispersants, flammable liquids and other oil containment equipment, or (iii) other equipment, supplies and materials used to provide direct assistance for emergency relief efforts related to the above oil spill are exempt from 49 CFR Parts 390-399 from 2:00 p.m. EDT, April 30, 2010, until 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 14, 2010," the declaration said.

The exemption also applies to any portion of the trip that occurs outside the affected states. However, carriers or drivers that have been placed out of service, are not eligible for the waiver until the order expires. Drivers for motor carriers operating under this declaration must have a copy of it in their possession, Ruban said.