Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Transition, 28761-28762 [2015-12021]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 96 / Tuesday, May 19, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [Docket No. FHWA–2015–0008] Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Transition Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: In issuing Federal-aid eligibility letters for roadside safety hardware, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) currently makes determinations of continued eligibility for modifications to devices tested to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 (NCHRP 350). In an effort to facilitate the implementation of the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), FHWA intends to discontinue issuing eligibility letters for requests received after December 31, 2015, for modified NCHRP 350-tested devices that do not involve full scale crash testing to the MASH. Modifications to NCHRP 350tested devices that have, in the past, been based on engineering analysis or finite element modeling will no longer receive FHWA eligibility letters. Effective January 1, 2016, all changes to NCHRP 350-tested devices will require testing under MASH in order to receive a Federal-aid eligibility letter from FHWA. SUMMARY: Data and information must be submitted to FHWA on or before June 18, 2015. ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver data and information to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, or fax comments to (202) 493– 2251. Alternatively, you may submit or retrieve information online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. The Web site is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section of the Web site. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Government Printing Office’s Web site at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov and the Office of the Federal Register’s Web site at: https://www.archives.gov/ federal_register. Please note that the Federal eRulemaking portal is unable to receive videos or any document larger than 10MB. If you would like to submit a video or a document that is 10MB or larger, please directly contact one of the tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 May 18, 2015 Jkt 235001 individuals identified in this notice. All data and information must include the docket number that appears in the heading of this document. All data and information received will be available for examination and copying at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of data and information must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments electronically. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all information in any one of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the information (or signing the information, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, or labor union). The DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its activities. The DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Griffith, Office of Safety, 202– 366–9469, mike.griffith@dot.gov, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. For legal questions, please contact Jennifer Mayo, Assistant Chief Counsel, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366–1523, or via email at jennifer.mayo@dot.gov, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Guardrails, guardrail end terminals, and other roadside safety hardware are tested to criteria established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) through its committee structure in which FHWA participates. The States are guided by the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide (RDG) in their decisions regarding what roadside safety hardware to install on their roadways. In order for a State to receive FHWA reimbursement for roadside safety hardware, the hardware must be crashworthy, meaning that it meets the testing and evaluation guidelines in effect at the time that hardware was developed. Roadside safety hardware guidelines and testing criteria have evolved over the last several decades with changes in the vehicle fleet and the emergence of new hardware designs. From 1981 until 1993, NCHRP 230 guidelines were used. PO 00000 Frm 00183 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28761 From 1993 until 2011, NCHRP 350 guidelines were used. The MASH was published in 2009 and since January 1, 2011, all new or significantly changed devices must meet the MASH criteria. Not unlike other industries, each successive version of guidelines is meant to encourage manufacturers to advance the state of roadside safety hardware and to develop devices that work with a changing vehicle fleet under a wider range of conditions. Because of the extensive development and testing required, it typically takes many years after roadside safety hardware guidelines are established for products meeting those guidelines to be widely available on the market. Accordingly, when AASHTO adopted MASH, it did not intend or require that devices designed to meet previous criteria would need to be retested to meet the newly developed criteria. Instead, a new generation of devices would need to be developed to meet the newly adopted criteria. In the six years since the MASH was published, however, there have not been a significant number of MASH-tested devices developed and brought to market. As a result and to encourage the development and installation of MASHcompliant devices, FHWA and AASHTO agree it is time to begin the transition to requiring that new installations of roadway safety hardware comply with the MASH criteria. Purpose of This Notice The FHWA provides technical assistance to States by issuing Federalaid eligibility letters for devices deemed crashworthy. The FHWA also makes determinations of continued eligibility for modified devices that have existing eligibility letters. The purpose of this notice is to seek the input of industry, State Departments of Transportation, and the broader highway community on the impact of FHWA no longer issuing eligibility letters after December 31, 2015, for modified NCHRP 350-tested devices that do not involve full scale crash testing to MASH. Modifications to NCHRP 350-tested devices that have, in the past, been based on engineering analysis or finite element modeling will no longer receive FHWA eligibility letters. Please provide any information that FHWA should be aware of regarding impacts of this change. By taking this action, FHWA believes it will facilitate the implementation of MASH. Later this year, AASHTO is expected to take action regarding a schedule for requiring that new installations of roadway safety hardware comply with the MASH criteria. E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1 28762 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 96 / Tuesday, May 19, 2015 / Notices Authority: 23 U.S.C. 148 and 315. [FR Doc. 2015–12021 Filed 5–18–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Sunshine Act Meetings; Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors Meeting. TIME AND DATE: The meeting will be held on June 10, 2015, from 9:00 a.m.to 12:00 Noon, Eastern Daylight Time. PLACE: This meeting will be open to the public at the Read House Hotel, 827 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402 and via conference call. Those not attending the meeting in person may call 1–877–422–1931, passcode 2855443940, to listen and participate in this meeting. STATUS: Open to the public. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors (the Board) will continue its work in developing and implementing the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement and to that end, may consider matters properly before the Board. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Avelino Gutierrez, Chair, Unified Carrier Registration Board of Directors at (505) 827–4565. AGENCY: Issued on: May 12, 2015. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator, Office of Policy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. [FR Doc. 2015–12209 Filed 5–15–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Petition for Exemption From the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Department of Transportation, DOT. ACTION: Grant of petition for exemption. AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 May 18, 2015 Jkt 235001 This document grants in full the Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC’s, (Jaguar Land Rover) petition for an exemption of the Jaguar XF vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the partsmarking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard (49 CFR part 541). DATES: The exemption granted by this notice is effective beginning with model year (MY) 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Hisham Mohamed, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs, NHTSA, W43–437, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Mohamed’s phone number is (202) 366–0307. His fax number is (202) 493–2990. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a petition dated March 23, 2015, Jaguar Land Rover requested an exemption from the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard (49 CFR part 541) for the MY 2016 Jaguar XF vehicle line. The petition requested an exemption from parts-marking pursuant to 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, based on the installation of an antitheft device as standard equipment for an entire vehicle line. Under § 543.5(a), a manufacturer may petition NHTSA to grant an exemption for one vehicle line per model year. In its petition, Jaguar Land Rover provided a detailed description and diagrams of the identity, design, and location of the components of the antitheft device for the XF vehicle line. Jaguar Land Rover stated that its XF vehicles will be equipped with a passive, transponder based, electronic engine immobilizer device as standard equipment beginning with the 2016 model year. Key components of its antitheft device will include a power train control module (PCM), instrument cluster, body control module (BCM), remote frequency receiver (RFR), remote frequency actuator (RFA), immobilizer antenna unit (IAU), Smart Key, door control units (DCU), and a visual and audible perimeter alarm system. Jaguar Land Rover also stated that the audible and visual perimeter alarm system will be installed as standard equipment and can be armed with the Smart Key or programmed to be passively armed. Jaguar Land Rover further stated that the siren will sound and the vehicle’s SUMMARY: Issued on: May 13, 2015. Gregory G. Nadeau, Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration. PO 00000 Frm 00184 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 exterior lights will flash if unauthorized entry is attempted by opening the hood, doors or luggage compartment. Jaguar Land Rover’s submission is considered a complete petition as required by 49 CFR 543.7, in that it meets the general requirements contained in § 543.5 and the specific content requirements of § 543.6. Jaguar Land Rover stated that the Smart Key is programmed and synchronized to the vehicle through means of an identification key code and a randomly generated secret code that are unique to each vehicle. Jaguar Land Rover further stated that the immobilizer device is armed automatically when the Smart Key is removed from the vehicle. Jaguar Land Rover also stated that there are three methods the driver can approach the vehicle and start the engine. Method one is through automatic detection of the Smart Key via a remote frequency challenge response sequence. Jaguar stated that when the driver approaches the vehicle and pulls the driver’s door handle (after authentication of the correct Smart Key), the doors will unlock. Specifically, when the ignition start button is pressed, a search to find and authenticate the Smart Key commences within the vehicle interior. If successful, this information is passed by a coded data transfer to the BCM via the Remote Function Actuator. The BCM in turn, will pass the ‘‘valid key’’ status to the instrument cluster, via a coded data transfer. The BCM sends the key valid message to the PCM which initiates a coded data transfer authorizing the engine to start. Method two is accomplished by unlocking the vehicle with the Smart Key unlock button. As the driver approaches the vehicle, the Smart Key unlock button is pressed and the doors will unlock. Once the driver presses the ignition start button, the operation process is the same as method one. Method three is accomplished by using the emergency key blade. If the Smart Key has a discharged battery or is damaged, there is an emergency key blade that can be removed from the Smart Key and used to unlock the doors. When the ignition start button is pressed a search is commenced to find and authenticate the Smart Key within the vehicle. Once the Smart Key is docked in the correct position and the ignition start button is pressed again, the BCM and Smart key completes a coded data exchange via the IAU. If successful, the BCM passes the valid key status to the instrument cluster, via a coded data transfer. The BCM then sends the key valid message to the PCM which initiates a coded data transfer. If E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28761-28762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12021]



[[Page 28761]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2015-0008]


Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Transition

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In issuing Federal-aid eligibility letters for roadside safety 
hardware, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) currently makes 
determinations of continued eligibility for modifications to devices 
tested to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 
(NCHRP 350). In an effort to facilitate the implementation of the 
Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), FHWA intends to 
discontinue issuing eligibility letters for requests received after 
December 31, 2015, for modified NCHRP 350-tested devices that do not 
involve full scale crash testing to the MASH. Modifications to NCHRP 
350-tested devices that have, in the past, been based on engineering 
analysis or finite element modeling will no longer receive FHWA 
eligibility letters. Effective January 1, 2016, all changes to NCHRP 
350-tested devices will require testing under MASH in order to receive 
a Federal-aid eligibility letter from FHWA.

DATES: Data and information must be submitted to FHWA on or before June 
18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver data and information to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12-
140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, or fax comments 
to (202) 493-2251. Alternatively, you may submit or retrieve 
information online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is available 24 hours each day, 365 
days each year. Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines 
are available under the help section of the Web site. An electronic 
copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Government 
Printing Office's Web site at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov and the Office 
of the Federal Register's Web site at: https://www.archives.gov/federal_register. Please note that the Federal eRulemaking portal is 
unable to receive videos or any document larger than 10MB. If you would 
like to submit a video or a document that is 10MB or larger, please 
directly contact one of the individuals identified in this notice. All 
data and information must include the docket number that appears in the 
heading of this document. All data and information received will be 
available for examination and copying at the above address from 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those 
desiring notification of receipt of data and information must include a 
self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may print the acknowledgment 
page that appears after submitting comments electronically. Anyone is 
able to search the electronic form of all information in any one of our 
dockets by the name of the individual submitting the information (or 
signing the information, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, or labor union). The DOT solicits comments from the public to 
better inform its activities. The DOT posts these comments, without 
edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Griffith, Office of Safety, 
202-366-9469, mike.griffith@dot.gov, Federal Highway Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. For legal questions, 
please contact Jennifer Mayo, Assistant Chief Counsel, FHWA Office of 
the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1523, or via email at 
jennifer.mayo@dot.gov, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Guardrails, guardrail end terminals, and other roadside safety 
hardware are tested to criteria established by the American Association 
of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) through its 
committee structure in which FHWA participates. The States are guided 
by the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide (RDG) in their decisions regarding 
what roadside safety hardware to install on their roadways. In order 
for a State to receive FHWA reimbursement for roadside safety hardware, 
the hardware must be crashworthy, meaning that it meets the testing and 
evaluation guidelines in effect at the time that hardware was 
developed.
    Roadside safety hardware guidelines and testing criteria have 
evolved over the last several decades with changes in the vehicle fleet 
and the emergence of new hardware designs. From 1981 until 1993, NCHRP 
230 guidelines were used. From 1993 until 2011, NCHRP 350 guidelines 
were used. The MASH was published in 2009 and since January 1, 2011, 
all new or significantly changed devices must meet the MASH criteria.
    Not unlike other industries, each successive version of guidelines 
is meant to encourage manufacturers to advance the state of roadside 
safety hardware and to develop devices that work with a changing 
vehicle fleet under a wider range of conditions. Because of the 
extensive development and testing required, it typically takes many 
years after roadside safety hardware guidelines are established for 
products meeting those guidelines to be widely available on the market. 
Accordingly, when AASHTO adopted MASH, it did not intend or require 
that devices designed to meet previous criteria would need to be 
retested to meet the newly developed criteria. Instead, a new 
generation of devices would need to be developed to meet the newly 
adopted criteria. In the six years since the MASH was published, 
however, there have not been a significant number of MASH-tested 
devices developed and brought to market. As a result and to encourage 
the development and installation of MASH-compliant devices, FHWA and 
AASHTO agree it is time to begin the transition to requiring that new 
installations of roadway safety hardware comply with the MASH criteria.

Purpose of This Notice

    The FHWA provides technical assistance to States by issuing 
Federal-aid eligibility letters for devices deemed crashworthy. The 
FHWA also makes determinations of continued eligibility for modified 
devices that have existing eligibility letters. The purpose of this 
notice is to seek the input of industry, State Departments of 
Transportation, and the broader highway community on the impact of FHWA 
no longer issuing eligibility letters after December 31, 2015, for 
modified NCHRP 350-tested devices that do not involve full scale crash 
testing to MASH. Modifications to NCHRP 350-tested devices that have, 
in the past, been based on engineering analysis or finite element 
modeling will no longer receive FHWA eligibility letters. Please 
provide any information that FHWA should be aware of regarding impacts 
of this change.
    By taking this action, FHWA believes it will facilitate the 
implementation of MASH. Later this year, AASHTO is expected to take 
action regarding a schedule for requiring that new installations of 
roadway safety hardware comply with the MASH criteria.


[[Page 28762]]


    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 148 and 315.

    Issued on: May 13, 2015.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-12021 Filed 5-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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