RECARO Child Safety, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 33150-33152 [2013-13099]
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33150
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 106 / Monday, June 3, 2013 / Notices
Federal holidays. An electronic version
of this document and all documents
entered into this docket is available on
the World Wide Web at https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Williams, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Room W23–453,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202–
366–0903, Email
Linda.Williams@dot.gov.
As
described by the applicant the intended
service of the vessel CATTITUDE is:
Intended Commercial Use of Vessel:
‘‘Passenger vessel for coastwise trade,
six or fewer passengers.’’
Geographic Region: ‘‘New Jersey,
Maryland, Delaware, Florida.’’
The complete application is given in
DOT docket MARAD–2013–0064 at
https://www.regulations.gov. Interested
parties may comment on the effect this
action may have on U.S. vessel builders
or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in
accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and
MARAD’s regulations at 46 CFR part
388, that the issuance of the waiver will
have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.vessel builder or a business that uses
U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a
waiver will not be granted. Comments
should refer to the docket number of
this notice and the vessel name in order
for MARAD to properly consider the
comments. Comments should also state
the commenter’s interest in the waiver
application, and address the waiver
criteria given in § 388.4 of MARAD’s
regulations at 46 CFR Part 388.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Privacy Act
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78).
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: May 23, 2013.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013–13041 Filed 5–31–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:49 May 31, 2013
Jkt 229001
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. MARAD–2013 0063]
Requested Administrative Waiver of
the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel
BLACK ICE; Invitation for Public
Comments
Maritime Administration,
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
As authorized by 46 U.S.C.
12121, the Secretary of Transportation,
as represented by the Maritime
Administration (MARAD), is authorized
to grant waivers of the U.S.-build
requirement of the coastwise laws under
certain circumstances. A request for
such a waiver has been received by
MARAD. The vessel, and a brief
description of the proposed service, is
listed below.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
July 3, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to
docket number MARAD–2013–0063.
Written comments may be submitted by
hand or by mail to the Docket Clerk,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M–30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. You may also
send comments electronically via the
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
All comments will become part of this
docket and will be available for
inspection and copying at the above
address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
E.T., Monday through Friday, except
federal holidays. An electronic version
of this document and all documents
entered into this docket is available on
the World Wide Web at https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Williams, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Room W23–453,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202–
366–0903, Email
Linda.Williams@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
described by the applicant the intended
service of the vessel BLACK ICE is:
Intended Commercial Use Of Vessel:
Small passenger sails. Sightseeing,
dinner sails, sailing classes, and eco
sails.
Geographic Region: ‘‘Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
Florida, and Georgia’’.
The complete application is given in
DOT docket MARAD–2013–0063 at
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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https://www.regulations.gov. Interested
parties may comment on the effect this
action may have on U.S. vessel builders
or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in
accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and
MARAD’s regulations at 46 CFR part
388, that the issuance of the waiver will
have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.vessel builder or a business that uses
U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a
waiver will not be granted. Comments
should refer to the docket number of
this notice and the vessel name in order
for MARAD to properly consider the
comments. Comments should also state
the commenter’s interest in the waiver
application, and address the waiver
criteria given in § 388.4 of MARAD’s
regulations at 46 CFR Part 388.
Privacy Act
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78).
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: May 23, 2013.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013–13042 Filed 5–31–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2013–0038; Notice 1]
RECARO Child Safety, LLC, Receipt of
Petition for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Receipt of Petition.
AGENCY:
RECARO Child Safety, LLC
(RECARO) 1 has determined that certain
RECARO brand ProSport child restraint
systems produced between June 16,
2010 and January 31, 2013, do not fully
comply with paragraph S6.1.2(a)(1)(i)(D)
of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, Child
Restraint Systems. RECARO has filed an
appropriate report dated February 6,
SUMMARY:
1 RECARO Child Safety, LLC is a manufacturer of
motor vehicle equipment and is registered under
the laws of the state of Michigan.
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
03JNN1
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 106 / Monday, June 3, 2013 / Notices
2013, pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573,
Defect and Noncompliance
Responsibility and Reports.
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h) (see implementing rule at 49
CFR part 556), RECARO submitted a
petition for an exemption from the
notification and remedy requirements of
49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the basis that
this noncompliance is inconsequential
to motor vehicle safety.
This notice of receipt of RECARO’s
petition is published under 49 U.S.C.
30118 and 30120 and does not represent
any agency decision or other exercise of
judgment concerning the merits of the
petition.
Equipment Involved: Affected are
approximately 39,181 RECARO brand
ProSport child restraint systems
produced between June 16, 2010 and
January 31, 2013.
Summary of Recaro’s Analysis and
Arguments: RECARO explains that the
noncompliance is that the RECARO
ProSport child restraint system does not
comply with the head excursion
requirements of FMVSS 213
S5.1.3.1(a)(1) when subjected to the
dynamic test requirements of FMVSS
No. 213 S6.1.2(a)(1)(i)(D), using a six
year old test dummy secured to the test
bench by lower anchors and no tether.
In support of this Petition, RECARO
submits the following comments and
data:
1. The dynamic test requirements of
FMVSS No. 213 S6.1.2(a)(1)(i)(D)
require using a six year old test dummy
secured to the test bench using lower
anchors and no tether. This test
procedure is a direct violation of the
instructions and warnings in the
instruction manual included with each
ProSport child restraint system and
would constitute a major misuse of the
child restraint by the consumer.
(RECARO provided the entire manual as
part of its petition.)
2. RECARO has received over 9,000
registration cards returned by
purchasers of the ProSport. Using the
on-line survey system Survey Monkey,
RECARO instituted a survey of 3,690
registered owners by emailing each
purchaser the following survey
questions:
a. Are you currently using your
ProSport child restraint?
b. How is (was) your ProSport
installed in the vehicle?
i. Vehicle lap/shoulder belt
ii. Lower anchors provided with child
restraint (LATCH)
c. Did you use the top tether included
on the ProSport to install the child
restraint into the vehicle?
929 registered owners responded to
the survey by confirming that they
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:40 May 31, 2013
Jkt 229001
installed the child restraint with lower
LATCH anchors. Of those responding,
837 or 90.1% confirmed that the top
tether was being used to install their
ProSport when installing the child
restraint with lower LATCH anchors.
(RECARO included a copy of the survey
details and results as part of its
petition.) RECARO stated its belief that
the survey is a statistically significant
confirmation that a very small
percentage of ProSport consumers are
misusing the child restraint by not using
the top tether when installing the child
restraint with lower LATCH anchors
and that the effectiveness of any
noncompliance notification campaign
will be minimal, given the historically
low response rate to technical
noncompliance notification campaigns
of child restraints. For example, the
survey results indicate that only those
ProSport consumers not properly using
the top tether when installing the child
restraint with lower LATCH anchors are
likely to respond to a noncompliance
notification. Assuming a response rate
of 10% by this group, only 400 of the
estimated 4,000 consumers misusing the
child restraint are likely to respond.
This statistically insignificant response
renders the technical noncompliance at
issue inconsequential.
3. All vehicles equipped with lower
child restraint (LATCH) anchors are also
equipped with top tether anchors.
RECARO has received 82 consumer
calls regarding the ProSport. (RECARO
included copies of consumer call
reports as part of its petition.) No
consumer has questioned the use of the
tether when securing the ProSport with
the lower anchors. RECARO has no
information of this misuse actually
occurring in the field or of any injuries
sustained by a child when restrained in
a ProSport in this misuse condition.
4. RECARO has received notice of
three accidents involving four children
seated in ProSport child restraint
systems. In these incidents, the ProSport
performed well and the occupant was
not injured. It is not known if the
ProSports involved were installed using
the lower LATCH anchors or, if so,
whether the top tethers were used.
5. RECARO has implemented an
engineering/structural modification to
the ProSport. Dynamic tests of the
modified ProSport using a Hybrid II six
year old test dummy secured to the test
bench using lower anchors and no
tether confirm that the head excursion
requirements of FMVSS No. 213
S5.1.3.1(a)(1) are met. (RECARO
included copies of the test reports as
part of its petition.)
6. RECARO stated its belief that the
ProSport outperforms any comparable
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
33151
child restraint with regards to head
excursions when installed with the lap/
shoulder belt.
7. Given the relative small number of
ProSport child restraints distributed
since introduction in June 2010
(39,181), the effectiveness of any
notification campaign regarding this
technical noncompliance will be
limited. Additionally, any
noncompliance notice campaign may
result in consumers deciding to
discontinue using their ProSport for a
period of time, increasing the risk of
injury to a higher degree than the risk
resulting from the small number of
consumers misusing the child restraint
by not using the top tether when
installing the child restraint with lower
LATCH anchors.
RECARO has additionally informed
NHTSA that it has stopped production
of the ProSport at the end of January
2013.
In summation, RECARO believes that
the described noncompliance of its
equipment is inconsequential to motor
vehicle safety, and that its petition, to
exempt from providing recall
notification of noncompliance as
required by 49 U.S.C. 30118 and
remedying the recall noncompliance as
required by 49 U.S.C. 30120 should be
granted.
Comments: Interested persons are
invited to submit written data, views,
and arguments on this petition.
Comments must refer to the docket and
notice number cited at the beginning of
this notice and be submitted by any of
the following methods:
a. By mail addressed to: U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M–30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20590.
b. By hand delivery to U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M–30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20590. The Docket Section is open
on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
except Federal Holidays.
c. Electronically: by logging onto the
Federal Docket Management System
(FDMS) Web site at https://
www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Comments may also be faxed to 1–202–
493–2251.
Comments must be written in the
English language, and be no greater than
15 pages in length, although there is no
limit to the length of necessary
attachments to the comments. If
comments are submitted in hard copy
form, please ensure that two copies are
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33152
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 106 / Monday, June 3, 2013 / Notices
provided. If you wish to receive
confirmation that your comments were
received, please enclose a stamped, selfaddressed postcard with the comments.
Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
Documents submitted to a docket may
be viewed by anyone at the address and
times given above. The documents may
also be viewed on the Internet at
https://www.regulations.gov by following
the online instructions for accessing the
dockets. DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement is available for review in the
Federal Register published on April 11,
2000, (65 FR 19477–78).
The petition, supporting materials,
and all comments received before the
close of business on the closing date
indicated below will be filed and will be
considered. All comments and
supporting materials received after the
closing date will also be filed and will
be considered to the extent possible.
When the petition is granted or denied,
notice of the decision will be published
in the Federal Register pursuant to the
authority indicated below.
NHTSA notes that the statutory
provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to
file petitions for a determination of
inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to
exempt manufacturers only from the
duties found in sections 30118 and
30120, respectively, to notify owners,
purchasers, and dealers of a defect or
noncompliance and to remedy the
defect or noncompliance. Therefore,
these provisions only apply to the
subject 39,181 2 child restraint systems
that RECARO no longer controlled at the
time it determined that the
noncompliance existed.
Comment Closing Date: July 3, 2013.
Authority: (49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120:
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and
501.8)
Issued On: May 21, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013–13099 Filed 5–31–13; 8:45 am]
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
2 RECARO’s petition, which was filed under 49
CFR Part 556, requests an agency decision to
exempt RECARO as a motor vehicle equipment
manufacturer from the notification and recall
responsibilities of 49 CFR Part 573 for the affected
motor vehicle equipment. However, a decision on
this petition cannot relieve vehicle distributors and
dealers of the prohibitions on the sale, offer for sale,
introduction or delivery for introduction into
interstate commerce of the noncompliant motor
vehicle equipment under their control after
RECARO notified them that the subject
noncompliance existed.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:40 May 31, 2013
Jkt 229001
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Information Collection
Renewal; Submission for OMB Review:
Disclosure and Reporting of CRARelated Agreements
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
AGENCY:
The OCC, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork
and respondent burden, invites the
general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on a continuing information
collection, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
Under the PRA, Federal agencies are
required to publish notice in the
Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information,
including each proposed extension of an
existing collection of information.
In accordance with the requirements
of the PRA, the OCC may not conduct
or sponsor, and the respondent is not
required to respond to, an information
collection unless it displays a currently
valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number.
The OCC is soliciting comment
concerning its information collection
titled, ‘‘Disclosure and Reporting of
CRA-Related Agreements.’’ The OCC
also gives notice that it has sent the
collection to OMB for review.
DATES: Comments must be received by
July 3, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Because paper mail in the
Washington, DC area and at the OCC is
subject to delay, commenters are
encouraged to submit comments by
email if possible. Comments may be
sent to: Legislative and Regulatory
Activities Division, Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency, Attention:
1557–0219, 400 7th Street SW., Suite
3E–218, Mail Stop 9W–11, Washington,
DC 20219. In addition, comments may
be sent by fax to (571) 465–4326 or by
electronic mail to
regs.comments@occ.treas.gov. You may
personally inspect and photocopy
comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street
SW., Washington, DC 20219. For
security reasons, the OCC requires that
visitors make an appointment to inspect
comments. You may do so by calling
(202) 649–6700. Upon arrival, visitors
will be required to present valid
government-issued photo identification
and to submit to security screening in
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00108
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
order to inspect and photocopy
comments.
All comments received, including
attachments and other supporting
materials, are part of the public record
and subject to public disclosure. Do not
enclose any information in your
comment or supporting materials that
you consider confidential or
inappropriate for public disclosure.
Additionally, please send a copy of
your comments by mail to: OCC Desk
Officer, 1557–0219, U.S. Office of
Management and Budget, 725 17th
Street NW., #10235, Washington, DC
20503, or by email to:
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
You
can request additional information of
the collection from Johnny Vilela or
Mary H. Gottlieb, OCC Clearance
Officers, (202) 649–5490, Legislative
and Regulatory Activities Division,
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, Washington, DC 20219.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor.
‘‘Collection of information’’ is defined
in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR
1320.3(c) to include agency requests or
requirements that members of the public
submit reports, keep records, or provide
information to a third party. Five CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) requires Federal
agencies to publish a 30-day notice in
the Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information,
including each proposed extension of an
existing collection of information,
before submitting the collection to OMB
for approval. To comply with this
requirement, the OCC is publishing
notice of the proposed collection of
information set forth in this document.
The OCC is proposing to extend,
without change, OMB approval of the
following information collection:
Title: Disclosure and Reporting of
CRA-Related Agreements (12 CFR Parts
35 and 133).
OMB Control No.: 1557–0219.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Description: This submission covers
an existing regulation and involves no
change to the regulation or the
information collection requirements.
The OCC requests only that OMB extend
its approval of the information
collection.
National banks, Federal savings
associations and their affiliates
(institutions) occasionally enter into
agreements with nongovernmental
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33150-33152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13099]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0038; Notice 1]
RECARO Child Safety, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Receipt of Petition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: RECARO Child Safety, LLC (RECARO) \1\ has determined that
certain RECARO brand ProSport child restraint systems produced between
June 16, 2010 and January 31, 2013, do not fully comply with paragraph
S6.1.2(a)(1)(i)(D) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.
213, Child Restraint Systems. RECARO has filed an appropriate report
dated February 6,
[[Page 33151]]
2013, pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance
Responsibility and Reports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ RECARO Child Safety, LLC is a manufacturer of motor vehicle
equipment and is registered under the laws of the state of Michigan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) (see implementing rule
at 49 CFR part 556), RECARO submitted a petition for an exemption from
the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on
the basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle
safety.
This notice of receipt of RECARO's petition is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the petition.
Equipment Involved: Affected are approximately 39,181 RECARO brand
ProSport child restraint systems produced between June 16, 2010 and
January 31, 2013.
Summary of Recaro's Analysis and Arguments: RECARO explains that
the noncompliance is that the RECARO ProSport child restraint system
does not comply with the head excursion requirements of FMVSS 213
S5.1.3.1(a)(1) when subjected to the dynamic test requirements of FMVSS
No. 213 S6.1.2(a)(1)(i)(D), using a six year old test dummy secured to
the test bench by lower anchors and no tether.
In support of this Petition, RECARO submits the following comments
and data:
1. The dynamic test requirements of FMVSS No. 213
S6.1.2(a)(1)(i)(D) require using a six year old test dummy secured to
the test bench using lower anchors and no tether. This test procedure
is a direct violation of the instructions and warnings in the
instruction manual included with each ProSport child restraint system
and would constitute a major misuse of the child restraint by the
consumer. (RECARO provided the entire manual as part of its petition.)
2. RECARO has received over 9,000 registration cards returned by
purchasers of the ProSport. Using the on-line survey system Survey
Monkey, RECARO instituted a survey of 3,690 registered owners by
emailing each purchaser the following survey questions:
a. Are you currently using your ProSport child restraint?
b. How is (was) your ProSport installed in the vehicle?
i. Vehicle lap/shoulder belt
ii. Lower anchors provided with child restraint (LATCH)
c. Did you use the top tether included on the ProSport to install
the child restraint into the vehicle?
929 registered owners responded to the survey by confirming that
they installed the child restraint with lower LATCH anchors. Of those
responding, 837 or 90.1% confirmed that the top tether was being used
to install their ProSport when installing the child restraint with
lower LATCH anchors. (RECARO included a copy of the survey details and
results as part of its petition.) RECARO stated its belief that the
survey is a statistically significant confirmation that a very small
percentage of ProSport consumers are misusing the child restraint by
not using the top tether when installing the child restraint with lower
LATCH anchors and that the effectiveness of any noncompliance
notification campaign will be minimal, given the historically low
response rate to technical noncompliance notification campaigns of
child restraints. For example, the survey results indicate that only
those ProSport consumers not properly using the top tether when
installing the child restraint with lower LATCH anchors are likely to
respond to a noncompliance notification. Assuming a response rate of
10% by this group, only 400 of the estimated 4,000 consumers misusing
the child restraint are likely to respond. This statistically
insignificant response renders the technical noncompliance at issue
inconsequential.
3. All vehicles equipped with lower child restraint (LATCH) anchors
are also equipped with top tether anchors. RECARO has received 82
consumer calls regarding the ProSport. (RECARO included copies of
consumer call reports as part of its petition.) No consumer has
questioned the use of the tether when securing the ProSport with the
lower anchors. RECARO has no information of this misuse actually
occurring in the field or of any injuries sustained by a child when
restrained in a ProSport in this misuse condition.
4. RECARO has received notice of three accidents involving four
children seated in ProSport child restraint systems. In these
incidents, the ProSport performed well and the occupant was not
injured. It is not known if the ProSports involved were installed using
the lower LATCH anchors or, if so, whether the top tethers were used.
5. RECARO has implemented an engineering/structural modification to
the ProSport. Dynamic tests of the modified ProSport using a Hybrid II
six year old test dummy secured to the test bench using lower anchors
and no tether confirm that the head excursion requirements of FMVSS No.
213 S5.1.3.1(a)(1) are met. (RECARO included copies of the test reports
as part of its petition.)
6. RECARO stated its belief that the ProSport outperforms any
comparable child restraint with regards to head excursions when
installed with the lap/shoulder belt.
7. Given the relative small number of ProSport child restraints
distributed since introduction in June 2010 (39,181), the effectiveness
of any notification campaign regarding this technical noncompliance
will be limited. Additionally, any noncompliance notice campaign may
result in consumers deciding to discontinue using their ProSport for a
period of time, increasing the risk of injury to a higher degree than
the risk resulting from the small number of consumers misusing the
child restraint by not using the top tether when installing the child
restraint with lower LATCH anchors.
RECARO has additionally informed NHTSA that it has stopped
production of the ProSport at the end of January 2013.
In summation, RECARO believes that the described noncompliance of
its equipment is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety, and that its
petition, to exempt from providing recall notification of noncompliance
as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118 and remedying the recall noncompliance
as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120 should be granted.
Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written data,
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the
docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be
submitted by any of the following methods:
a. By mail addressed to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
b. By hand delivery to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Section is open on
weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal Holidays.
c. Electronically: by logging onto the Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) Web site at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the
online instructions for submitting comments. Comments may also be faxed
to 1-202-493-2251.
Comments must be written in the English language, and be no greater
than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to the length of
necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are submitted in
hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are
[[Page 33152]]
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
Documents submitted to a docket may be viewed by anyone at the
address and times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov by following the online
instructions for accessing the dockets. DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement is available for review in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477-78).
The petition, supporting materials, and all comments received
before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will
be filed and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be
considered to the extent possible. When the petition is granted or
denied, notice of the decision will be published in the Federal
Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
NHTSA notes that the statutory provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to file petitions for a
determination of inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers
only from the duties found in sections 30118 and 30120, respectively,
to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a defect or noncompliance
and to remedy the defect or noncompliance. Therefore, these provisions
only apply to the subject 39,181 \2\ child restraint systems that
RECARO no longer controlled at the time it determined that the
noncompliance existed.
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\2\ RECARO's petition, which was filed under 49 CFR Part 556,
requests an agency decision to exempt RECARO as a motor vehicle
equipment manufacturer from the notification and recall
responsibilities of 49 CFR Part 573 for the affected motor vehicle
equipment. However, a decision on this petition cannot relieve
vehicle distributors and dealers of the prohibitions on the sale,
offer for sale, introduction or delivery for introduction into
interstate commerce of the noncompliant motor vehicle equipment
under their control after RECARO notified them that the subject
noncompliance existed.
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Comment Closing Date: July 3, 2013.
Authority: (49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at
49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8)
Issued On: May 21, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-13099 Filed 5-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P