Receipt of Petitions for Renewal of Temporary Exemptions From Shoulder Belt Requirement for Side-Facing Seats on Motorcoaches, 54958-54961 [2024-14550]
Download as PDF
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
54958
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
On April 4, 2022, the Vehicle
Research and Test Center (VRTC)
performed testing of the petitioner’s
component (OPS) based on the testing
protocol consistent with Kia’s
specifications for the subject vehicle.
The testing involved the petitioner’s
original OPS in a controlled system to
replicate the subject vehicle’s oil
pressure, flow, and temperature to
determine the leak or flow rate of oil
emanating from the switch by collecting
the volume of oil loss over time. VRTC
calculated that 236 mL of oil loss could
occur under usage conditions consisting
of driving 55 minutes a day for 6
months (the manufacturer
recommended oil change interval of
every 6 months or 7500 miles). Based on
the estimated leak rate and the known
amount of oil in the engine at the ‘full’
oil dipstick level and ‘low’ oil dipstick
level, it would take about 19 oil change
intervals for the engine oil level to drop
from the ‘full’ dipstick level to the level
resulting in illumination of the vehicle
malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and
about 12 oil change intervals for the
engine oil level to drop from the ‘low’
dipstick level to the level resulting in
illumination of the MIL. VRTC
conducted additional testing and
confirmed that the OPS can operate as
intended, despite leaking oil, to
illuminate the vehicle’s MIL to alert the
driver of low oil pressure.
In April of 2022, Kia issued a
warranty extension program that
extended the coverage of the OPS from
5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/150,000
miles for MY 2014–2018 Sorento, MY
2014–2016 Cadenza, and MY 2015–2018
Sedona vehicles, all equipped with the
3.3L Lambda engines. The extended
warranty coverage includes the
diagnosis and repair and covers
customers experiencing oil leaking from
the engine or if the engine oil pressure
warning light stays illuminated after the
engine is turned on.
As of May 5, 2023, NHTSA reviewed
its internal data on MY 2016–2018 Kia
Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L
Lambda engines (population of 161,519
vehicles), which identified no consumer
complaints or field reports that allege
engine failure or stalling related to the
petitioner’s allegation of OPS failures.
ODI’s review of the field data, warranty
data, and technical analysis provided by
Kia identified no engine failures or
vehicle stalling caused by OPS failure/
leaking on the subject vehicles. Based
on this and VRTC’s testing described
above, ODI believes the risk of a vehicle
stalling and/or of a non-crash engine fire
caused by an OPS failure is unlikely.
After a thorough review of the
material submitted by the petitioner,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Jul 01, 2024
Jkt 262001
information already in NHTSA’s
possession, testing performed by VRTC,
technical information provided by Kia,
the potential risks to safety implicated
by the petitioner’s allegation, NHTSA
believes it is unlikely that any
investigation opened by granting this
petition would result in an order
concerning the notification and remedy
of a safety-related defect. Therefore,
upon full consideration of the
information presented in the petition
and the potential risks to safety, the
petition is denied.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d) and 49
CFR part 552; delegation of authority at
49 CFR 1.95(a).1
Eileen Sullivan,
Associate Administrator, Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2024–14570 Filed 7–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2024–0026]
Receipt of Petitions for Renewal of
Temporary Exemptions From Shoulder
Belt Requirement for Side-Facing
Seats on Motorcoaches
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petitions for
renewal of temporary exemptions;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
NHTSA has received almost
identical petitions from 13 final-stage
manufacturers of ‘‘entertainer-type
motorcoaches,’’ seeking renewal of
temporary exemptions from a shoulder
belt requirement of Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.
208, ‘‘Occupant crash protection,’’ for
side-facing seats on motorcoaches. The
petitioners seek to renew their
exemptions that allow them to install
Type 1 seat belts (lap belt only) at sidefacing seating positions, instead of Type
2 seat belts (lap and shoulder belts)
required by FMVSS No. 208. Each
petitioner states that, absent the
requested exemption, it will otherwise
be unable to sell a vehicle whose overall
level of safety or impact protection is at
least equal to that of a nonexempted
vehicle. NHTSA is publishing this
document to notify the public of the
receipt of the petitions and to request
SUMMARY:
1 The authority to determine whether to approve
or deny defect petitions under 49 U.S.C. 30162(d)
and 49 CFR part 552 has been further delegated to
the Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
PO 00000
Frm 00197
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
comment on them, in accordance with
statutory and administrative provisions.
DATES: If you would like to comment,
you should submit your comment not
later than September 3, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Callie Roach, Office of the Chief
Counsel, NCC–200, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590. Telephone: (202) 366–2992; Fax:
(202) 366–3820.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your
comment, identified by the docket
number in the heading of this
document, by any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal
Holidays. To be sure someone is there
to help you, please call (202) 366–9322
before coming.
Instructions: All submissions must
include the agency name and docket
number.
Note that all comments received will
be posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. Please
see the Privacy Act discussion below.
NHTSA will consider all comments
received before the close of business on
the comment closing date indicated
above. To the extent possible, NHTSA
will also consider comments filed after
the closing date.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov at any time or to
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Telephone:
(202) 366–9826. To be sure someone is
there to help you, please call (202) 366–
9322 before coming.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 5
U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its
rulemaking process. DOT posts these
comments, without edit, to
www.regulations.gov, as described in
the system of records notice, DOT/ALL–
14 FDMS, accessible through
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
www.dot.gov/privacy. To facilitate
comment tracking and response, the
agency encourages commenters to
provide their name, or the name of their
organization; however, submission of
names is completely optional. Whether
or not commenters identify themselves,
all timely comments will be fully
considered. If you wish to provide
comments containing proprietary or
confidential information, please see
below.
Confidential Business Information: If
you wish to submit any information
under a claim of confidentiality, you
must submit your request directly to
NHTSA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.
Requests for confidentiality are
governed by part 512. NHTSA is
currently treating electronic submission
as an acceptable method for submitting
confidential business information to the
agency under part 512. If you would like
to submit a request for confidential
treatment, you may email your
submission to Dan Rabinovitz in the
Office of the Chief Counsel at
Daniel.Rabinovitz@dot.gov or you may
contact Dan for a secure file transfer
link. At this time, you should not send
a duplicate hardcopy of your electronic
CBI submissions to DOT headquarters. If
you claim that any of the information or
documents provided to the agency
constitute confidential business
information within the meaning of 5
U.S.C. 552(b)(4), or are protected from
disclosure pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1905,
you must submit supporting
information together with the materials
that are the subject of the confidentiality
request, in accordance with part 512, to
the Office of the Chief Counsel. Your
request must include a cover letter
setting forth the information specified in
our confidential business information
regulation (49 CFR 512.8) and a
certificate, pursuant to § 512.4(b) and
part 512, appendix A. In addition, you
should submit a copy, from which you
have deleted the claimed confidential
business information, to the docket at
the address given above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
I. Background
a. Statutory Authority for Temporary
Exemptions
The National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act), codified
as 49 U.S.C. chapter 301, provides the
Secretary of Transportation with
authority to exempt, on a temporary
basis, under specified circumstances,
and on terms the Secretary considers
appropriate, motor vehicles from a
motor vehicle safety standard or bumper
standard. This authority and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Jul 01, 2024
Jkt 262001
circumstances are set forth in 49 U.S.C.
30113. The Secretary has delegated the
authority for implementing this section
to NHTSA.
NHTSA established 49 CFR part 555,
Temporary Exemption from Motor
Vehicle Safety and Bumper Standards,
to implement the statutory provisions
concerning temporary exemptions,
including renewals of temporary
exemptions. Under part 555 subpart A,
a vehicle manufacturer seeking an
exemption or renewal of an exemption
must submit a petition for exemption
containing specified information.
Among other things, the petition must
set forth (a) the reasons why granting
the exemption would be in the public
interest and consistent with the
objectives of the Safety Act, and (b)
required information showing that the
manufacturer satisfies one of four bases
for an exemption.1 Each petitioner is
applying on the basis that compliance
with the standard would prevent the
manufacturer from selling a motor
vehicle with an overall safety level at
least equal to the overall safety level of
nonexempted vehicles (see 49 CFR
555.6(d)). A manufacturer is eligible for
an exemption on this basis only if
NHTSA determines the exemption is for
not more than 2,500 vehicles to be sold
in the U.S. in any 12-month period. An
exemption on this basis may be granted
for not more than two years, but may be
renewed upon reapplication.2
Under 49 CFR 555.8(e), ‘‘[i]f an
application for renewal of temporary
exemption that meets the requirements
of § 555.5 has been filed not later than
60 days before the termination date of
an exemption, the exemption does not
terminate until the Administrator grants
or denies the application for renewal.’’
NHTSA notes that the 13 petitions for
renewal have been submitted by the
deadline stated in 49 CFR 555.8(e).
b. FMVSS No. 208
On November 25, 2013, NHTSA
published a final rule amending FMVSS
No. 208 to require seat belts for each
passenger seating position in all new
over-the-road buses (OTRBs) regardless
of gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR),
and all other buses with GVWRs greater
than 11,793 kilograms (kg) (26,000
pounds (lb)) (with certain exclusions).3
In the notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM) preceding the final rule (75 FR
CFR 555.5(b)(5) and 555.5(b)(7).
and 555.8(e).
3 78 FR 70415 (November 25, 2013); response to
petitions for reconsideration, 81 FR 19902 (April 6,
2016). The final rule became effective November 28,
2016 for buses manufactured in a single stage, and
a year later for buses manufactured in more than
one stage.
PO 00000
1 49
2 555.8(b)
Frm 00198
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
54959
50958, August 18, 2010), NHTSA
proposed to permit manufacturers the
option of installing either a Type 1 (lap
belt) or a Type 2 (lap and shoulder belt)
on side-facing seats.4 The proposed
option was consistent with an existing
provision in FMVSS No. 208 that allows
lap belts for side-facing seats on buses
with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or
less. NHTSA proposed the option
because the agency was unaware of any
demonstrable increase in associated
risks using lap belts when compared to
using lap and shoulder belts on sidefacing seats. In the NPRM, NHTSA
noted that ‘‘a study commissioned by
the European Commission regarding
side-facing seats on minibuses and
motorcoaches found that due to
different seat belt designs, crash modes
and a lack of real-world data, it cannot
be determined whether a lap belt or a
lap/shoulder belt would be the most
effective.’’ 5
However, after the NPRM was
published, the Motorcoach Enhanced
Safety Act of 2012 was enacted as part
of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the
21st Century Act ((MAP–21), Public
Law 112–141 (July 6, 2012)). Section
32703(a) of MAP–21 directed the
Secretary of Transportation (with
authority delegated to NHTSA) to
‘‘prescribe regulations requiring safety
belts to be installed in motorcoaches at
each designated seating position.’’ 6 As
MAP–21 defined ‘‘safety belt’’ to mean
an integrated lap and shoulder belt, the
final rule amended FMVSS No. 208 to
require lap and shoulder belts at all
designated seating positions, including
side-facing seats, on OTRBs.7
Even as it did so, however, the agency
reiterated its view that ‘‘the addition of
a shoulder belt at [side-facing seats on
light vehicles] is of limited value, given
the paucity of data related to side facing
seats.’’ 8 The agency also noted that
4 75
FR at 50971.
FR at 50971–50972 (citing https://
ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/projects/safety_
consid_long_stg.pdf).
6 MAP–21 states at § 32702(6) that ‘‘the term
‘motorcoach’ has the meaning given the term ‘overthe-road bus’ in section 3038(a)(3) of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49
U.S.C. 5310 note), but does not include a bus used
in public transportation provided by, or on behalf
of, a public transportation agency; or a school bus,
including a multifunction school activity bus.’’
Section 3038(a)(3) (49 U.S.C. 5310 note) states:
‘‘The term ‘over-the-road bus’ means a bus
characterized by an elevated passenger deck located
over a baggage compartment.’’
7 For side-facing seats on buses other than OTRBs,
in the final rule NHTSA permitted either lap or lap/
shoulder belts at the manufacturer’s option.
8 78 FR at 70448 (quoting the agency’s Anton’s
Law final rule, which required lap/shoulder belts in
forward-facing rear seating positions of light
vehicles, 59 FR 70907).
5 75
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
54960
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
Australian Design Rule ADR 5/04,
‘‘Anchorages for Seatbelts’’ specifically
prohibits shoulder belts for side-facing
seats.9
Given that background, and believing
there would be few side-facing seats on
OTRBs, NHTSA stated in the November
2013 final rule that manufacturers may
petition NHTSA for a temporary
exemption under 49 CFR part 555 to
install lap belts instead of lap and
shoulder belts at side-facing seats.10
NHTSA further explained that a
manufacturer could seek such an
exemption on the basis that the
applicant is otherwise unable to sell a
vehicle whose overall level of safety is
at least equal to that of an nonexempted
vehicle, stating that the agency would
be receptive to an argument that, for
side-facing seats, lap belts provide an
equivalent level of safety to lap and
shoulder belts.11
Since issuing the November 2013
final rule, NHTSA has granted
temporary exemptions to 15 final stage
manufacturers of entertainer buses for
the same shoulder belt requirement in
FMVSS No. 208 for side-facing seats on
entertainer buses, including the 13
manufacturers discussed in this notice
who are seeking renewals of their
exemptions.12
In the most recent decision notice
granting one of these exemptions,13
NHTSA’s rationale for granting the
exemption cited the uncertainties about
shoulder belts on side-facing seats, the
few side-facing seats on buses subject to
the November 2013 final rule, and that
FMVSS No. 208 does not require
shoulder belts on side-facing seats on
any other vehicle type. NHTSA’s
analysis also discussed the petitioner’s
statements regarding safety concerns
about the shoulder belt portion of a lap
and shoulder belt on side-facing seats
9 Id.
10 Id.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
11 Id.
12 The first petition was submitted by Hemphill
Brothers Leasing Company, LLC (Hemphill). (Notice
of receipt of petition, 84 FR 11735 (March 28, 2019);
notice of grant of petition, 84 FR 69966 (November
14, 2019)). In its original petition, Hemphill stated
that 39 ‘‘other petitioners’’ were covered by it.
Later, NHTSA granted the 13 petitions submitted by
All Access Coach Leasing LLC, Amadas Coach,
Creative Mobile Interiors, D&S Classic Coach Inc.,
Farber Specialty Vehicles, Florida Coach, Inc.,
Geomarc, Inc., Integrity Interiors LLC, Nitetrain
Coach Company, Inc., Pioneer Coach Interiors LLC,
Roberts Brothers Coach Company, Russell
Coachworks LLC, and Ultra Coach Inc. (Notice of
receipt of the petitions, 85 FR 51550 (August 20,
2022); notice of grant of petitions, 87 FR 33299
(June 1, 2022)). Most recently, NHTSA granted an
exemption to Beat the Street Interiors, Inc. (BTS).
(Notice of receipt of petition, 88 FR 25445 (April
26, 2024); notice of grant of petition, 88 FR 78093
(November 14, 2023)).
13 88 FR 25445.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Jul 01, 2024
Jkt 262001
and noted that the petitioner did not
provide any additional information
about the potential for ‘‘serious injury’’
beyond reciting what NHTSA stated on
the matter in the November 2013 final
rule. NHTSA stated that it believes the
potential safety risk at issue is
theoretical, as explained in the
November 2013 final rule, and that the
agency could not affirmatively
conclude, based on available
information, that shoulder belts on sidefacing seats are associated with a
demonstrated risk of serious neck
injuries in front crashes. However,
NHTSA also stated that it believes a
shoulder belt is of limited value on sidefacing seats for the reasons explained in
the final rule and further explained that
it believed granting the exemption is
consistent with the public interest and
the Safety Act.
II. Receipt of Petitions
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 30113
and the procedures in 49 CFR part 555,
13 final-stage manufacturers of
entertainer motorcoaches have
submitted individual, mostly identical
petitions asking NHTSA for renewals of
their temporary exemptions from the
shoulder belt requirement of FMVSS
No. 208 for side-facing seats on their
vehicles. The petitioners seek renewal
of their exemptions to allow them to
continue installing Type 1 seat belts (lap
belt only) at side-facing seating
positions, instead of Type 2 seat belts
(lap and shoulder belts) as required by
FMVSS No. 208. NHTSA granted the 13
exemptions in a Federal Register notice
published on June 1, 2022 (87 FR 33299)
and the exemptions expire on June 1,
2024. The basis for each of the petitions,
like the petitioners’ original petitions, is
that compliance would prevent each
petitioner from selling a motor vehicle
with an overall safety level at least equal
to the overall safety level of
nonexempted vehicles (49 CFR
555.6(d)).
For the convenience of readers, and to
facilitate administrative processing of
the petitions, NHTSA is issuing this
single document to notify the public of
and request comment on the petitions
rather than publishing separate notices
for each petition. Copies of each petition
have been placed in the docket listed in
the heading of this notice. To view the
petitions, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and enter the
docket number in the heading.
The petitioners are listed
alphabetically as follows: All Access
Coach Leasing LLC, Amadas Coach,
Creative Mobile Interiors, D&S Classic
Coach Inc., Farber Specialty Vehicles,
Florida Coach, Inc., Geomarc, Inc.,
PO 00000
Frm 00199
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Integrity Interiors LLC, Nitetrain Coach
Company, Inc., Pioneer Coach Interiors
LLC, Roberts Brothers Coach Company,
Russell Coachworks LLC, and Ultra
Coach Inc.
a. Brief Overview of the Petitions
Each petitioner states that it is a finalstage manufacturer of entertainer-type
motorcoaches and is responsible for
ensuring the completed vehicle meets
the FMVSS. Each petitioner also states
that it typically receives a bus shell 14
and customizes it to meet the needs of
its entertainer clients and other
specialized customers. Each petitioner
states that it ‘‘builds out the complete
interior’’ of the bus shell, including: roof
escape hatch; fire suppression systems
(interior living space, rear tires,
electrical panels, bay storage
compartments, and generator); ceiling,
side walls and flooring; seating;
electrical system, generator, invertor
and house batteries; interior lighting;
interior entertainment equipment;
heating, ventilation and cooling system;
galley with potable water, cooking
equipment, refrigerators, and storage
cabinets; bathroom and showers; and
sleeping positions.
Pursuant to 49 CFR 555.6(d), an
application must provide ‘‘[a] detailed
analysis of how the vehicle provides the
overall level of safety or impact
protection at least equal to that of
nonexempted vehicles.’’
Each petitioner reiterates, as part of
their justification that the vehicles
provide an overall level of safety
equivalent to that of a nonexempted
vehicle, statements made in NHTSA’s
2013 final rule as well as excerpts from
the agency’s discussion in the June 2022
Federal Register notice granting
temporary exemptions to the 13
petitioners. Specifically, each petitioner
cites NHTSA’s statement that it
‘‘believes a shoulder belt is of limited
value on side-facing seats for the
reasons explained in the [November
2013] final rule.’’ Each petitioner also
cites NHTSA’s conclusion that ‘‘[g]iven
the uncertainties about shoulder belts
on side-facing seats, the few side-facing
seats there are on buses subject to the
November 2013 final rule, and that
FMVSS No. 208 does not require
shoulder belts on side-facing seats on
any other vehicle type, NHTSA is
14 Each petition describes the bus shell as
generally containing the following components:
exterior frame; driver’s seat; dash cluster,
speedometer, emissions light and emissions
diagnosis connector; exterior lighting, headlights,
marker lights, turn signal lights, and brake lights;
exterior glass, windshield and side lights with
emergency exits; windshield wiper system; braking
system; tires, tire pressure monitoring system and
suspension; and engine and transmission.
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
granting the petitions for temporary
exemption.’’ Each petitioner states that
the considerations and conclusions from
the 2022 grant are still pertinent.
Additional details are provided in the
petitions, which may be located in the
docket identified at the top of this
document.
Pursuant to 49 CFR 555.5(b)(7),
petitioners must state why granting an
exemption allowing it to install Type 1
instead of Type 2 seat belts in sidefacing seats would be in the public
interest and consistent with the
objectives of the Safety Act. Each
petitioner states that granting an
exemption would allow the petitioner
the option to continue providing seat
belts at side-facing seating positions that
are equivalent to or exceed the safety
performance of Type 2 belts under the
requirements in FMVSS No. 208
(S4.4.5.1.2(c)). Each petitioner also cites
NHTSA’s statements from the 2022
grant notice in which NHTSA stated
that it believes that granting the
petitioners’ exemption requests is
consistent with the public interest and
that granting the exemptions would
provide relief to small businesses by
providing ‘‘an objective standard that is
easy for manufacturers to understand
and meet.’’
In support of the petitions, each
petitioner also states that only a small
number of entertainer-type
motorcoaches with side-facing seats are
manufactured in the U.S. market each
year and that the number of vehicles
they would produce within any 12month period would be well below the
2,500 limit in part 555.
Each petitioner also indicates that it
expects to seek to renew this exemption,
if granted, at the end of the exemption
period. In support of this intention, each
petitioner notes the agency’s apparent
lack of research, testing, or analysis to
justify the use of Type 2 belts on sidefacing seats in over-the-road-buses.
III. Effective Date for Renewals, if
Granted
As noted above, under 49 CFR
555.8(e), ‘‘[i]f an application for renewal
of temporary exemption that meets the
requirements of § 555.5 has been filed
not later than 60 days before the
termination date of an exemption, the
exemption does not terminate until the
Administrator grants or denies the
application for renewal.’’ As the current
temporary exemptions for the 13
manufacturers end on June 1, 2024, and
NHTSA received the petitions on April
1, 2024, the petitions were submitted by
the deadline stated in 49 CFR 555.8(e).
Accordingly, the exemptions will not
terminate until the Administrator grants
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Jul 01, 2024
Jkt 262001
or denies the applications for renewal.
Since the original two-year exemptions
would have expired on June 1, 2024, if
granted, the new exemption period
would run from June 1, 2024 until June
1, 2026.
Additionally, because each petitioner
cited the low number of entertainer-type
motorcoaches produced each year in
support of its assertion that granting the
renewals would be in the public
interest, NHTSA is requesting that each
of the petitioners submit, during the
comment period, the total number of
vehicles they produced during their
initial exemption period from June 1,
2022 to June 1, 2024.
IV. Comment Period
The agency seeks comment from the
public on the merits of the petitions
requesting renewals of temporary
exemptions from FMVSS No. 208’s
shoulder belt requirement for sidefacing seats. The petitioners seek to
install lap belts at the side-facing seats;
they do not seek to be completely
exempted from a belt requirement.
Further, the petitioners’ requests do not
pertain to forward-facing designated
seating positions on their vehicles.
Under FMVSS No. 208, forward-facing
seating positions on motorcoaches must
have Type 2 lap and shoulder belts, and
the petitioners are not seeking an
exemption from that requirement for
forward-facing seats. After considering
public comments and other available
information, NHTSA will publish a
notice of final action on the petitions in
the Federal Register.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30113; delegation
of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.5.
Sophie Shulman,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024–14550 Filed 7–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
United States Mint
Notification of Citizens Coinage
Advisory Committee Public Meeting—
July 15, 2024 (Day One) and July 16,
2024 (Day Two)
ACTION:
Notice of meeting.
Pursuant to United States Code, title
31, section 5135(b)(8)(C), the United
States Mint announces the Citizens
Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC)
public meeting scheduled for July 15–
16, 2024.
Date: July 15, 2024, and July 16, 2024.
Time: 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT)
each day.
PO 00000
Frm 00200
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
54961
Location: Remote via
Videoconference.
Subject:
July 15, 2024—Day 1
Review and discussion of the
candidate designs for the 2026
Semiquincentennial Dime, two of the
five 2026 Semiquincentennial Quarters
(commemorating the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution),
and the 2026 American Eagle Platinum
Proof Coin.
July 16, 2024—Day 2
Review and discussion of the
candidate designs for the 2026
Semiquincentennial Half Dollar and
2026 Semiquincentennial ‘‘Best of the
Mint’’ Silver Medals.
Interested members of the public may
watch the meeting live stream on the
United States Mint’s YouTube Channel
at https://www.youtube.com/user/
usmint. To watch the meeting live,
members of the public may click on the
‘‘July 15, 2024’’ and ‘‘July 16, 2024’’
icons under the Live Tab for the specific
day.
The public should call the CCAC
HOTLINE at (202) 354–7502 for the
latest updates on meeting time and
access information.
The CCAC advises the Secretary of the
Treasury on any theme or design
proposals relating to circulating coinage,
bullion coinage, Congressional Gold
Medals, and national and other medals;
advises the Secretary of the Treasury
with regard to the events, persons, or
places to be commemorated by the
issuance of commemorative coins in
each of the five calendar years
succeeding the year in which a
commemorative coin designation is
made; and makes recommendations
with respect to the mintage level for any
commemorative coin recommended. For
members of the public interested in
watching on-line, this is a reminder that
the remote access is for observation
purposes only. Members of the public
may submit matters for the CCAC’s
consideration by email to info@
ccac.gov.
For Accommodation Request: If you
require an accommodation to watch the
CCAC meeting, please contact the Office
of Equal Employment Opportunity by
July 9, 2024. You may submit an email
request to
Reasonable.Accommodations@
usmint.treas.gov or call 202–354–7260
or 1–888–646–8369 (TTY).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Warren, United States Mint
Liaison to the CCAC; 801 9th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20220; or call 202–354–
7208.
E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM
02JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54958-54961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14550]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2024-0026]
Receipt of Petitions for Renewal of Temporary Exemptions From
Shoulder Belt Requirement for Side-Facing Seats on Motorcoaches
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petitions for renewal of temporary
exemptions; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NHTSA has received almost identical petitions from 13 final-
stage manufacturers of ``entertainer-type motorcoaches,'' seeking
renewal of temporary exemptions from a shoulder belt requirement of
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant crash
protection,'' for side-facing seats on motorcoaches. The petitioners
seek to renew their exemptions that allow them to install Type 1 seat
belts (lap belt only) at side-facing seating positions, instead of Type
2 seat belts (lap and shoulder belts) required by FMVSS No. 208. Each
petitioner states that, absent the requested exemption, it will
otherwise be unable to sell a vehicle whose overall level of safety or
impact protection is at least equal to that of a nonexempted vehicle.
NHTSA is publishing this document to notify the public of the receipt
of the petitions and to request comment on them, in accordance with
statutory and administrative provisions.
DATES: If you would like to comment, you should submit your comment not
later than September 3, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Callie Roach, Office of the Chief
Counsel, NCC-200, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2992;
Fax: (202) 366-3820.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comment, identified by the docket number
in the heading of this document, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. To be sure someone is
there to help you, please call (202) 366-9322 before coming.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number.
Note that all comments received will be posted without change to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided. Please see the Privacy Act discussion below. NHTSA will
consider all comments received before the close of business on the
comment closing date indicated above. To the extent possible, NHTSA
will also consider comments filed after the closing date.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov at any time or to
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Telephone: (202) 366-9826. To be sure someone
is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9322 before coming.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT
posts these comments, without edit, to www.regulations.gov, as
described in the system of records notice, DOT/ALL-14 FDMS, accessible
through
[[Page 54959]]
www.dot.gov/privacy. To facilitate comment tracking and response, the
agency encourages commenters to provide their name, or the name of
their organization; however, submission of names is completely
optional. Whether or not commenters identify themselves, all timely
comments will be fully considered. If you wish to provide comments
containing proprietary or confidential information, please see below.
Confidential Business Information: If you wish to submit any
information under a claim of confidentiality, you must submit your
request directly to NHTSA's Office of the Chief Counsel. Requests for
confidentiality are governed by part 512. NHTSA is currently treating
electronic submission as an acceptable method for submitting
confidential business information to the agency under part 512. If you
would like to submit a request for confidential treatment, you may
email your submission to Dan Rabinovitz in the Office of the Chief
Counsel at [email protected] or you may contact Dan for a
secure file transfer link. At this time, you should not send a
duplicate hardcopy of your electronic CBI submissions to DOT
headquarters. If you claim that any of the information or documents
provided to the agency constitute confidential business information
within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), or are protected from
disclosure pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1905, you must submit supporting
information together with the materials that are the subject of the
confidentiality request, in accordance with part 512, to the Office of
the Chief Counsel. Your request must include a cover letter setting
forth the information specified in our confidential business
information regulation (49 CFR 512.8) and a certificate, pursuant to
Sec. 512.4(b) and part 512, appendix A. In addition, you should submit
a copy, from which you have deleted the claimed confidential business
information, to the docket at the address given above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
a. Statutory Authority for Temporary Exemptions
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act),
codified as 49 U.S.C. chapter 301, provides the Secretary of
Transportation with authority to exempt, on a temporary basis, under
specified circumstances, and on terms the Secretary considers
appropriate, motor vehicles from a motor vehicle safety standard or
bumper standard. This authority and circumstances are set forth in 49
U.S.C. 30113. The Secretary has delegated the authority for
implementing this section to NHTSA.
NHTSA established 49 CFR part 555, Temporary Exemption from Motor
Vehicle Safety and Bumper Standards, to implement the statutory
provisions concerning temporary exemptions, including renewals of
temporary exemptions. Under part 555 subpart A, a vehicle manufacturer
seeking an exemption or renewal of an exemption must submit a petition
for exemption containing specified information. Among other things, the
petition must set forth (a) the reasons why granting the exemption
would be in the public interest and consistent with the objectives of
the Safety Act, and (b) required information showing that the
manufacturer satisfies one of four bases for an exemption.\1\ Each
petitioner is applying on the basis that compliance with the standard
would prevent the manufacturer from selling a motor vehicle with an
overall safety level at least equal to the overall safety level of
nonexempted vehicles (see 49 CFR 555.6(d)). A manufacturer is eligible
for an exemption on this basis only if NHTSA determines the exemption
is for not more than 2,500 vehicles to be sold in the U.S. in any 12-
month period. An exemption on this basis may be granted for not more
than two years, but may be renewed upon reapplication.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 49 CFR 555.5(b)(5) and 555.5(b)(7).
\2\ 555.8(b) and 555.8(e).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 49 CFR 555.8(e), ``[i]f an application for renewal of
temporary exemption that meets the requirements of Sec. 555.5 has been
filed not later than 60 days before the termination date of an
exemption, the exemption does not terminate until the Administrator
grants or denies the application for renewal.'' NHTSA notes that the 13
petitions for renewal have been submitted by the deadline stated in 49
CFR 555.8(e).
b. FMVSS No. 208
On November 25, 2013, NHTSA published a final rule amending FMVSS
No. 208 to require seat belts for each passenger seating position in
all new over-the-road buses (OTRBs) regardless of gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR), and all other buses with GVWRs greater than 11,793
kilograms (kg) (26,000 pounds (lb)) (with certain exclusions).\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 78 FR 70415 (November 25, 2013); response to petitions for
reconsideration, 81 FR 19902 (April 6, 2016). The final rule became
effective November 28, 2016 for buses manufactured in a single
stage, and a year later for buses manufactured in more than one
stage.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) preceding the final
rule (75 FR 50958, August 18, 2010), NHTSA proposed to permit
manufacturers the option of installing either a Type 1 (lap belt) or a
Type 2 (lap and shoulder belt) on side-facing seats.\4\ The proposed
option was consistent with an existing provision in FMVSS No. 208 that
allows lap belts for side-facing seats on buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg
(10,000 lb) or less. NHTSA proposed the option because the agency was
unaware of any demonstrable increase in associated risks using lap
belts when compared to using lap and shoulder belts on side-facing
seats. In the NPRM, NHTSA noted that ``a study commissioned by the
European Commission regarding side-facing seats on minibuses and
motorcoaches found that due to different seat belt designs, crash modes
and a lack of real-world data, it cannot be determined whether a lap
belt or a lap/shoulder belt would be the most effective.'' \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 75 FR at 50971.
\5\ 75 FR at 50971-50972 (citing https://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/projects/safety_consid_long_stg.pdf).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
However, after the NPRM was published, the Motorcoach Enhanced
Safety Act of 2012 was enacted as part of the Moving Ahead for Progress
in the 21st Century Act ((MAP-21), Public Law 112-141 (July 6, 2012)).
Section 32703(a) of MAP-21 directed the Secretary of Transportation
(with authority delegated to NHTSA) to ``prescribe regulations
requiring safety belts to be installed in motorcoaches at each
designated seating position.'' \6\ As MAP-21 defined ``safety belt'' to
mean an integrated lap and shoulder belt, the final rule amended FMVSS
No. 208 to require lap and shoulder belts at all designated seating
positions, including side-facing seats, on OTRBs.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ MAP-21 states at Sec. 32702(6) that ``the term `motorcoach'
has the meaning given the term `over-the-road bus' in section
3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49
U.S.C. 5310 note), but does not include a bus used in public
transportation provided by, or on behalf of, a public transportation
agency; or a school bus, including a multifunction school activity
bus.'' Section 3038(a)(3) (49 U.S.C. 5310 note) states: ``The term
`over-the-road bus' means a bus characterized by an elevated
passenger deck located over a baggage compartment.''
\7\ For side-facing seats on buses other than OTRBs, in the
final rule NHTSA permitted either lap or lap/shoulder belts at the
manufacturer's option.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even as it did so, however, the agency reiterated its view that
``the addition of a shoulder belt at [side-facing seats on light
vehicles] is of limited value, given the paucity of data related to
side facing seats.'' \8\ The agency also noted that
[[Page 54960]]
Australian Design Rule ADR 5/04, ``Anchorages for Seatbelts''
specifically prohibits shoulder belts for side-facing seats.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ 78 FR at 70448 (quoting the agency's Anton's Law final rule,
which required lap/shoulder belts in forward-facing rear seating
positions of light vehicles, 59 FR 70907).
\9\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Given that background, and believing there would be few side-facing
seats on OTRBs, NHTSA stated in the November 2013 final rule that
manufacturers may petition NHTSA for a temporary exemption under 49 CFR
part 555 to install lap belts instead of lap and shoulder belts at
side-facing seats.\10\ NHTSA further explained that a manufacturer
could seek such an exemption on the basis that the applicant is
otherwise unable to sell a vehicle whose overall level of safety is at
least equal to that of an nonexempted vehicle, stating that the agency
would be receptive to an argument that, for side-facing seats, lap
belts provide an equivalent level of safety to lap and shoulder
belts.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Id.
\11\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since issuing the November 2013 final rule, NHTSA has granted
temporary exemptions to 15 final stage manufacturers of entertainer
buses for the same shoulder belt requirement in FMVSS No. 208 for side-
facing seats on entertainer buses, including the 13 manufacturers
discussed in this notice who are seeking renewals of their
exemptions.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ The first petition was submitted by Hemphill Brothers
Leasing Company, LLC (Hemphill). (Notice of receipt of petition, 84
FR 11735 (March 28, 2019); notice of grant of petition, 84 FR 69966
(November 14, 2019)). In its original petition, Hemphill stated that
39 ``other petitioners'' were covered by it. Later, NHTSA granted
the 13 petitions submitted by All Access Coach Leasing LLC, Amadas
Coach, Creative Mobile Interiors, D&S Classic Coach Inc., Farber
Specialty Vehicles, Florida Coach, Inc., Geomarc, Inc., Integrity
Interiors LLC, Nitetrain Coach Company, Inc., Pioneer Coach
Interiors LLC, Roberts Brothers Coach Company, Russell Coachworks
LLC, and Ultra Coach Inc. (Notice of receipt of the petitions, 85 FR
51550 (August 20, 2022); notice of grant of petitions, 87 FR 33299
(June 1, 2022)). Most recently, NHTSA granted an exemption to Beat
the Street Interiors, Inc. (BTS). (Notice of receipt of petition, 88
FR 25445 (April 26, 2024); notice of grant of petition, 88 FR 78093
(November 14, 2023)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the most recent decision notice granting one of these
exemptions,\13\ NHTSA's rationale for granting the exemption cited the
uncertainties about shoulder belts on side-facing seats, the few side-
facing seats on buses subject to the November 2013 final rule, and that
FMVSS No. 208 does not require shoulder belts on side-facing seats on
any other vehicle type. NHTSA's analysis also discussed the
petitioner's statements regarding safety concerns about the shoulder
belt portion of a lap and shoulder belt on side-facing seats and noted
that the petitioner did not provide any additional information about
the potential for ``serious injury'' beyond reciting what NHTSA stated
on the matter in the November 2013 final rule. NHTSA stated that it
believes the potential safety risk at issue is theoretical, as
explained in the November 2013 final rule, and that the agency could
not affirmatively conclude, based on available information, that
shoulder belts on side-facing seats are associated with a demonstrated
risk of serious neck injuries in front crashes. However, NHTSA also
stated that it believes a shoulder belt is of limited value on side-
facing seats for the reasons explained in the final rule and further
explained that it believed granting the exemption is consistent with
the public interest and the Safety Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ 88 FR 25445.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Receipt of Petitions
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 30113 and the procedures in 49 CFR
part 555, 13 final-stage manufacturers of entertainer motorcoaches have
submitted individual, mostly identical petitions asking NHTSA for
renewals of their temporary exemptions from the shoulder belt
requirement of FMVSS No. 208 for side-facing seats on their vehicles.
The petitioners seek renewal of their exemptions to allow them to
continue installing Type 1 seat belts (lap belt only) at side-facing
seating positions, instead of Type 2 seat belts (lap and shoulder
belts) as required by FMVSS No. 208. NHTSA granted the 13 exemptions in
a Federal Register notice published on June 1, 2022 (87 FR 33299) and
the exemptions expire on June 1, 2024. The basis for each of the
petitions, like the petitioners' original petitions, is that compliance
would prevent each petitioner from selling a motor vehicle with an
overall safety level at least equal to the overall safety level of
nonexempted vehicles (49 CFR 555.6(d)).
For the convenience of readers, and to facilitate administrative
processing of the petitions, NHTSA is issuing this single document to
notify the public of and request comment on the petitions rather than
publishing separate notices for each petition. Copies of each petition
have been placed in the docket listed in the heading of this notice. To
view the petitions, go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter the
docket number in the heading.
The petitioners are listed alphabetically as follows: All Access
Coach Leasing LLC, Amadas Coach, Creative Mobile Interiors, D&S Classic
Coach Inc., Farber Specialty Vehicles, Florida Coach, Inc., Geomarc,
Inc., Integrity Interiors LLC, Nitetrain Coach Company, Inc., Pioneer
Coach Interiors LLC, Roberts Brothers Coach Company, Russell Coachworks
LLC, and Ultra Coach Inc.
a. Brief Overview of the Petitions
Each petitioner states that it is a final-stage manufacturer of
entertainer-type motorcoaches and is responsible for ensuring the
completed vehicle meets the FMVSS. Each petitioner also states that it
typically receives a bus shell \14\ and customizes it to meet the needs
of its entertainer clients and other specialized customers. Each
petitioner states that it ``builds out the complete interior'' of the
bus shell, including: roof escape hatch; fire suppression systems
(interior living space, rear tires, electrical panels, bay storage
compartments, and generator); ceiling, side walls and flooring;
seating; electrical system, generator, invertor and house batteries;
interior lighting; interior entertainment equipment; heating,
ventilation and cooling system; galley with potable water, cooking
equipment, refrigerators, and storage cabinets; bathroom and showers;
and sleeping positions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ Each petition describes the bus shell as generally
containing the following components: exterior frame; driver's seat;
dash cluster, speedometer, emissions light and emissions diagnosis
connector; exterior lighting, headlights, marker lights, turn signal
lights, and brake lights; exterior glass, windshield and side lights
with emergency exits; windshield wiper system; braking system;
tires, tire pressure monitoring system and suspension; and engine
and transmission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to 49 CFR 555.6(d), an application must provide ``[a]
detailed analysis of how the vehicle provides the overall level of
safety or impact protection at least equal to that of nonexempted
vehicles.''
Each petitioner reiterates, as part of their justification that the
vehicles provide an overall level of safety equivalent to that of a
nonexempted vehicle, statements made in NHTSA's 2013 final rule as well
as excerpts from the agency's discussion in the June 2022 Federal
Register notice granting temporary exemptions to the 13 petitioners.
Specifically, each petitioner cites NHTSA's statement that it
``believes a shoulder belt is of limited value on side-facing seats for
the reasons explained in the [November 2013] final rule.'' Each
petitioner also cites NHTSA's conclusion that ``[g]iven the
uncertainties about shoulder belts on side-facing seats, the few side-
facing seats there are on buses subject to the November 2013 final
rule, and that FMVSS No. 208 does not require shoulder belts on side-
facing seats on any other vehicle type, NHTSA is
[[Page 54961]]
granting the petitions for temporary exemption.'' Each petitioner
states that the considerations and conclusions from the 2022 grant are
still pertinent. Additional details are provided in the petitions,
which may be located in the docket identified at the top of this
document.
Pursuant to 49 CFR 555.5(b)(7), petitioners must state why granting
an exemption allowing it to install Type 1 instead of Type 2 seat belts
in side-facing seats would be in the public interest and consistent
with the objectives of the Safety Act. Each petitioner states that
granting an exemption would allow the petitioner the option to continue
providing seat belts at side-facing seating positions that are
equivalent to or exceed the safety performance of Type 2 belts under
the requirements in FMVSS No. 208 (S4.4.5.1.2(c)). Each petitioner also
cites NHTSA's statements from the 2022 grant notice in which NHTSA
stated that it believes that granting the petitioners' exemption
requests is consistent with the public interest and that granting the
exemptions would provide relief to small businesses by providing ``an
objective standard that is easy for manufacturers to understand and
meet.''
In support of the petitions, each petitioner also states that only
a small number of entertainer-type motorcoaches with side-facing seats
are manufactured in the U.S. market each year and that the number of
vehicles they would produce within any 12-month period would be well
below the 2,500 limit in part 555.
Each petitioner also indicates that it expects to seek to renew
this exemption, if granted, at the end of the exemption period. In
support of this intention, each petitioner notes the agency's apparent
lack of research, testing, or analysis to justify the use of Type 2
belts on side-facing seats in over-the-road-buses.
III. Effective Date for Renewals, if Granted
As noted above, under 49 CFR 555.8(e), ``[i]f an application for
renewal of temporary exemption that meets the requirements of Sec.
555.5 has been filed not later than 60 days before the termination date
of an exemption, the exemption does not terminate until the
Administrator grants or denies the application for renewal.'' As the
current temporary exemptions for the 13 manufacturers end on June 1,
2024, and NHTSA received the petitions on April 1, 2024, the petitions
were submitted by the deadline stated in 49 CFR 555.8(e). Accordingly,
the exemptions will not terminate until the Administrator grants or
denies the applications for renewal. Since the original two-year
exemptions would have expired on June 1, 2024, if granted, the new
exemption period would run from June 1, 2024 until June 1, 2026.
Additionally, because each petitioner cited the low number of
entertainer-type motorcoaches produced each year in support of its
assertion that granting the renewals would be in the public interest,
NHTSA is requesting that each of the petitioners submit, during the
comment period, the total number of vehicles they produced during their
initial exemption period from June 1, 2022 to June 1, 2024.
IV. Comment Period
The agency seeks comment from the public on the merits of the
petitions requesting renewals of temporary exemptions from FMVSS No.
208's shoulder belt requirement for side-facing seats. The petitioners
seek to install lap belts at the side-facing seats; they do not seek to
be completely exempted from a belt requirement. Further, the
petitioners' requests do not pertain to forward-facing designated
seating positions on their vehicles. Under FMVSS No. 208, forward-
facing seating positions on motorcoaches must have Type 2 lap and
shoulder belts, and the petitioners are not seeking an exemption from
that requirement for forward-facing seats. After considering public
comments and other available information, NHTSA will publish a notice
of final action on the petitions in the Federal Register.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30113; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95
and 501.5.
Sophie Shulman,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-14550 Filed 7-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P