National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2013-2018 Thomas Built Buses do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 222, School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection. DTNA filed a noncompliance report dated November 27, 2017. DTNA in Collaboration with SynTec Seating Solutions, LLC ``SynTec'' (the seating manufacturer), subsequently petitioned NHTSA on December 15, 2017, and later updated it on September 21, 2018, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of DTNA's petition.

FCA US LLC (FCA US), (formally known as: Chrysler Group LLC) and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen), have determined that certain Mopar Service seat belt assemblies sold to FCA dealers and Volkswagen dealers as replacement equipment in certain model year (MY) 1992-2018 FCA US motor vehicles and certain MY 2009-2018 Volkswagen Routan motor vehicles, do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies. The petitioners have requested that NHTSA deem the subject noncompliance inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. This document grants both petitions in full.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes an Information Collection Request (ICR) for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a document in the Federal Register of April 25, 2019, concerning request for comments on an information collection for NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The document contained incorrect burden estimates.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, and requests comments on the ICR. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on February 1, 2019 (84 FR 1270). There were no comments received.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes to update, reissue, and rename a previously published Department of Transportation (DOT) system of records titled, ``Department of TransportationDOT/ NHTSA 415 Artemis/Vehicle Owner Complaint Information.'' This system of records allows NHTSA to collect and retain complaints, letters communicating vehicle or equipment concerns, and supporting documentation which may include photos, videos, police accident reports, repair invoices or medical information (collectively, ``vehicle owner questionnaires'' or ``VOQs'') submitted by or on behalf of vehicle or equipment owners and lessees (consumers). NHTSA updated the notice with regards to: System Name to Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) System to appropriately identify the specific records maintained in the Artemis system covered by the Privacy Act; System Location to include NHTSA's current address and the location of the Federal disaster recovery facility in Stennis, MS; System Managers to update the name and contact information for the system's current points of contact; Authority for Maintenance of the System to reflect the system's underlying authority; Purposes to provide clarity and facilitate understanding of NHTSA investigation and recall processes; Categories of Records to provide greater clarity of the type of records and information included in the system; Record Source Categories to provide additional information about the mechanisms used by NHTSA for collecting records in the system; and Routine Uses to modify an existing routine use to permit sharing of records with manufacturers named in VOQs earlier in NHTSA's investigation and recall processes than permitted under the previously published system of records notice (SORN), unless a consumer ``opts-out'' at the time of collection, and to provide additional details and clarification about NTHSA referrals of complaints to other agencies; and Policies and Practices for Storage, Retrieval, Retention and Disposal of Records, respectively, to provide additional information about the location of the system, methods of retrieval, individuals permitted to retrieve records, and to specify the applicable NARA record retention schedule; Administration, Technical and Physical Safeguards to detail the privacy-risk mitigating controls applicable to the system. Additionally, this notice includes non-substantive changes to simplify and clarify the language, formatting, and text of the previously published notice to align with the requirements of Office of Management and Budget Memoranda A-108. This updated system, Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) System, will be included in the Department of Transportation's inventory of record systems.

Michelin North America, Inc. (MNA), has determined that certain BFGoodrich gForce Rival S summer performance tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. MNA filed a noncompliance report dated April 17, 2017. MNA also petitioned NHTSA on May 5, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. NHTSA is granting the petition for the reasons stated in this decision.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (JLR), on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover Limited, has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012-2018 Jaguar motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems. JLR filed a noncompliance report dated June 22, 2017. JLR also petitioned NHTSA on July 20, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. For the reasons stated below, NHTSA grants the petition.

Hemphill Brothers Leasing Company, LLC (Hemphill) has submitted a petition, dated April 5, 2018, for a temporary exemption from a shoulder belt requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection,'' for side- facing seats on motorcoaches. NHTSA is publishing this document in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions, and requests comments on the petition and this notice. NHTSA has made no judgment on the merits of Hemphill's petition, except to note a few aspects of the petition that appear not to accord with the provisions of Part 555.

The DOT invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to reinstate an information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections.

This document grants in full Ford Motor Company's (Ford) petition for exemption of the model year 2020 Lincoln Corsair vehicle line from the Federal Motor Vehicle 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 parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.

This document grants in full Toyota Motor North America, Inc.'s, (Toyota) petition for an exemption of the model year 2020 C-HR vehicle line from the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard). The 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 parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.

In accordance with the procedures in the Temporary Exemption from Motor Vehicle Safety and Bumper Standards, General Motors, LLC, (GM) has applied for a temporary exemption for its driverless ``Zero- Emission Autonomous Vehicle'' (ZEAV), an all-electric vehicle with an Automated Driving System (ADS), from part of each of 16 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The ZEAVs would not be equipped with a steering wheel, manually-operated gear selection mechanism, or foot pedals for braking and accelerating. If the requested exemption were granted, GM would use the ZEAVs to provide on-demand mobility services in GM-controlled fleets. GM requests the exemption be granted on either or both of two statutory bases: That it would facilitate the development or field evaluation of a new motor vehicle safety feature providing a level of safety at least equal to those of FMVSS from which exemption is requested, or that it would facilitate the development or field evaluation of a low-emission vehicle without unreasonably lowering the safety performance of the vehicle. NHTSA seeks comment on the merits of and most appropriate statutory basis for GM's exemption petition and whether the petition satisfies the substantive requirements for an exemption. NHTSA will assess the merits of the petition after receiving and considering the public comments on this notice, the petition, public responses to the questions in this notice, and any additional information that might be forthcoming from GM.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2012-2017 Volkswagen motor vehicles do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 126, Electronic Stability Control Systems for Light Vehicles. Volkswagen filed a noncompliance report dated March 1, 2017, and later revised it on December 21, 2017. Volkswagen also petitioned NHTSA on March 2, 2017, and amended the petition on December 21, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces the grant of this petition.

This document proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305, ``Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection,'' to clarify the direct contact protection requirements that apply to high voltage connectors, and to explicitly permit the use of high voltage connectors that cannot be separated without the use of tools. The proposed changes to these requirements would harmonize FMVSS No. 305 with Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) No. 13 and No. 20, which explicitly permit such connectors. In addition, it would make three minor technical corrections to the standard.

This document grants in full the General Motors Corporation's (GM) petition for exemption of the Buick Encore vehicle line in accordance with Exemption from Vehicle 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 parts-marking requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard).

This document grants in full the American Honda Motor Co., Inc.'s (Honda) petition for exemption of the 2019 Model Year (MY) Passport vehicle line in accordance with Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. NHTSA is granting this petition because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the vehicle line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard).

NHTSA withdraws its December 13, 2012 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) mandating installation of an Event Data Recorder (EDR) that meets NHTSA's current EDR standard in most light vehicles. At the time NHTSA published the NPRM, the agency noted that a significant number of light vehicles were being sold without EDRs, and said it believed a mandate was needed. Today, EDRs are installed on nearly all new light vehicles. In light of these changed circumstances, NHTSA believes that a mandate for today's EDRs is no longer necessary and withdrawal of the NPRM is therefore warranted.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, and requests comments on the ICR. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on July 23, 2018. NHTSA received three comments on the 60-day notice. One supported the information collection, another addressed an issue unrelated to information collection, and a third stated that the research is a waste of money without providing any support for the statement. NHTSA has concluded that it is not necessary to make any changes to the information collection based on those comments.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extension and reinstatement of previously approved collections.

NHTSA withdraws its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), published on February 3, 2010, proposing amendments to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 116, Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids. Since publication of the NPRM and after review of the comments, the agency has determined that updates and corrections outside the scope of the notice are necessary in order to publish a final rule. Based on this, the agency has decided to withdraw the proposal to amend FMVSS No. 116.

Michelin North America, Inc. (MNA) has determined that certain Michelin XZL brand tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 lbs) and Motorcycles. MNA filed a noncompliance report dated May 21, 2018, and subsequently petitioned NHTSA on June 15, 2018, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that certain model year (MY) 2016 Chevrolet Equinox multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified 2016 Chevrolet Equinox MPVs) and are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that certain model year (MY) 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL500 multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL550 MPV) and are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that certain model year (MY) 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), but that are certified by their original manufacturer as complying with all applicable Canadian motor vehicle safety standards (CMVSS), are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 MPVs and are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.