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

NHTSA is issuing this NPRM to propose a new Federal motor vehicle safety standard to enhance the rollover structural integrity of certain types of large buses (generally, over-the-road buses (of any weight) and non-over-the-road buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 11,793 kilograms (kg) (26,000 pounds (lb)). The agency is proposing performance requirements that new large buses of these types must meet in a test in which the vehicle is tipped over from an 800 millimeter (mm) raised platform onto a level ground surface. The performance requirements would ensure that these vehicles provide a sufficient level of survival space to restrained occupants in rollover crashes. The performance requirements would also ensure that seats and overhead luggage racks remain secured and window glazing attached to its mounting during and after a rollover crash, and would ensure that emergency exits remain closed during the rollover crash and operable after the crash. This NPRM is among the rulemakings issued pursuant to NHTSA's 2007 Approach to Motorcoach Safety and DOT's Departmental Motorcoach Safety Action Plan. In addition, establishing roof strength and crush resistance requirements, to the extent warranted under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, would fulfill a statutory provision of the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2012 (incorporated and passed as part of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act).

This document grants in full the Nissan North America, Inc.'s, (Nissan) petition for an exemption of the NV200 Taxi vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, 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 49 CFR part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard). Nissan also requested confidential treatment of specific information in its petition. The agency will address Nissan's request for confidential treatment by separate letter.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on May 6, 2014 (79 FR 25984). The 60-day comment period ended on July 7, 2014. The agency received no comments.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting public comments on the following information collection was published on April 30, 2014 (Federal Register/Vol. 79, No. 83/pp. 24494-24495).

This notice states the reasons for denying a Defect Petition (DP) (DP 13-002) submitted under 49 CFR parts 552 by Ms. Jessie A. Powell of Middleboro, MA (petitioner) in a January, 2013 letter to the Administrator of NHTSA (the ``Agency''). The petitioner requested that the Agency open an investigation into software and brake failures on model year (MY) 2012 Toyota Prius C vehicles (the ``Subject Vehicles''). After reviewing materials in-hand, those furnished by the petitioner, and upon completing an inspection of her vehicle, NHTSA sees no indication that additional investigation would lead to a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists. NHTSA has concluded that further investigation of the issue raised in the petition is not warranted. The Agency accordingly has denied the petition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notices with a 60-day and a 30-day comment period were published on February 27, 2012 (77 FR 11626) and on December 23, 2013 (78 FR 77554), respectively. No comments were received on this matter. This document describes the collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval. The collection of information described is the ``Consolidated Child Restraint System Registration, Labeling and Defect Notification.'' (OMB Control Number: 2127-0576)

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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 comment. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on April 21, 2014 (76 FR 7897-7898).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below regarding motorcycle helmet labels has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on March 25, 2014 (79 FR 16420). The docket number is NHTSA-2014-0031. No comments were received.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on April 11, 2014 (79 FR 20967).

NHTSA plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of new fuel efficiency standards for commercial medium- and heavy-duty on-highway vehicles and work trucks (potentially covering engines, chassis, vehicles, and/or trailers manufactured after model year 2018) that will be proposed by the agency pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This document initiates the scoping process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS and for identifying the significant environmental issues related to the proposed action. Further, it discusses cooperating agencies, the environmental review process, and the agency's tentative planning and decision-making schedule. NHTSA invites the participation of Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, stakeholders, and the public in this process to help identify the significant issues and reasonable alternatives to be examined in the EIS, and to eliminate from detailed study the issues that are not significant.

This notice announces NHTSA's publication of a technical report evaluating the upgraded FMVSS No. 301. The report's title is: Evaluation of FMVSS No. 301, ``Fuel System Integrity,'' as Upgraded in 2005 to 2009.

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 reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

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 reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

This document announces decisions by NHTSA that certain motor vehicles 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 originally manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturers as complying with the safety standards, and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards or because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2010-2014 Transit Connect vehicles do not fully comply with paragraph S5.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials. Ford has filed an appropriate report dated March 31, 2014, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

This notice announces NHTSA's Request for Information (RFI) and comment on the potential development of a mapping software to translate the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10- CM) discharge diagnoses into Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) pre-dot codes, injury descriptors, and severity scores. NHTSA is issuing this RFI in collaboration with, and on behalf of, its member agencies within the DOT Traffic Records Coordinating Committee (DOT/ TRCC), specifically the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Feedback and comments on any aspect of the RFI are welcome from all interested public, private, and academic entities. While all feedback is welcome, DOT is particularly interested in feedback on the questions provided in the last section of this RFI.

In accordance with the procedures in 49 CFR part 555, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (Toyota) has petitioned the agency for a temporary exemption from one requirement of FMVSS No. 305. That portion of FMVSS No. 305 requires manufacturers to maintain a certain level of electrical isolation (or reduce the voltage below specified levels) of high voltage electrical components of an electric vehicle (EV) in the event of a crash in order to protect the vehicle's occupants and first responders. Toyota states that a forthcoming fuel cell vehicle (FCV) model cannot meet this requirement due to certain design characteristics of their FCVs. Instead, Toyota states that it is using alternative strategies to help ensure that occupants and first responders are protected in the event of a crash. NHTSA has made no judgment on the merits of the application. This notice of receipt of an application for a temporary exemption is published in accordance with statutory and administrative provisions.

KBC America, Inc. ``KBCA'' has determined that certain motorcycle helmets manufactured by KBC Corporation for Harley-Davidson as Harley-Davidson brand helmets do not fully comply with paragraph S4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218, Motorcycle Helmets. KBCA has filed an appropriate report dated December 12, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

General Motors, LLC (GM) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2010-2014 GM Cadillac SRX multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs), do not fully comply with paragraph S4.4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) FMVSS No. 110, Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less and paragraph S4.4 of FMVSS No. 109, New pneumatic and certain specialty tires. GM has filed an appropriate report dated November 27, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

This document reopens the comment period for a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published January 28, 2014. The NPRM proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, ``Child restraint systems,'' to adopt side impact performance requirements for all child restraint systems designed to seat children in a weight range that includes weights up to 18 kilograms (kg) (40 pounds (lb)). The original comment period closed April 28, 2014. In response to a petition from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, NHTSA is reopening the comment closing date for 120 days.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstract regarding the Petitions for Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on March 21, 2014 (79 FR 15799). The agency received no comments.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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 comments. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on March 14, 2014.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on January 3, 2011 (76 FR 210). This document describes a collection of labeling information on five Federal motor vehicle safety standards for which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeks OMB approval. The labeling requirements include brake fluid warning, glazing labeling, safety belt labeling, and vehicle certification labeling.

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. NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request OMB approval for a new collection of information. The collection involves eligibility, demographic, scheduling preferences, and debriefing questionnaires. The information will be used to recruit participants for a research study that focuses on driver response with various automatic transmission gear selector designs during routine and emergency simulated driving scenarios.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, ``Cooper'' has determined that certain Cooper light truck tires do not fully comply with paragraph S6.4 of Federal Motor Tire Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) and Motorcycles. Cooper has filed an appropriate report dated December 6, 2013 pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.