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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below, regarding the reinstatement of a previously approved collection of information on Federal Motor vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 125, will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. The ICR describes the labeling requirement for warning devices and its expected burden. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on May 3, 2022. No comments were received.

FCA US LLC (f/k/a Chrysler Group LLC) (``FCA US'') has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 4500/5500 Cab Chassis motor vehicles equipped with Mopar rear brake hoses and replacement brake hoses sold to FCA US dealers do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 106, Brake Hoses. FCA US filed two noncompliance reports with NHTSA (the ``Agency''), both dated October 22, 2020. FCA US subsequently petitioned NHTSA on November 13, 2020, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces and explains the denial of FCA US's petition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This document describes a new collection of information for consumer research purposes regarding the Government 5-Star Safety Ratings section of the Monroney label for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on November 19, 2021. Seven (7) public comments were received before the closing date of January 18, 2022.

NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension with modification of a currently approved 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 extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes collections of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval that collect for NHTSA's Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS), Non-Traffic Surveillance (NTS), and special studies.

NHTSA is soliciting applications for appointment/reappointment to the DOT's NEMSAC. The purpose of NEMSAC is to serve as a nationally recognized council of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to DOT. Through NHTSA, NEMSAC's advice is provided to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).

This action proposes revised uniform procedures implementing State highway safety grant programs, as a result of enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL). It also reorganizes, streamlines and updates some grant requirements. The agency requests comments on the proposed rule.

This document proposes fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and future FYs relating to the registration of importers and the importation of motor vehicles not certified as conforming to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). In addition to proposing new fee amounts, this document also proposes three modifications to existing provisions of part 594. The first seeks to modify our assessment of the administrative costs of registered importer (RI) renewals by authorizing collection of inspection costs as part of the inspected entity's monthly invoice instead of adding those costs to its annual renewal fee. The second proposal would seek to adjust how a vehicle inspection fee is determined in cases where an RI requests inspection of a vehicle subject to an eligibility petition. Finally, the third proposal would clarify circumstances in which NHTSA (the Agency) would charge additional fees for submission of conformity packages with errors or omissions. The fees in this update are mandated by statute and are necessary to maintain the RI program.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice (``30-day notice'') announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and is a request for a reinstatement of a previously approved information collection regarding an exemption for the make inoperative prohibition to accommodate people with disabilities. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on January 12, 2022. NHTSA received one comment on the 60-day notice. The comment generally supported the information collection and further addressed broad issues not discussed in this ICR. Therefore, NHTSA has concluded that it is not necessary to make any changes to the information collection based on the comment received for the 60-day notice.

Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, (Hercules), has determined that certain Ironman iMOVE PT specialty trailer tires do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. Hercules filed an original noncompliance report dated May 10, 2022, and amended the report on May 12, 2022. Hercules petitioned NHTSA on June 21, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Hercules's petition.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection to study ways to help improve Officers' performance and Law Enforcement programs for Drug Recognition Experts (DRE). 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 describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Strategies to Improve DRE Officers' Performance and Law Enforcement Agencies' DRE Programs.

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC, (DTNA), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2019-2022 Thomas Built school buses do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 217, Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release. DTNA filed an original noncompliance report dated February 9, 2022, and amended the report on April 13, 2022. DTNA petitioned NHTSA on March 1, 2022, and later amended the petition on April 13, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of DTNA's petition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes a new information collection to survey a national sample of law enforcement and its expected burden. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on March 29, 2022. NHTSA received two comments. As explained in this document, neither of the comments necessitates revisions to the information collection or burden estimates.

Columbus Trading-Partners USA, Inc., (CTP), has determined that certain Cybex child restraint systems distributed by CTP do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, Child Restraint Systems. CTP filed an original noncompliance report dated June 30, 2022. CTP petitioned NHTSA on July 5, 2022, and amended the petition on August 4, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of CTP's petition.

NHTSA received five requests to extend the comment period for a notice NHTSA published on July 21, 2022, seeking comment on NHTSA's receipt of a petition for temporary exemption from General Motors (GM). GM's petition seeks a temporary exemption from various requirements of the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system (ADS). In accordance with statutory and administrative provisions, NHTSA published a notice announcing receipt of GM's petition and seeking public comment. The comment period for the notice was scheduled to end on August 22, 2022. NHTSA is extending the comment period for the July 21, 2022 notice by 30 days.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NHTSA intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for model years (MYs) 2027 and beyond passenger automobiles (referred to herein as ``passenger cars'') and non-passenger automobiles (referred to herein as ``light trucks'') and new fuel efficiency (FE) standards for MYs 2029 and beyond heavy- duty pickup trucks and vans that NHTSA will be proposing pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). This notice initiates the process for determining the scope of considerations to be addressed in the EIS and for identifying any significant environmental matters related to the proposed action. NHTSA invites comments from Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, stakeholders, and the public in this scoping process to help identify and focus any matters of environmental significance and reasonable alternatives to be examined in the EIS.

This document grants in full the Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) petition for exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (theft prevention standard) for its confidential vehicle line beginning in model year (MY) 2024. 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. Mazda also requested confidential treatment for specific information in its petition. Therefore, no confidential information provided for purposes of this notice has been disclosed.

Hercules Tire & Rubber Company, (Hercules), has determined that certain Hercules Power ST2 radial trailer 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 Pounds), Specialty Tires, and Tires for Motorcycles. Hercules filed an original noncompliance report dated December 9, 2021, and amended the report on December 14, 2021, and March 9, 2022. Hercules petitioned NHTSA on December 16, 2021, and amended the petition on March 9, 2022, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Hercules's petition.

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) has determined that certain model year (MY) 2011-2021 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school 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 December 17, 2019, and later amended the report on January 16, 2020. DTNA subsequently petitioned NHTSA on January 16, 2020, (DTNA incorrectly dated their petition January 16, 2019) for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces and explains the denial of DTNA's petition.

This final rule amends the occupant protection Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSSs) to account for future vehicles that do not have the traditional manual controls associated with a human driver because they are equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS). This final rule makes clear that, despite their innovative designs, vehicles with ADS technology must continue to provide the same high levels of occupant protection that current passenger vehicles provide. The occupant protection standards are currently written for traditionally designed vehicles and use terms such as ``driver's seat'' and ``steering wheel,'' that are not meaningful to vehicle designs that, for example, lack a steering wheel or other driver controls. This final rule updates the standards in a manner that clarifies existing terminology while avoiding unnecessary terminology, and, in doing so, resolves ambiguities in applying the standards to ADS-equipped vehicles without traditional manual controls. In addition, this final rule amends the standards in a manner that maintains the existing regulatory text whenever possible, to make clear that this rule maintains the level of crash protection currently provided occupants in more traditionally designed vehicles. This final rule is limited to the crashworthiness standards to provide a unified set of regulatory text applicable to vehicles with and without ADS functionality.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new 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 describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on an evaluation of the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC) program.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted on August 7, 2018, by Mr. Gary Weinreich (the petitioner) to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The petition requests that the Agency investigate alleged ``premature and excessive frame corrosion'' in model year (MY) 2002 through 2006 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The petitioner bases his request upon his own experience with a MY 2005 Toyota 4Runner, a class action lawsuit settlement involving other Toyota products, and other complaints of underbody corrosion in Toyota 4Runner vehicles that he found in NHTSA's online complaint database. After reviewing the information provided by the petitioner regarding his vehicle, facts related to the class action lawsuit cited by the petitioner, and field data regarding underbody corrosion in Toyota 4Runner vehicles, NHTSA has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to pursue further action. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition.

This final rule provides the statutorily-prescribed 2022 adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations. In addition, this rule notes new DOT civil penalties authority provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL, enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period for approval of a reinstatement of this previously approved information collection was published on August 20, 2020. The agency received no comments.

This final rule amends NHTSA's regulations regarding exemptions to the make inoperative prohibition to accommodate disabilities to include new exemptions relating to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for roof crush resistance, rear visibility, and air bags. The air bag provision permits rental car companies to make inoperative a knee bolster air bag, on a temporary basis, to permit the temporary installation of hand controls to accommodate persons with physical disabilities seeking to rent the vehicle. We have drafted this rule to facilitate the mobility of drivers and passengers with physical disabilities in a manner that balances safety and accessibility. This rulemaking responds to a petition for rulemaking from the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association and from Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc., and to an inquiry from Enterprise Holdings Co.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The proposed new collection of information supports research addressing safety-related aspects of drivers' use of camera-based rear visibility systems intended to serve as a replacement for traditional outside rearview mirrors. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on August 28, 2019. NHTSA received 22 public comments submitted online and one additional comment submitted via email. A second Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on May 24, 2021. NHTSA received 1,891 unique public comments. A summary of the comments and the changes NHTSA made in response to those comments is provided below.