National Highway Traffic Safety Administration August 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Make Inoperative Exemptions; Retrofit On-Off Switches for Air Bags
Document Number: 2012-21468
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-08-30
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
NHTSA has a regulation that permits motor vehicle dealers and repair businesses to install retrofit on-off switches for air bags in vehicles owned by or used by persons whose request for a switch has been approved by the agency. This regulation is only available for motor vehicles manufactured before September 1, 2012. This document extends the availability of this regulation for three additional years, so that it applies to motor vehicles manufactured before September 1, 2015.
Petition for Exemption From the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; BMW of North America, LLC
Document Number: 2012-21266
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-29
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This document grants in full the BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) petition for exemption of the Carline 4 vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR Part 543, Exemption from the 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 (49 CFR part 541). BMW requested confidential treatment for specific information in its petition that the agency will address by separate letter.
Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements
Document Number: 2012-20940
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-24
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
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 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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.
Distracted Driving Grant Program
Document Number: 2012-20926
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-24
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
Pursuant to the recently enacted Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the Department of Transportation (DOT) announces the availability of funding authorized in the amount of $17.525 million in Federal fiscal year (FY) 2013 funds to provide grants to States for enacting and enforcing distracted driving laws. The FY 2013 funds are subject to an annual obligation limitation that may be established in appropriations law. Therefore, the amount available for the grants in FY 2013 may be less than the amount identified above. A State's distracted driving law must meet statutorily-specified criteria in order for the State to receive a grant. States that are awarded grants also must follow post-award grant requirements. This notice describes the statutorily-specified criteria, the application requirements and the administrative requirements for the Distracted Driving Grant Program. The Department is publishing this notice to give States an opportunity to submit applications for the newly authorized distracted driving grants as soon as possible in FY 2013. Funds for this grant program are authorized beginning on October 1, 2012.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles
Document Number: 2012-20838
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-08-24
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) is denying the petition of Plant Oil Powered Diesel Fuel Systems, Inc. (``POP Diesel'') to amend the final rules establishing fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. NHTSA does not believe that POP Diesel has set forth a basis for rulemaking. The agency disagrees with the petitioner's assertion that a failure to specifically consider pure vegetable oil, and technology to enable its usage, as a feasible technology in heavy-duty vehicles, led to the adoption of less stringent standards. NHTSA also disagrees with POP's assertion that the agency failed to adequately consider the rebound effect in setting the standards.
Petition for Exemption From the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Inc.
Document Number: 2012-20837
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-24
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This document grants in full the Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Inc.'s (Mitsubishi) petition for exemption of the Mitsubishi [confidential] vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the 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 49 CFR part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. Mitsubishi requested [confidential] treatment for specific information in its petition. The agency will address Mitsubishi's request for [confidential] treatment by separate letter.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Motorcycle Brake Systems
Document Number: 2012-20480
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-08-24
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This final rule amends the Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) on motorcycle brake systems to add and update requirements and test procedures and to harmonize with a global technical regulation (GTR) for motorcycle brakes. The GTR was developed under the United Nations 1998 Global Agreement with the U.S. as an active participant, and it was derived from various motorcycle braking regulations from around the world, including the U.S. motorcycle brake systems standard. This final rule includes numerous modifications to the test procedures for motorcycle brake systems, but does not change the scope, applicability, and safety purpose of the motorcycle brake systems FMVSS.
Request for Comments on a Renewal Information Collection
Document Number: 2012-20750
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-23
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
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 28, 2012 (FR 77 18880). No comments were received.
Schedule of Fees Authorized
Document Number: 2012-20622
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-08-22
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This document adopts fees for Fiscal Year 2013 and until further notice, as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 30141, relating to the registration of importers and the importation of motor vehicles not certified as conforming to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). These fees are needed to maintain the registered importer (RI) program. We are increasing the fees for the registration of a new RI from $795 to $805 and the annual fee for renewing an existing registration from $670 to $676. The fee to reimburse Customs for conformance bond processing costs will decrease from $9.93 to $9.09 per bond. The fee for the review, processing, handling, and disbursement of cash deposits that are submitted in lieu of a conformance bond will decrease from $514 to $495. We are decreasing the fees for the importation of a vehicle covered by an import eligibility decision made on an individual model and model year basis. For vehicles determined eligible based on their substantial similarity to a U.S. certified vehicle, the fee will decrease from $158 to $101. For vehicles determined eligible based on their capability of being modified to comply with all applicable FMVSS, the fee will also decrease from $158 to $101. The fee for the inspection of a vehicle will remain $827. The fee for processing a conformity package will decrease from $17 to $12. If the vehicle has been entered electronically with Customs through the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) and the RI has an email address, the fee for processing the conformity package will continue to be $6, provided the fee is paid by credit card. If NHTSA finds that the information in the entry or the conformity package is incorrect, the processing fee will remain $57, representing the fee that is currently charged when there are one or more errors in the ABI entry or omissions in the statement of conformity.
Withdrawal of Proposed Rule on Insurer Reporting Requirements; List of Insurers Required To File Reports
Document Number: 2012-20613
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-08-22
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This document withdraws a proposed rule published on May 14, 2012, that was intended to implement the requirements contained in Title 49 U.S.C. 33112 of the Insurer Reporting Requirements. This proposed rule required insurers to file reports on their motor vehicle theft loss experiences. An insurer included in any of the appendices that appeared in the proposed rule would be required to file three copies of its report for the 2009 calendar year before October 25, 2012. If the passenger motor vehicle insurers remain listed, they would submit reports by each subsequent October 25. Congress subsequently repealed Title 49 U.S.C. 33112 of the Insurer Reporting Requirements.
Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements
Document Number: 2012-20493
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-21
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
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 one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.
Petition for Approval of Alternate Odometer Requirements
Document Number: 2012-20463
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-08-21
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
The State of New York (``New York'') has petitioned for approval of alternate odometer requirements. New York's petition, as amended, is granted.
Petition for Approval of Alternate Odometer Disclosure Requirements
Document Number: 2012-20381
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-08-20
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
The State of Arizona has petitioned for approval of alternate requirements to certain requirements under Federal odometer law. NHTSA initially denies Arizona's petition. This notice is not a final agency action.
Proposed Traffic Records Program Assessment Advisory
Document Number: 2012-20249
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-17
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This notice announces the publication of the Traffic Records Program Assessment Advisory, DOT HS 811 644, which provides guidance to States on the collection, management, and analysis of data used to inform highway and traffic safety decision-making. States need timely, accurate, complete, and uniform traffic records to identify and prioritize traffic safety issues and to choose appropriate countermeasures and evaluate their effectiveness. This document provides information on the contents, capabilities, and data quality attributes of an effective traffic records system, and includes assessment questions that qualified independent assessors can use to evaluate the capabilities of a State's traffic records system.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Motorcycle Helmets
Document Number: 2012-19763
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-08-13
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This document responds to a petition for reconsideration of a final rule issued by this agency on May 13, 2011. The final rule amended the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for motorcycle helmets. Specifically, the final rule amended the helmet labeling requirements and compliance test procedures in order to make it more difficult to misleadingly label novelty helmets and to aid the agency in enforcing the standard. This document addresses issues raised in a petition for reconsideration relating to early compliance with the amended requirements.
Wheego Electric Cars, Inc.; Grant of Petition for Temporary Exemption From the Electronic Stability Control Requirements of FMVSS No. 126
Document Number: 2012-19720
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-10
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This notice grants the petition of Wheego Electric Cars, Inc. (Wheego) for the temporary exemption of its LiFe model from the electronic stability control requirements of FMVSS No. 126. The agency has considered Wheego's petition for exemption and has determined that the exemption would facilitate the development or field evaluation of a low-emission motor vehicle and would not unreasonably reduce the safety level of that vehicle.
Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review
Document Number: 2012-19677
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-10
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
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 collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on May 30, 2012 [77 FR 31910]. No comments were received. This document describes the collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval. The collection of information described is the ``Roof Crush Resistance Phase in Reporting RequirementsPart 585.'' (OMB Control Number: 2127-XXXX)
Utilimaster Corporation, Denial of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance
Document Number: 2012-19581
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-09
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
Utilimaster Corporation (Utilimaster),\1\ has determined that certain model year 2009-2011 Utilimaster walk-in van-type trucks manufactured between September 1, 2009 and December 22, 2011 do not comply with paragraph S4.2.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 206, Door Locks and Door Retention Components. Utilimaster filed an appropriate report dated December 30, 2011, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.
Event Data Recorders
Document Number: 2012-19580
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-08-09
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
On August 5, 2011, the agency published a final rule amending the requirements for voluntarily installed event data recorders (EDRs) established in August 2006. In response to the August 2011 final rule, the agency received three petitions for reconsideration from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Automotive Safety Council, and Honda Motor Co., LTD. The Association of Global Automakers, Inc. Technical Affairs Committee, and Nissan North America, Inc. both submitted comments in support of the petitioners' requests. After careful consideration, the agency is granting some aspects of the petitions, and denying others. This document amends the final rule accordingly.
General Motors, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance
Document Number: 2012-19575
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-09
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
General Motors, LLC (GM) \1\ has determined that certain model year 2012; Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and Saab 9-4x multipurpose passenger vehicles, and Chevrolet Cruze passenger cars, do not fully comply with paragraph S19.2.2 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection. GM has filed an appropriate report dated September 6, 2011, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.
Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review
Document Number: 2012-19233
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-07
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
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 22, 2012 [Volume 77, No. 99, Page 30352].
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2005 Chevrolet Suburban Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are Eligible for Importation
Document Number: 2012-19122
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-06
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2005 Chevrolet Suburban multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPV) 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 that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban MPV) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC); Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting
Document Number: 2012-19110
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-06
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
The NHTSA announces a meeting of NEMSAC to be held in the Metropolitan Washington, DC, area. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meeting, which will be open to the public. The purpose of NEMSAC is to provide a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to DOT's NHTSA and to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).
Vehicle Certification; Contents of Certification Labels
Document Number: 2012-18338
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-08-06
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This document proposes to clarify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations that prescribe the format and contents of certification labels that manufacturers are statutorily required to affix to motor vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States. The proposal would require specified language on the certification labels for certain types of vehicles.
Announcing the Twentieth Public Meeting of the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN)
Document Number: 2012-18944
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-08-02
Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation
This notice announces the Twentieth Public Meeting of members of the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network. CIREN is a collaborative effort to conduct research on crashes and injuries at six Level I Trauma Centers across the United States linked by a computer network. The current CIREN model utilizes two types of centers, medical and engineering. Medical centers are based at Level I Trauma Centers that admit large numbers of people injured in motor vehicle crashes. These teams are led by trauma surgeons and emergency physicians and also include a crash investigator and project coordinator. Engineering centers are based at academic engineering laboratories that have experience in motor vehicle crash and human injury research. Engineering teams partner with trauma centers to enroll crash victims into the CIREN program. Engineering teams are led by mechanical engineers, typically trained in the area of impact biomechanics. Engineering teams also include trauma/emergency physicians, a crash investigator, and a project coordinator. Either type of team typically includes additional physicians and/or engineers, epidemiologists, nurses, and other researchers. The CIREN process combines prospective data collection with professional multidisciplinary analysis of medical and engineering evidence to determine injury causation in every crash investigation conducted. Researchers can review data and share expertise, which may lead to a better understanding of crash injury mechanisms and the design of safer vehicles. The six centers will give presentations on current research based on CIREN data. Topics include thoraco-lumbar fractures in frontal crashes, risk of pelvic fractures in motor vehicle collisions, trauma system adoption of Advanced Automatic Collision Notification (AACN) Systems, lower extremity injury patterns sustained in frontal crashes, evaluation of brain lesion location sustained in motor vehicle crashes, and major vascular injuries. The final agenda will be posted to the CIREN Web site that can be accessed by going to the NHTSA homepage https://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/, click on Vehicle Safety Research on the right side of the top toolbar, and then click on Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) in the box on the left. The agenda will be posted one week prior to the meeting.
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