[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19201-19202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10792]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. 96-44, Notice 01]
RIN 2127-AG30
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Fuel System Integrity
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Final rule, technical amendment.
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SUMMARY: This document deletes several obsolete sections of Standard
No. 301, ``Fuel System Integrity.'' They relate to (1) the standard's
general requirements in S5 as they apply to light vehicles, (2) the
requirements for schoolbuses in S5.4, and (3) the requirements for fuel
spillage in S5.5. These sections are obsolete because the time periods
to which they specify are all in the past.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective May 31, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For nonlegal issues: Dr. William J.J.
Liu, Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, NPS-12, telephone (202) 366-
4923.
For legal issues: Mr. Marvin Shaw, Office of Chief Counsel, NCC-20,
(202) 366-2992. Both may be reached at the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C., 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the President's March 4, 1995
directive, ``Regulatory Reinvention Initiative,'' to the heads of
departments and agencies, NHTSA undertook a review of all its
regulations and directives. During the course of this review, the
agency identified several requirements and regulations that are
potential candidates for rescission. In reviewing Standard No. 301, the
agency identified several obsolete sections relating to (1) the
standard's general requirements in S5 as they apply to light vehicles,
(2) the requirements for school buses in S5.4, and (3) the requirements
for fuel spillage in S5.5. These sections are obsolete because the time
periods to which they relate are all in the past. To improve the
clarity and conciseness of
[[Page 19202]]
Standard No. 301, the agency is deleting these sections from the
standard.
The obsolete sections of the standard relating to certain light
vehicles are S5.2 and S5.3. Paragraph S5.2 had set forth requirements
for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 6,000 pounds
or less. Paragraph S5.3 had set forth requirements for vehicles with a
GVWR of more than 6,000 pounds but not more than 10,000 pounds. These
weight provisions, while relevant when the Standard was enacted in 1975
are no longer relevant. Paragraph S5.1 is amended to include vehicles
that were formerly addressed in S5.2 and S5.3. Paragraph S5.4 is
amended to delete an outdated reference to vehicles manufactured before
April 1, 1977. Paragraph S5.5 is amended to delete an outdated
reference to vehicles manufactured before September 1, 1976.
NHTSA finds good cause to make this amendment effective 30 days
after publication of this document. This amendment makes minor changes
to Standard No. 301.
NHTSA also finds for good cause that notice and an opportunity for
comment on this document are unnecessary. This document does not impose
any additional responsibilities on any manufacturer. Instead, this
document simply removes outdated provisions and references in the
standard.
Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
This rulemaking document was not reviewed under E.O. 12866,
``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' Further, this action has been
determined to be not ``significant'' under the Department of
Transportation's regulatory policies and procedures. This rule removes
outdated portions of Standard 301 without changing any of the
requirements in the standard. Because this rule does not affect any
substantive requirement of the fuel system integrity standard, its
impacts are so minimal as not to warrant preparation of a full
regulatory evaluation.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
NHTSA has also considered the impacts of this rule under the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that this rule will not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. As noted above, this rule simply removes outdated portions of
Standard 301. It has no effect whatsoever on the manufacture or sale of
vehicles.
National Environmental Policy Act
NHTSA has also analyzed this rule under the National Environmental
Policy Act and determined that it will not have a significant impact on
the human environment.
Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)
NHTSA has analyzed this rule in accordance with the principles and
criteria contained in E.O. 12612, and has determined that this rule
will not have significant federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Civil Justice Reform
This rule will not have any retroactive effect. Under 49 U.S.C.
30103, whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard is in effect, a
State may not adopt or maintain a safety standard applicable to the
same aspect of performance which is not identical to the Federal
standard, except to the extent that the state requirement imposes a
higher level of performance and applies only to vehicles procured for
the State's use. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a procedure for judicial
review of final rules establishing, amending or revoking Federal motor
vehicle safety standards. That section does not require submission of a
petition for reconsideration or other administrative proceedings before
parties may file suit in court.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571
Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles, Rubber and rubber
products, Tires.
In consideration of the foregoing, the agency is amending 49 CFR
Sec. 571.301, Fuel System Integrity, to read as follows:
PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS
1. The authority citation for part 571 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
2. Section 571.301 is amended by revising S5.1, S5.4, and S5.5 and
by removing and reserving S5.2 and S5.3 to read as follows:
Sec. 571.301 Standard No. 301, Fuel System Integrity.
* * * * *
S5. General requirements.
S5.1 Passenger cars, and multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks,
and buses with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less. Each passenger car and
each multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck, and bus with a GVWR of
10,000 pounds or less shall meet the requirements of S6.1 through S6.4.
Each of these types of vehicles that is manufactured to use alcohol
fuels shall also meet the requirements of S6.6.
S5.2 [Reserved]
S5.3 [Reserved]
S5.4 Schoolbuses with a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds. Each
schoolbus with a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds shall meet the
requirements of S6.5. Each schoolbus with a GVWR greater than 10,000
pounds that is manufactured to use alcohol fuels shall meet the
requirements of S6.6.
S5.5 Fuel Spillage: Barrier Crash. Fuel spillage for each vehicle
in any fixed or moving barrier crash test shall not exceed 1 ounce by
weight from impact until motion of the vehicle has ceased, and shall
not exceed a total of 5 ounces by weight in the 5-minute period
following cessation of motion. For the subsequent 25-minute period,
fuel spillage during any 1-minute interval shall not exceed 1 ounce by
weight.
Issued on: April 25, 1996.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-10792 Filed 4-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
