[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17000]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 13, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. 74-14; Notice 90]
RIN 2127-AE79
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Occupant Crash
Protection; Seat Belt Assemblies
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule, technical amendment, date for early optional
compliance.
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SUMMARY: On April 15, 1994, NHTSA published a final rule amending
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash
Protection, and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, Seat
Belt Assemblies. It gave manufacturers of replacement seat belt
assemblies intended for use only in specifically identified motor
vehicles a choice of two means of providing information about the
seating positions and vehicle models for which the assemblies are
appropriate. The information may be provided either on the assembly
itself or in the installation instruction sheet required to accompany
the assembly. The final rule also provided that the labeling
requirement does not apply to two types of seat belt assemblies when
they are installed as original equipment in a new motor vehicle. The
final rule is effective October 12, 1994.
General Motors (GM) petitioned for reconsideration, requesting that
manufacturers be allowed to delete information that will no longer be
required now instead of waiting until October 12, 1994. This notice
provides the requested relief.
DATES: The amendments to Section 571.208 (49 CFR 571.208) and Section
571.209 (49 CFR 571.209), published at 59 FR 17992, April 15, 1994,
continue to be effective October 12, 1994.
Seat belt assemblies and vehicles manufactured before October 12,
1994, may voluntarily comply on July 8, 1994, with those rules instead
of the requirements currently in effect.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel S. Cohen, Office of Vehicle
Safety Standards, NRM-12, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
Telephone: (202) 366-4911.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 15, 1994, NHTSA published a final
rule amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, Occupant
Crash Protection, and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209,
Seat Belt Assemblies, to allow manufacturers of all replacement seat
belt assemblies intended for use only in specifically identified motor
vehicles a choice of two means of providing information regarding the
seating positions and vehicle models for which the assemblies are
appropriate (59 FR 17992). The information may be provided either on
the assembly itself or in the installation instruction sheet currently
required to accompany the assembly. The final rule also narrowed the
applicability of the labeling requirement so that it does not apply to
two types of seat belt assemblies when they are installed as original
equipment in a new motor vehicle. NHTSA amended Standards Nos. 208 and
209 because the new requirement will provide manufacturers more
flexibility in the manner of providing installation information without
decreasing the likelihood that belts will be correctly installed. The
final rule is effective October 12, 1994.
On May 2, 1994, General Motors (GM) petitioned for reconsideration
of the April 15 final rule. Specifically, GM requested an amendment to
the effective date to allow manufacturers to begin now to delete
information that will no longer be required. In the absence of this
relief, the manufacturers will have to continue providing the
information until the October 12, 1994 effective date.
Prior to October 12, 1994, Standard No. 209 will continue to
specify three different sets of requirements for the provision by
manufacturers of replacement seat belt assemblies of information
regarding the vehicle models and seating positions for which the
assemblies are appropriate. The standard requires some seat belt
assemblies to be labeled, some to be both labeled and accompanied by an
installation instruction sheet, and some simply to be accompanied by an
installation instruction sheet. A complete discussion of which
requirement applies to which type of belt can be found in the April 15
final rule. The April 15 final rule replaced these three different sets
of requirements with the single provision described above.
Since the April 15 final rule was intended to ease the burden on
manufacturers, by providing manufacturers with more flexibility and
deleting redundant requirements, the agency is adopting the requested
amendment.
NHTSA finds for good cause that this final rule can be made
effective immediately. This final rule imposes no duties or
responsibilities on any party. Manufacturers may continue to comply
with the current requirements until the previously established
effective date of the April 15, 1994 final rule. As an alternative,
this final rule gives manufacturers the option of complying instead
with the requirements of Standard No. 208 and Standard No. 209, as
amended by the April 15, 1994 final rule, which will become effective
October 12, 1994.
Accordingly, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115,
30117, and 30166, and the delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50, the
amendments to Section 571.208 (49 CFR 571.208) and Section 571.209 (49
CFR 571.209), published at 59 FR 17992, April 15, 1994, continue to be
effective October 12, 1994. Seat belt assemblies and vehicles
manufactured before October 12, 1994, may voluntarily comply on July 8,
1994, with those rules, in lieu of the requirements currently in
effect.
Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures
This action was not reviewed under the Executive Order. NHTSA has
considered the impact of this rulemaking action under the Department of
Transportation's regulatory policies and procedures and determined that
this action is not significant within the meaning of those policies and
procedures. This final rule gives manufacturers the option of complying
either with the current requirements of Standard No. 209, or the
requirements of Standard No. 209 as amended by the April 15, 1994 final
rule, which will be effective October 12, 1994. Accordingly, this final
rule will not impose any costs on manufacturers. The impacts are thus
so minimal that a full regulatory evaluation was not prepared.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
NHTSA has also considered the impacts of this final 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 explained above, the agency has determined that this final
rule will not have any cost impacts. Accordingly, a regulatory
evaluation has not been prepared for this final rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-
511), there are no requirements for information collection associated
with this final rule.
National Environmental Policy Act
NHTSA has also analyzed this final 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)
Finally, 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 final rule does 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.
Issued on July 8, 1994.
Christopher A. Hart,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-17000 Filed 7-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
