96-18693. International Regulatory Harmonization, Motor Vehicle Safety; Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Engines and the Environment

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 38200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18693]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket No. 96-43; Notice 2]


International Regulatory Harmonization, Motor Vehicle Safety; 
Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Engines and the Environment

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT; 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On June 17, 1996, NHTSA and EPA published a joint notice in 
the Federal Register requesting written comments and announcing two 
public meetings regarding recommendations by the U.S. and European 
automotive industry for actions by the U.S. and European Union 
governments. These industry recommendations, made at the Transatlantic 
Automotive Industry Conference on International Regulatory, concern the 
international harmonization of motor vehicle safety and environmental 
regulation, the intergovernmental regulatory process necessary to 
achieve such harmonization, and the coordination of related motor 
vehicle safety and environmental research. NHTSA and EPA requested 
public comments to facilitate their making informed decisions about 
their responses to the industry recommendations as well as to ensure 
that all interested parties were made aware of ongoing activity in the 
area of international harmonization of motor vehicle safety and 
environmental regulations. In response to two requests for an extension 
of the period for submitting written comments, NHTSA and EPA have 
decided to extend the comment deadline from July 25, 1996 to October 1, 
1996.

DATES: Written Comments: All written comments on the June 17, 1996 
request for comments, Docket 96-43, Notice 1, must be received by 
NHTSA's docket section no later than October 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All written comments should refer to Docket No. 96-43, 
Notice 1, and be submitted to: Docket Section, NHTSA, 400 Seventh 
Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Docket hours are 9:30 to 4 p.m. 
Monday through Friday.
    To facilitate the reading of comments relating to a particular 
issue, commenters are requested to divide their comments into two 
different sections: (1) Safety and regulatory process; and (2) 
Environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

NHTSA: Mr. Stanley C. Feldman, Office of Chief Counsel, NHTSA, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 telephone [phone]), 
fax [phone])
EPA: Kenneth E. Feith, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone 
(202-260-4996), fax [phone]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the June 17, 1996 (61 FR 30657) Federal 
Register, NHTSA and EPA published a joint notice requesting written 
comments and announcing two public meetings, held on July 10 and 11, 
1996, to seek comments on recommendations by the U.S. and European 
automotive industry for actions by the U.S. European Union (EU) 
governments concerning international harmonization of motor vehicle 
safety and environmental regulation, the intergovernmental regulatory 
process necessary to achieve such harmonization, and coordination of 
vehicle safety and environmental research. The industry recommendations 
were made at the Transatlantic Automotive Industry Conference on 
International Regulatory Harmonization, held in Washington, D.C., on 
April 10-11, 1996. NHTSA and EPA requested public comments to 
facilitate their making informed decisions about their responses to the 
industry recommendations as well as to ensure that all interested 
parties were made aware of ongoing activity in the area of 
international harmonization of motor vehicle safety and environmental 
regulations.
    The notice discussed the background that led to the Washington 
Conference, the industry principles and recommendations for current and 
future harmonization actions needed by the U.S. and EU in three 
specific areas (i.e., regulatory process, safety, and the environment), 
and U.S. government statements concerning the goal of harmonization of 
existing and future motor vehicle safety and environmental standards 
and regulations. To provide a focus for public comments, the notice 
also discussed the broad subject areas and set forth a series of 
questions and issues that NHTSA and EPA would like the public to 
address. The agencies specified that written comments had to be 
submitted before the close of business on the comment closing date of 
July 25, 1996 to be assured of consideration.
    Subsequent to the July 10 and 11, 1996 public meetings, NHTSA 
received requests for extension of the period for submitting written 
comments on the notice from Consumers Union and Advocates for Highway 
and Auto Safety. A copy of each request has been placed in NHTSA's 
docket at Docket No. 96-43, Notice 1. Both Consumers Union and 
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety indicted that they wish to file 
substantive written comments on these issues but can only do so if the 
comment deadline of July 25, 1996, is extended substantially, or until 
October 1, 1996. After reviewing these requests, NHTSA agrees that 
commenters need more time to formulate their responses given the 
complexity of the issues involved.
    Accordingly, the period for submitting written comments, originally 
scheduled to end July 25, is extended to October 1, 1996.

    Issued on: July 17, 1996.
Frank Turpin,
Director, NHTSA Office of International Harmonization.
[FR Doc. 96-18693 Filed 7-22-96; 8:45 am]
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