[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44415-44416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22314]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
23 CFR Part 1331
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-3945]
RIN 2127-AG91
State-Issued Driver's Licenses and Comparable Identification
Documents
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on June 17, 1998, in
which the agency proposed regulations to implement section 656(b) of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of
1996--State Issued Driver's Licenses and Comparable Identification
Documents. The comment period for the NPRM closed on August 3, 1998. In
response to requests for an extension of the comment period, NHTSA is
reopening the comment period and extending it until October 2, 1998.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 2, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should refer to the docket number and the
number of this notice, and be submitted (preferably two copies) to:
Docket Management, Room PL-401, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC
20590. (Docket hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding
Federal holidays.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Holden, Chief, Driver
Register and Traffic Records Division, NTS-32, NHTSA, 400 Seventh
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 366-4800, or Ms.
Heidi L. Coleman, Assistant Chief Counsel for General Law, NCC-30,
NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202)
366-1834.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 30, 1996, the Omnibus
Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1997, P.L. 104-208, was
signed into law. Included in the Omnibus Act were the provisions of the
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(hereinafter, the ``Immigration Reform Act''). Section 656(b) of the
Act, entitled State-Issued Driver's Licenses and Comparable
Identification Documents, provides that, after October 1, 2000, Federal
agencies may not accept as proof of identity driver's licenses or other
comparable identification documents, issued by a State, unless the
driver's license or identification document conforms to certain
requirements.
Section 656(b) establishes three requirements that State issued
driver's licenses or other comparable identification documents must
meet to be acceptable to Federal agencies as proof of identity. The
requirements concern the application process for driver's licenses and
identification documents, the form of driver's licenses and
identification documents (including security features) and the use of
social security numbers on driver's licenses and identification
documents. On June 17, 1998 (63 FR 33220), the agency published a
proposed rule to implement these statutory requirements. Interested
persons were invited to provide comments on the proposed rule on or
before August 3, 1998.
Since that time it has come to the agency's attention that there is
considerable public interest in the proposed regulations. NHTSA has
received numerous requests from interested individuals for an extension
of the comment period in order to have sufficient time to review the
proposal and prepare comments.
In addition, on July 29, 1998, concerns regarding the agency's
proposed rule were expressed in the U.S. House of Representatives by
Congressman Barr of Georgia; Congressman Smith of Texas, Chairman of
the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims; and Congressman Paul of
Texas. To address these concerns, Congressman Wolf of Virginia,
Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on
Appropriations, suggested that a meeting take place with NHTSA
officials. Congressional Record, July 29, 1998, H6736-7.
A meeting was held on August 4, 1998, in the Office of the
Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations.
Congressman Barr, Chairman Smith and Congressman Paul, Congressional
staff members and NHTSA representatives attended the meeting. At the
meeting, the agency was asked to consider reopening the comment period
for this rulemaking action, to permit all interested parties to have
sufficient time to consider the agency's proposal and to provide their
written comments.
After considering these requests, NHTSA has concluded that it is in
the public interest to allow additional time for comments. Accordingly,
the agency
[[Page 44416]]
is reopening the comment period until October 2, 1998. During this
reopened comment period, it is not necessary for commenters to resubmit
views that have already been expressed in previous comments.
Authority: Pub. L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009-716 (5 U.S.C. 301)
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
Issued on: August 14, 1998.
Philip R. Recht,
Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-22314 Filed 8-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
