Report on DOT Significant Rulemakings

Table of Contents

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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

62. Fuel Economy Standards- Rights and Responsibilities of Manufacturers in the Context of Changes in Corporate Relationships

63. FMVSS: Head Restraints (Height and Distance Requirements)

64. Frontal Offset Protection

65. Automotive Fuel Economy Manufacturing Incentives for Alternative Fuel Vehicles

66. Event Data Recorders

67. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Occupant Crash Protection

68. Side Impact Protection Upgrade - FMVSS No. 214

69. Reforming the Automobile Fuel Economy Standards Program

70. Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems



National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
62. 
Fuel Economy Standards- Rights and Responsibilities of Manufacturers in the Context of Changes in Corporate Relationships Red
Popular Title: Fuel Economy Standards
RIN 2127-AG97
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 01/22/2001; End of Comment Period 3/22/2001.
Abstract: This rulemaking would define the rights and responsibilities of manufacturers under the agency's corporate average fuel economy program in the context of changes in corporate relationships. It addresses the rights and responsibilities of predecessors and successors, as well as the rights and responsibilities of manufacturers in other situations where there have been changes in corporate relationships, e.g., changes in control. Among other things, it would address how fuel economy credits are allocated in these types of situations.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 04/27/1998
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 02/15/2003    09/30/2003 
Returned to Mode     01/06/2004 
To OMB 03/17/2003  05/07/2004   
OMB Clearance 06/17/2003  08/06/2004   
Publication Date 07/01/2003  08/14/2004   
Explanation for any delay: Unanticipated issues requiring further analysis
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
63. 
FMVSS: Head Restraints (Height and Distance Requirements) Red
Popular Title: Head Restraints (Height and Distance Req)
RIN 2127-AH09
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 01/04/2001; End of Comment Period 03/05/2001.
Abstract: This rulemaking would upgrade the standard for head restraints for passenger cars and for light multipurpose vehicles, trucks and buses. The rule would establish higher minimum height requirements for head restraints and add a requirement limiting backset, i.e., the distance between a person's head and his or her head restraint. It would also extend the requirement for head restraints to rear outboard designated seating positions; establish new strength requirements for head restraints; and place limits on the size of gaps and openings in head restraints. In addition, it would modify the dynamic compliance test and amend test procedures. The rulemaking would harmonize the standard with some aspects of the counterpart regulation of the Economic Commission for Europe.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 03/01/2001
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 02/01/2003  12/19/2003   
To OMB 03/03/2003  01/23/2004   
OMB Clearance 06/03/2003  03/23/2004   
Publication Date 06/08/2003  03/29/2004   
Explanation for any delay: Unanticipated issues requiring further analysis
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
64. 
Frontal Offset Protection Red
Popular Title: Frontal Offset
RIN 2127-AH73
Stage: Request for Comments
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would establish a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for high speed frontal offset crash testing. The frontal offset test is a crash test for automobiles and light trucks in which the subject vehicles are run into a deformable honeycomb barrier. The barrier contacts only 40 percent of the front of the vehicle stimulating an off-center frontal collision. The agency is considering adding the offset test to the frontal occupant protection standard to measure vehicle structural integrity and reduce the number and severity of lower-body injuries.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 11/22/1999
Dates for Request for Comments:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 10/10/2003    10/16/2003 
To OMB 11/14/2003    12/05/2003 
OMB Clearance 02/16/2004    01/26/2004 
Publication Date 02/24/2004     
End of Comment Period 04/24/2004     
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 04/01/2003  08/22/2004   
To OMB 05/01/2003  09/22/2004   
OMB Clearance 08/01/2003  12/22/2004   
Publication Date 08/08/2003  12/27/2004   
End of Comment Period 10/08/2003  02/27/2005   
Explanation for any delay: Unanticipated impacts requiring further analysis
Federal Register Citation for Request for Comments: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
65. 
Automotive Fuel Economy Manufacturing Incentives for Alternative Fuel Vehicles Red
Popular Title: Alternative Fuel Vehicles
RIN 2127-AI41
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 03/11/2002; End of Comment Period 04/10/2002.
Abstract: To provide an incentive for the production of vehicles that can operate on certain alternative fuels as well as on regular petroleum fuels, Congress established a special procedure for calculating the fuel economy of those vehicles for the purpose of determining compliance with the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. This rulemaking would increase the fuel economy attributed to such dual-fuel vehicles. By statute, the incentive is available through the 2004 model year and may be extended by up to four additional years through rulemaking. This rulemaking would extend the availability of the incentive by four years, i.e., though the 2008 model year. Prior to publishing this NPRM, we will be publishing a Request for Comments pertaining to this rulemaking. The Request for Comments is intended to inform the public and solicit comments on the recent testing conducted by the agency.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 10/03/2001
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 12/31/2002  10/17/2003  10/06/2003 
To OMB 01/18/2003  01/02/2004  01/07/2004 
OMB Clearance 04/19/2003  04/02/2004   
Publication Date 05/19/2003  04/15/2004   
Explanation for any delay: Additional coordination necessary
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
66. 
Event Data Recorders Green
Popular Title: Event Data Recorders
RIN 2127-AI72
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage: Request for Comments: Publication Date 10/11/2002; End of Comment Period 01/09/2003.
Abstract: This rulemaking would address event data recorders (EDRs), i.e., devices that record information about motor vehicles involved in crashes. Manufacturers have been voluntarily installing EDRs as standard equipment in increasingly larger numbers of light vehicles in recent years. They are now being installed in the vast majority of new vehicles. The information collected by EDRs aids investigations of the causes of crashes and injuries, and makes it possible to better define and address safety problems. The information can be used to improve motor vehicle safety systems and standards. The rulemaking would not require the installation of EDRs in any motor vehicles. It would consider requirements for voluntarily installed EDRs, including ones for a minimum set of specified data elements and for data format.
Effects:
  None
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 07/12/2002
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 09/08/2004  12/19/2003  12/19/2003 
To OMB 10/08/2004  01/20/2004   
OMB Clearance 01/08/2005  04/20/2004   
Publication Date 01/13/2005  04/27/2004   
End of Comment Period 03/13/2005  06/28/2004   
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
67. 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Occupant Crash Protection Green
Popular Title: Occupant Crash Protection
RIN 2127-AI91
Stage: Final Rule
Previous Stage: NPRM: Publication Date 08/06/2003; End of Comment Period 10/06/2003.
Abstract: This rulemaking would require that all designated seating positions in rear seats be equipped with integral lap/shoulder safety belts.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 12/07/2002
Dates for Final Rule:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 08/27/2004     
To OMB 09/24/2004     
OMB Clearance 12/24/2004     
Publication Date 12/31/2004     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for Final Rule: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
68. 
Side Impact Protection Upgrade - FMVSS No. 214 Green
Popular Title: Side Impact Protection Upgrade
RIN 2127-AJ10
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: NHTSA is considering amending FMVSS No. 214 to add a vehicle-to-pole impact test in order to reduce the number of fatal and serious head injuries in side crashes.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 06/28/2002
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 11/14/2003    11/03/2003 
To OMB 12/12/2003     
OMB Clearance 03/12/2004     
Publication Date 03/22/2004     
End of Comment Period 05/22/2004     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
69. 
Reforming the Automobile Fuel Economy Standards Program Green
Popular Title: Reforming CAFE
RIN 2127-AJ17
Stage: ANPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking addresses various issues relating to the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) program. In particular, it addresses possible enhancements to the program that will assist in furthering fuel conservation while protecting motor vehicle safety and American jobs. The agency is particularly interested in improvements to the structure of the CAFE program authorized under current statutory authority.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Prompting action: None
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 04/01/2003
Dates for ANPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 10/10/2003    10/14/2003 
To OMB 11/11/2003  11/18/2003  11/21/2003 
OMB Clearance 02/11/2004  02/18/2004  12/19/2003 
Publication Date 02/18/2004  02/25/2004  12/29/2003 
End of Comment Period 04/19/2004  04/26/2004  04/27/2004 
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for ANPRM: 68 FR 74908


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
70. 
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems Green
Popular Title: TPMS
RIN 2127-AJ23
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: The Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act required the Secretary of Transportation to initiate rulemaking to require a warning system in new motor vehicles to indicate to the operator when a tire is significantly under-inflated. The agency issued a final rule for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) (establishing FMVSS No. 138) on June 5, 2002; however, that version of the standard was vacated by a decision issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in August 2003. The agency will now take rulemaking action to re-establish FMVSS No. 138, in a manner consistent with the court's decision, and provide a new phase-in period. This rulemaking replaces 2127-AI90 and 2127-AI33, which was terminated due to the August Second Circuit decision.
Effects:
  Economically Significant
Major
Unfunded Mandate
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline:  None
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 08/06/2003
Dates for NPRM:
Milestone Originally
Scheduled
Date		 New
Projected
Date		 Actual
Date
To OST 02/27/2004     
To OMB 03/26/2004     
OMB Clearance 06/25/2004     
Publication Date 07/05/2004     
End of Comment Period 09/06/2004     
Explanation for any delay: N/A
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None