[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19560-19561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10789]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 571
[Docket No. 96-21; Notice 01]
RIN 2127-AF68
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This rule deletes two owner's manual requirements in Standard
No. 210, ``Seat Belt Anchorages.'' Standard No. 210 requires that
manufacturers include a diagram in their owner's manuals showing the
location of any shoulder belt anchorages required by the standard, if
the vehicle is not equipped with shoulder belts at those locations.
Standard No. 210 also requires the inclusion of owner's manual
information concerning the use and the installation of child safety
seats in vehicles equipped with an automatic belt at the right front
outboard seating position, if the belt cannot be used to secure a child
seat. NHTSA believes it is appropriate to delete these requirements
because they are or soon will be obsolete.
DATES: Effective Dates: The removal of paragragh S6(c) of Sec. 571.210
is effective June 3, 1996. The removal of S7 of Sec. 571.210 is
effective September 1, 1998.
Petition Date: Any petitions for reconsideration must be received
by NHTSA no later than June 17, 1996.
ADDRESS: Any petitions for reconsideration should refer to the docket
and notice number of this notice and be submitted to: Administrator,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The following persons at the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20590:
For non-legal issues: Clarke B. Harper, Office of Crashworthiness
Standards, NPS-11, telephone (202) 366-4916, facsimile (202) 366-4329,
electronic mail ``[email protected]''.
For legal issues: Mary Versailles, Office of the Chief Counsel,
NCC-20, telephone (202) 366-2992, facsimile (202) 366-3820, electronic
mail ``[email protected]''.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the March 4, 1995 directive,
``Regulatory Reinvention Initiative,'' from the President 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 amendment or rescission, including two owner's
manual information requirements in Standard No. 210, ``Seat Belt
Assembly Anchorages.''
NHTSA believes that these requirements should be deleted because
they are or soon will be obsolete. The first requirement is in
paragraph S6(c), which requires that vehicle manufacturers include a
diagram in their vehicle owner's manuals showing the location of any
shoulder belt anchorages required by the standard, if their vehicles
are not equipped with shoulder belts at those locations. This
requirement was intended to ensure that consumers were aware of the
existence of beltless anchorages in rear seating locations. The other
requirement is in paragraph S7, which requires the inclusion of owner's
manual information concerning the use and the installation of child
safety seats in vehicles equipped with an automatic belt at the right
front outboard seating position, if the belt cannot be used to secure a
child seat.
Paragraph S6(c) is currently not applicable to any vehicle. Since
September 1, 1991, all rear seating positions which are required by
Standard No. 210 to have a shoulder belt anchorage are also required by
Standard No. 208, ``Occupant Crash Protection,'' to have shoulder belts
installed. As there are no longer any required, but unused, rear
outboard shoulder belt anchorages, the agency is deleting this
requirement.
With regard to the requirements of S7 of Standard No. 210 requiring
information concerning installation of child restraints in a seating
position with an automatic belt, several recent amendments to Standard
No. 208 will make this owner's manual requirement obsolete after
September 1, 1998. First, a final rule published on September 2, 1993,
requires an air bag and manual belt at the right front outboard seating
position in passenger cars and light trucks by September 1, 1998 (58 FR
46551). After that date, automatic belts will not be installed in those
seating positions. Second, a final rule published on October 13, 1993,
requires manual belts installed at any seating position other than the
driver's position in vehicles manufactured after September 1, 1995, to
be capable of tightly securing a child safety seat without the
necessity of the user's attaching any device to the safety belt system
(58 FR 52922). This ``lockability'' requirement will also be described
in the owners manual. The combination of the manual belt requirement
and the lockability requirement will make Section 7 of 210 obsolete
after September 1, 1998.
NHTSA is not soliciting public comment on these amendments. NHTSA
finds for good cause that notice and opportunity to comment are
unnecessary because the amendments are technical in nature. They delete
requirements addressing circumstances that have been or will be
eliminated by other requirements in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards.
Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
NHTSA has considered the impact of this rulemaking action under
E.O. 12866 and the Department of Transportation's regulatory policies
and procedures. This rulemaking document was not reviewed under E.O.
12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' This action has been
determined to be not ``significant'' under the Department of
Transportation's regulatory policies and procedures. Because this rule
deletes obsolete provisions, no cost or saving will result.
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 explained above, NHTSA does
not anticipate any economic impact from this rulemaking action.
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 rule.
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
[[Page 19561]]
has determined that this rule will not have significant federalism
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Civil Justice Reform: This 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.
List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571
Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.
In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR Part 571 is amended as
follows:
PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS
1. The authority citation for Part 571 of Title 49 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. Sec. 571.210 is amended by removing paragraph S6(c) and S7.
Issued on April 25, 1996.
Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-10789 Filed 5-1-96; 8:45 am]
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