109 HR 5632 RH: To amend Chapter 301 of title 49, United
U.S. House of Representatives
2006-06-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Tire Fuel
Efficiency Consumer Information
(a)Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended
by inserting after section 30123 the following new section:
30123A.Tire Fuel
Efficiency Consumer Information
(a)(1)Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation
shall, after notice and opportunity for comment, promulgate rules establishing
a national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program for tires designed
for use on motor vehicles to educate consumers about the effect of tires on
automobile fuel efficiency.
(2)The rulemaking shall include each of the following:
(A)A national tire fuel efficiency rating
system for motor vehicle tires to assist consumers in making more educated tire
purchasing decisions.
(B)Requirements for providing information
to consumers, including information at the point of sale and other potential
information dissemination methods, including the internet.
(C)Specifications for test methods for
manufacturers to use in assessing and rating tires to avoid variation among
test equipment and manufacturers.
(D)A national tire maintenance consumer
education program including, information on tire inflation pressure, alignment,
rotation, and tread wear to maximize fuel efficiency.
(3)This section shall not apply to tires
excluded from coverage under section 575.104(c)(2) of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations, as in effect on date of enactment of this section.
(b)The
Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency on the means of conveying tire fuel
efficiency consumer information.
(c)The Secretary shall conduct periodic assessments of the
rules promulgated under this section to determine the utility of such rules to
consumers, the level of cooperation by industry, and the contribution to
national goals pertaining to energy consumption. The Secretary shall transmit
periodic reports detailing the findings of such assessments to the Energy and
Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives and the Commerce, Science,
and Transportation Committee of the Senate.
(d)The Secretary shall not require permanent labeling of any
kind on a tire for the purpose of tire fuel efficiency information.
(e)When a requirement under this section is in
effect, a State or political subdivision of a State may adopt or enforce a law
or regulation on tire fuel efficiency consumer information only if the law or
regulation is identical to that requirement. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to preempt a State or political subdivision of a State from
regulating the fuel efficiency of tires not otherwise preempted under this
chapter.
.
(b)Section 30165(a) of such chapter is amended
by adding at the end the following:
(3)Any person who fails
to comply with the national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program
under section 30123A is liable to the United States Government for a civil
penalty of not more than $50,000 for each
violation.
.
(c)The table of
contents for chapter 301 of title 49 is amended by adding the following new
item after the item relating to section 30123:
30123A. Tire fuel efficiency consumer
information.
.
1.Tire
Fuel Efficiency Consumer Information
(a)Chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended
by inserting after section 30123 the following new section:
30123A.Tire Fuel
Efficiency Consumer Information
(a)(1)Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation
shall, after notice and opportunity for comment, promulgate rules establishing
a national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program for tires designed
for use on motor vehicles to educate consumers about the effect of tires on
automobile fuel efficiency.
(2)The rulemaking shall include each of
the following:
(A)A national tire fuel efficiency rating
system for motor vehicle tires to assist consumers in making more educated tire
purchasing decisions.
(B)Requirements for providing information
to consumers, including information at the point of sale and other potential
information dissemination methods, including the internet.
(C)Specifications for test methods for
manufacturers to use in assessing and rating tires to avoid variation among
test equipment and manufacturers.
(D)A national tire maintenance consumer
education program including, information on tire inflation pressure, alignment,
rotation, and tread wear to maximize fuel efficiency.
(3)This section shall not apply to tires
excluded from coverage under section 575.104(c) of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations, as in effect on date of enactment of this section.
(b)The
Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency on the means of conveying tire fuel
efficiency consumer information.
(c)The Secretary shall conduct periodic assessments of the
rules promulgated under this section to determine the utility of such rules to
consumers, the level of cooperation by industry, and the contribution to
national goals pertaining to energy consumption. The Secretary shall transmit
periodic reports detailing the findings of such assessments to the Energy and
Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives and the Commerce, Science,
and Transportation Committee of the Senate.
(d)The Secretary shall not require permanent labeling of any
kind on a tire for the purpose of tire fuel efficiency information.
(e)Nothing in this section shall prohibit a
State or political subdivision of a State from enforcing a law or regulation on
tire fuel efficiency consumer information in effect on January 1, 2006. After a
requirement under this section is in effect, a State or political subdivision
of a State may adopt or enforce a law or regulation on tire fuel efficiency
consumer information enacted after January 1, 2006, only if the law or
regulation is identical to that requirement. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to preempt a State or political subdivision of a State from
regulating the fuel efficiency of tires not otherwise preempted under this
chapter.
.
(b)Section 30165(a) of such chapter is amended
by adding at the end the following:
(4)Any person who fails
to comply with the national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program
under section 30123A is liable to the United States Government for a civil
penalty of not more than $50,000 for each
violation.
.
(c)The table of
contents for chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
the following new item after the item relating to section 30123:
30123A. Tire fuel efficiency consumer
information.
.
June 28, 2006
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of
the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be
printed