[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14247-14252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6379]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 564 and 571

[Docket No. 85-15; Notice 16]
RIN 2127-AF62


Replaceable Light Source Information Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standards; Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes amendments to the Federal motor vehicle 
standard on lighting to facilitate the transfer by NHTSA of all 
dimensional and specification information on HB Type replaceable light 
sources for headlamps to Docket No. 93-11. This docket has been 
[[Page 14248]] established as the information docket specified in part 
564 for replaceable light source information. This regulatory action is 
intended to simplify Standard No. 108 while ensuring consistent 
regulatory treatment of all headlamp replaceable light sources. The 
notice also proposes conforming amendments to part 564.

DATES: The due date for comments is May 15, 1995. The amendments would 
be effective 30 days after publication of the final rule in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, room 5109, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 
p.m.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth O. Hardie, Office of 
Rulemaking, NHTSA (202-366-6987).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For many years, Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard No. 108 allowed headlamps only of sealed beam construction and 
ones whose design dimensions were rigidly specified in the standard. In 
1983, Standard No. 108 was amended to permit headlamps of non-sealed 
construction, equipped with a replaceable light source. With this 
amendment, the dimensions of the headlamp were no longer subject to 
Federal specification. Instead, to ensure repeatability of performance 
and ease of replaceability in the aftermarket, NHTSA adopted 
standardized dimensional restrictions for the light source itself. Each 
light source was given a distinctive HB Type designation. Today, 
Standard No. 108 incorporates five different types of replaceable light 
sources known as Types HB1 through HB5.
    Each one of these light sources has been added to Standard No. 108 
through rulemaking procedures that conform to the Administrative 
Procedure Act, that is to say, after an opportunity has been provided 
for notice and comment. This process is time consuming and has not 
afforded flexibility to NHTSA in accommodating manufacturers who wish 
to introduce new light sources in a more timely and predictable manner. 
In the late 1980's, NHTSA decided that the regulatory process might be 
made less cumbersome by establishing a docket in which manufacturers of 
new replaceable light sources could submit appropriate dimensional and 
other information which would require nothing more than acceptance by 
NHTSA before the new light sources could be used in headlamps (subject 
to the requirements, of course, that headlamps incorporating the new 
light sources meet the performance requirements of Standard No. 108, 
and that the light sources conform to the information listed for them).
    Pursuant to this decision and with appropriate notices published in 
the Federal Register, on January 12, 1993, NHTSA established part 564 
Replaceable Light Source Information (58 FR 3856). At that time, 
rulemaking was in progress to add a Type HB6 to Standard No. 108. 
However, with the advent of part 564, NHTSA decided to terminate 
rulemaking to adopt a Type HB6 on March 10, 1993, and to file the 
relevant information under part 564 (58 FR 13243). On March 19, 1993, 
the information docket was designated Docket No. 93-11 (58 FR 15132). 
Concurrently with this notice, NHTSA is responding to petitions for 
reconsideration of the January 12, 1993, final rule and amending part 
564 to broaden the category of manufacturers who are permitted to 
submit light source information, as well as establishing a procedure to 
implement changes to information previously filed. The text that is 
proposed below for paragraphs 564.5(a) and (c) is based upon these 
amendments.
    With the advent of part 564, there exist two places for dimensional 
and specification information on replaceableheadlamp bulbs, paragraph 
S7.7 of Standard No. 108 and Docket No. 93-11. Because headlamps with 
any type of replaceable light sources, HB or other, must meet the same 
(or equivalent in the case of photometrics) performance requirements, 
there appears to be no safety disbenefit in removing the Figures in 
Standard No. 108 that specify dimensions for Type HB light sources and 
placing that information in Docket No. 93-11. Such an action would also 
entail minor amendments of a housekeeping nature to dovetail HB Type 
light sources and those that are permitted pursuant to part 564.
    This notice proposes to remove from Standard No. 108 those Figures 
and text that specify dimensional, performance, and electrical 
specifications for HB Types 1 through 5. Upon issuance of a final rule, 
NHTSA would place this information in Docket No. 93-11. The notice 
would also redefine ``replaceable light source'' to mean an assembly of 
a capsule, base, and terminals that is designed to conform to the 
dimensions, specifications, and marking furnished with respect to it 
pursuant to Appendix A of part 564. The section on replaceable light 
sources, S7.7, would be revised by removing paragraphs (a) through (e) 
which refer to the Figures that would be deleted, and paragraph (f) 
which relates to marking; this would be incorporated into paragraph 
(h), which would be redesignated paragraph (a). Present paragraph (g) 
would be transferred to the introductory text of S7.7, and paragraphs 
(h) through (k) would be redesignated (a) through (d) with minor 
changes in text. A conforming amendment would be made to S9.
    In addition, a conforming amendment would be made to part 564 to 
remove the present exclusion of replaceable light sources specified in 
S7.7 of Standard No. 108.

Request for Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the proposal. 
It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
    All comments must not exceed 15 pages in length. (49 CFR 553.21). 
Necessary attachments may be appended to these submissions without 
regard to the 15-page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage 
commenters to detail their primary arguments in a concise fashion.
    If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including 
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and seven 
copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been 
deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for 
confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth 
the information specified in the agency's confidential business 
information regulation. 49 CFR Part 512.
    All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
closing date indicated above for the proposal will be considered, and 
will be available for examination in the docket at the above address 
both before and after that date. To the extent possible, comments filed 
after the closing date will also be considered. Comments received too 
late for consideration in regard to the final rule will be considered 
as suggestions for further rulemaking action. Comments on the proposal 
will be available for inspection in the docket. The NHTSA will continue 
to file relevant information as it becomes available in the docket 
after the closing date, and it is recommended that interested persons 
continue to examine the docket for new material.
    Those persons desiring to be notified upon receipt of their 
comments in the rules docket should enclose a self-addressed, stamped 
postcard in the [[Page 14249]] envelope with their comments. Upon 
receiving the comments, the docket supervisor will return the postcard 
by mail.

Effective Date

    The effective date of the final rule would be April 17, 1995. 
Because the final rule establishes no additional burden on any party 
and is primarily of an administrative nature, it is hereby tentatively 
found for good cause shown that an effective date for the amendments to 
Standard No. 108 that is earlier than 180 days after their issuance 
would be in the public interest.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

    Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures. 
The Office of Management and Budget has determined that it will not 
review this rulemaking action under Executive Order 12866. It has been 
determined that the rulemaking action is not significant under 
Department of Transportation regulatory policies and procedures. The 
purpose of the rulemaking action is an administrative one, to remove 
regulatory material from Standard No. 108 which the agency will file in 
a regulatory docket on the subject. Since the rule does not have any 
significant cost or other impacts, preparation of a full regulatory 
evaluation is not warranted.
    National Environmental Policy Act. NHTSA has analyzed this 
rulemaking action for the purposes of the National Environmental Policy 
Act. It is not anticipated that a final rule based on this proposal 
would have a significant effect upon the environment. The design and 
composition of headlamps or light sources would not change from those 
presently in production.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agency has also considered the 
impacts of this rulemaking action in relation to the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. I certify that this rulemaking action would not have a 
significant economic impact upon a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis has been 
prepared. Manufacturers of motor vehicles, headlamps, and light 
sources, those affected by the rulemaking action, are generally not 
small businesses within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 
Further, small organizations and governmental jurisdictions would not 
be significantly affected because the price of new vehicles, headlamps, 
and light sources would not be impacted.
    Executive Order 12612 (Federalism). This rulemaking action has also 
been analyzed in accordance with the principles and criteria contained 
in Executive Order 12612, and NHTSA has determined that this rulemaking 
action does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    Civil Justice (Executive Order 12778). A final rule based on this 
proposal would 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. 
Section 30161 of Title 49 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

49 CFR Part 564

    Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.

49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.

    In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR parts 564 and 571 would 
be amended as follows:

PART 564--REPLACEABLE LIGHT SOURCE INFORMATION

    1. The authority citation for part 564 would remain as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30166; delegation 
of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    2. Part 564 would be amended by revising paragraphs 564.5(a) and 
(c) to read as follows:


Sec. 564.5  Information filing requirements; agency processing of 
filings.

    (a) Each manufacturer of a motor vehicle, original equipment 
headlamp, or original equipment headlamp replaceable light source, 
which intends to manufacture a replaceable light source as original 
equipment or to incorporate a replaceable light source in its headlamps 
or motor vehicles, shall furnish the information specified in Appendix 
A of this part to: Associate Administrator for Rulemaking, National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, 
Washington, D.C. 20590. Attn: Replaceable Light Source Information 
Docket No. 93-11, (unless the agency has already filed such information 
in Docket No. 93-11).
* * * * *
    (c) The Associate Administrator promptly reviews each submission 
and informs the manufacturer not later than 30 days after its receipt 
whether the submission has been accepted. The Associate Administrator 
does not accept any submission that does not contain all the 
information specified in Appendix A of this part, or whose accompanying 
information indicates that any new light source which is the subject of 
a submission is interchangeable with any replaceable light source for 
which the agency has previously filed information in Docket No. 93-11.
* * * * *

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

    3. The authority citation for Part 571 would be revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30177, 30166; delegation 
of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


Sec. 571.108  [Amended]

    4. Section 571.108 would be amended by:
    a. revising the definition of ``Replaceable Light Source'' in 
section S4 to read as set forth below;
    b. revising paragraph S7.7 to read as set forth below;
    c. revising the last sentence of S9 as set forth below; and
    d. removing and reserving Figures 3-1 through 3-11, 19, 19-1 
through 19-5, 20, 20-1 through 20-5, 23-1 through 23-7, and 24-1 
through 24-9.
    e. revising Figures 8 and 25 as set forth below.


Sec. 571.108  Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective 
Devices, and Associated Equipment.

* * * * *
    S4  Definitions
* * * * *
    Replaceable light source means an assembly of a capsule, base and 
terminals designed to conform to the dimensions, specifications and 
markings furnished with respect to it pursuant to Appendix A of part 
564 Replaceable Light Source Information of this chapter.
* * * * *
    S7.7  Replaceable Light Sources. Each replaceable light source 
shall be designed to conform to the dimensions and electrical 
specifications furnished with respect to it pursuant to part 564 of 
this chapter, and shall conform to the following requirements:
    (a) If other than an HB Type, the light source shall be marked with 
the bulb marking designation specified for it in compliance with 
section VIII of [[Page 14250]] Appendix A of part 564 of this chapter. 
The base of each HB Type shall be marked with its HB Type designation. 
Each replaceable light source shall also be marked with the symbol DOT 
and with a name or trademark in accordance with paragraph S7.2.
    (b) The measurement of maximum power and luminous flux that is 
submitted in compliance with section VII of Appendix A of part 564 of 
this chapter shall be made in accordance with this paragraph. The 
filament shall be seasoned before measurement of either. Measurement 
shall be made with the direct current test voltage regulated within one 
quarter of one percent. The test voltage shall be design voltage, 
12.8v. The measurement of luminous flux shall be in accordance with the 
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, LM-45; IES Approved 
Method for Electrical and Photometric Measurements of General Service 
Incandescent Filament Lamps (April 1980), shall be made with the black 
cap installed on Type HB1, Type HB2, Type HB4, and Type HB5, and on any 
other replaceable light source so designed, and shall be made with the 
electrical conductor and light source base shrouded with an opaque 
white colored cover, except for the portion normally located within the 
interior of the lamp housing. The measurement of luminous flux for the 
Types HB3 and HB4 shall be made with the base covered. (The white cover 
is used to eliminate the likelihood of incorrect lumen measurement that 
will occur should the reflectance of the light source base and 
electrical connector be low).
    (c) The capsule, lead wires and/or terminals, and seal on each Type 
HB1, Type HB3, Type HB4, and Type HB5 light source, and on any other 
replaceable light source which uses a seal, shall be installed in a 
pressure chamber as shown in Figure 25 so as to provide an airtight 
seal. The diameter of the aperture in Figure 25 on a replaceable light 
source (other than an HB Type) shall be that figure furnished for such 
light source in compliance with Section IV.B of Appendix A of part 564 
of this chapter. An airtight seal exists when no air bubbles appear on 
the low pressure (connector) side after the light source has been 
immersed in water for one minute while inserted in a cylindrical 
aperture specified for the light source, and subjected to an air 
pressure of 70kPa (10 P.S.I.G.) on the glass capsule side.
    (d) After the force deflection test conducted in accordance with 
S9, the permanent deflection of the glass envelope shall not exceed 
0.13 mm in the direction of the applied force.
* * * * *
    S9  Deflection test for replaceable light sources. * * * Distance 
`A' for a replaceable light source other than an HB Type shall be the 
dimension provided in accordance with Appendix A of part 564 of this 
chapter, section I.A.1 if the light source has a lower beam filament, 
or as specified in section I.B.1 if the light source has only an upper 
beam filament.
* * * * *

                                                 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
[[Page 14251]]

[GRAPHIC][TIFF OMITTED]TP16MR95.000


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[GRAPHIC][TIFF OMITTED]TP16MR95.001



BILLING CODE 4910-59-C
* * * * *
    Issued on March 9, 1995.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 95-6379 Filed 3-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P