[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 37986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18276]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. 95-50; Notice 02]
RIN 2127-AF74


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Reflecting Surfaces

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On June 26, 1995, NHTSA published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking to rescind Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 107, 
Reflecting Surfaces. The NPRM stated that the comment period ends July 
26, 1995. In response to a petition from an interested party, NHTSA 
extends the comment period to August 25, 1995. The extension of time is 
granted to all persons.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 25, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to Docket No. 95-50, Notice 1 and be 
submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. It is requested, but not required, that 10 copies 
of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays 
from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Van Iderstine, Office of 
Vehicle Safety Standards, Office of Safety Performance Standards, 
NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Van 
Iderstine's telephone number is (202) 366-5280, and his FAX number is 
(202) 366-4329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    On June 26, 1995, NHTSA published in the Federal Register a notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (60 FR 32935) to rescind Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 107, Reflecting Surfaces (49 CFR 
Sec. 571.107). The proposed action is part of NHTSA's efforts to 
implement the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative to remove 
unnecessary regulations. The proposed action discussed why NHTSA 
believes Standard No. 107 can be rescinded without adversely affecting 
motor vehicle safety. That belief is based primarily on the vehicle 
manufacturers' established practice of using nonglossy materials and 
finishes on regulated and nonregulated components in the driver's 
forward field of view. Since the nonregulated components are not 
glossy, NHTSA believes that currently regulated components would not 
become glossy if they were deregulated. The NPRM stated that public 
comments must be received on or before July 26, 1995.

Extension of Comment Period

    In a letter dated July 6, 1995, Advocates for Highway and Auto 
Safety (Advocates) petitioned for a 45-day extension of the comment 
period, i.e., until September 11, 1995. Advocates explained that in its 
view, the NPRM's comment period did not provide enough time to evaluate 
the proposed rescission of a safety standard. Advocates cited a desire 
to investigate the history of Standard No. 107, including past NHTSA 
actions described in the NPRM. Advocates argued that public interest in 
Standard No. 107 has continued, and extending the public comment period 
``will enable interested parties to supply informed comments to the 
docket.''

    NHTSA has decided to grant Advocates' request for an extension of 
the public comment period. NHTSA will extend the comment period an 
additional 30 days, to August 25, 1995. NHTSA has granted the 
additional time because Advocates has shown good cause for the 
extension of time and that the extension is consistent with the public 
interest. The extension of time is granted to all persons.

    NHTSA believes that an additional 30 days should be sufficient to 
examine the Standard's rather limited history. Since Standard No. 107 
took effect on January 1, 1968, it has been the subject of little 
rulemaking activity. The two most notable Standard No. 107 rulemaking 
proceedings (neither of which resulted in amendments to the standard) 
were discussed in NHTSA's June 26, 1995 NPRM.

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

Barry Felrice,

Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 95-18276 Filed 7-24-95; 8:45 am]

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