[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53280-53281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25416]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571 and 572

[Docket No. 92-28; Notice 5]
RIN No. 2127-AB85


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Head Impact Protection

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

ACTION: Notice of technical workshop.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that NHTSA will hold a technical 
workshop to discuss issues concerning the test procedure for a recent 
final rule amending Standard No. 201, Occupant Protection in Interior 
Impact. Parties interested in participating in the workshop are asked 
to submit a list of test procedure issues they recommend for inclusion 
in the agenda for the workshop.

DATES: Workshop: A workshop on the test procedure for the new head 
impact protection rule will be held by early December, at the address 
listed below. Persons wishing to participate in the workshop should 
contact Karen Nuschler at the address or telephone number listed below 
by October 23, 1995. Due to space limitations, NHTSA may have to limit 
the number of participants per organization. 

[[Page 53281]]

    Agenda Issues: Written suggestions for the agenda must be received 
on or before October 23, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Workshop: The workshop will be held at the Vehicle Research 
and Test Center (VRTC), 10,820 State Route 347, East Liberty, Ohio 
43319. Directions to VRTC and the final agenda will be sent to 
participants.
    Agenda Issues: All suggestions for the agenda must refer to the 
docket and notice number set forth above and be submitted (preferably 
in 10 copies) to the Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Nuschler, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NSA-31, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20590, 
telephone (202) 366-5829, facsimile (202) 366-3081, electronic mail 
``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August, 18, 1995, NHTSA published a final 
rule amending Standard No. 201, Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 
to require passenger cars and light trucks, buses and multipurpose 
passenger vehicles (LTVs) to incorporate measures to prevent or reduce 
injury during a crash, when a vehicle occupant's head strikes upper 
interior components, including pillars, side rails, headers, and the 
roof. The amendments add procedures and performance requirements for a 
new in-vehicle component test (60 FR 43031). The period for submittal 
of petitions for reconsideration closed September 19, 1995.
    NHTSA received nine petitions for reconsideration of the final 
rule. Some of these petitions raised questions concerning the test 
procedure in the final rule. To enable interested parties and NHTSA 
personnel to discuss the questions concerning the test procedure, NHTSA 
believes that it would be desirable to hold a technical workshop on the 
test procedure. The focus will be on the location of target points. The 
agency requests that interested parties submit a list of suggested test 
procedure issues for inclusion in the agenda for this workshop, 
together with a brief explanation of the desirability of their 
inclusion. This will enable the agency to arrange to mark target points 
on vehicles in advance of the workshop. The agency will include as many 
of the suggested issues in the final agenda as appropriate.
    It is requested but not required that 10 copies of agenda issues be 
submitted. To allow NHTSA to distribute the agenda to participants and 
to acquire any necessary equipment, the test procedure issues must be 
submitted to the agency by October 23, 1995. Because the agency will 
need time to arrange for all necessary equipment, including special 
vehicles, to be at the workshop site, NHTSA will make and announce a 
final decision on the exact date of the workshop after it selects the 
items for the final agenda. NHTSA anticipates the workshop will be held 
during the latter half of November, but could take place in early 
December.
    Persons wishing to participate in the workshop are requested to 
notify Karen Nuschler no later than October 23, 1995. Interested 
persons should also indicate the company or organization which they 
represent. Once the agency compiles a list of interested persons, NHTSA 
will determine whether participation must be limited due to space 
constraints. If this occurs, NHTSA will equitably allocate the 
available space among the represented companies and organizations.
    Copies of all written submissions of suggested issues and the final 
agenda will be placed in the docket for this notice. While NHTSA will 
discuss the selected issues with workshop attendees, any resolution of 
those issues will be announced in the notice responding to the 
petitions for reconsideration.
    To facilitate communication, NHTSA will provide auxiliary aids to 
participants as necessary, during the meeting. Thus, any person 
desiring assistance of auxiliary aids (e.g., sign-language interpreter, 
telecommunications, devices for deaf persons (TDDs), readers, taped 
texts, braille materials, or large print materials and/or a magnifying 
device), should contact Karen Nuschler.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1392, 1401, 1403, 1407, delegation of 
authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-25416 Filed 10-12-95; 8:45 am]
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