[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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