[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2858-2862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-933]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 555 and 581

[Docket No. NHTSA-99-4993]
RIN 2127-AH51


Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Bumper 
Standard

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

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendments.

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SUMMARY: This document amends NHTSA's temporary exemption regulation 
(49 CFR part 555) and bumper standard (49 CFR part 581) to reflect 
recent statutory amendments that allow us to grant temporary exemptions 
from Federal bumper standards on the same bases as we grant temporary 
exemptions from the Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Before now, 
we had authority to grant a bumper standard exemption only if the 
vehicle exempted was manufactured for a special use, and if compliance 
with the bumper standard would interfere unreasonably with the special 
use of the vehicle.
    Low-volume manufacturers may now present hardship arguments in 
asking for an exemption of up to 3 years. All manufacturers may ask for 
exemptions of up to 2 years for a limited number of vehicles if the 
exemption would make easier the introduction of innovative impact 
protection devices or the use of low-emission vehicles, or if it would 
allow the sale of a vehicle whose overall level of impact protection is 
at least equal to that of nonexempted vehicles.
    Because part 581 does not reflect our authority to provide special-
use exemptions, we are taking this opportunity to establish a procedure 
for exemptions from the bumper standard on this basis similar to those 
of part 555, including providing an opportunity for public comment. 
However, these special-use exemptions would be permanent, given the 
likelihood that the vehicle is intended for its special use throughout 
its production life.
    We are also making minor amendments to conform to the terminology 
and section numbers adopted in the 1994 recodification of our statutes.

    Because these are technical amendments, they are effective upon 
their publication.

DATES: Effective date: The final rule is effective on January 19, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Vinson, Office of Chief 
Counsel, NHTSA (telephone: 202-366-5263; FAX: 202-366-3820; e-mail: 
T[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    For many years, manufacturers of motor vehicles have been able to 
apply to us for a temporary exemption from one or more of the Federal 
motor vehicles safety standards, on one or more of the four bases 
stated in 49 U.S.C. 30113 (enacted by Pub. L. 92-548, October 25, 1972, 
as Section 123 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 
and implemented with 49 CFR part 555). We provide exemptions from a 
standard of up to three years if we find that compliance would cause 
substantial economic hardship to a manufacturer (whose annual 
production is 10,000 units or less) that has tried to meet the standard 
in good faith. We provide exemptions of up to two years, covering 2500 
vehicles a year, to any

[[Page 2859]]

manufacturer, if the exemption would promote innovative safety devices 
or low-emission vehicles, consistent with the safety of the vehicle, or 
if compliance prevents the applicant from selling a vehicle whose 
overall level of safety is at least equal to a complying vehicle.
    In October 1972, Congress also enacted the Motor Vehicle 
Information and Cost Savings Act (Pub. L. 92-513, October 20, 1972), 
Title I of which (now 49 U.S.C. Chapter 325) required us to issue 
bumper standards directed towards reducing the economic loss resulting 
from motor vehicle crashes at low speeds. We complied by promulgating 
49 CFR part 581 Bumper Standard. This standard superseded an earlier 
bumper standard based on safety considerations, Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard No. 215 Exterior Protection. Standard No. 215 went into 
effect on September 1, 1972, and we had granted several exemptions from 
it under our exemption authority provided by Pub. L. 92-548. On the the 
effective date of part 581, September 1, 1978, Standard No. 215 was 
removed, and the exemptions then in effect terminated. The remainder of 
the term of these safety standard exemptions could not be transferred 
to excuse compliance with Part 581, because the Bumper Standard was not 
a safety standard, and, in any event, contained somewhat different 
requirements.
    Although both Acts were virtually contemporaneous, Pub. L. 92-513 
contained no exemption authority comparable to that provided by Pub. L. 
92-548. We were authorized only to exempt from any part of a bumper 
standard a ``multipurpose passenger vehicle'' as defined by 49 U.S.C. 
32101(9), or ``a make, model, or class of a passenger motor vehicle 
manufactured for a special use, if the standard would interfere 
unreasonably with the special use of the vehicle'' (49 U.S.C. 
32502(c)). We exercised this limited authority by excluding 
multipurpose passenger vehicles from Part 581, but we never excused any 
vehicle from compliance on the basis of ``special use.''
    With the enactment in October 1998 of Pub. L. 105-277, the Omnibus 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1999, Congress has now given us 
authority to provide the same kinds of exemptions from the bumper 
standard as from the safety standards.

The 1998 amendments to 49 U.S.C. 30113 and 49 U.S.C. Chapter 325

    These are the amendments made to Title 49 by Pub. L. 105-277. The 
first sentence of section 30113(b)(1) now reads as follows: ``The 
(NHTSA Administrator) may exempt, on a temporary basis, motor vehicles 
from a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter or 
passenger motor vehicles from a bumper standard prescribed under 
chapter 325 of this title on terms the (Administrator) considers 
appropriate.'' The Administrator may provide an exemption on finding 
that ``an exemption is consistent with the public interest and this 
chapter or chapter 325 of this title (as applicable),'' section 
30113(b)(1)(3)(A), as amended. If the application is made on a hardship 
basis, the manufacturer must describe its ``good faith effort to comply 
with each motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter 
or a bumper standard prescribed under chapter 325 of this title,'' 
section 30113(c)(1). Under section 30113(d), as amended in part, ``A 
manufacturer is eligible for an exemption under subsection (b)(3)(B)(1) 
of this section (including an exemption under subsection (b)(3)(B)(1) 
relating to a bumper standard referred to in subsection (b)(1)).'' 
Finally, the exemption label ``shall either name or describe each motor 
vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter or bumper 
standard prescribed under chapter 325 of this title from which the 
vehicle is exempt,'' section 30113(h) as amended.
    Pub. L. 105-277 made conforming amendments to 49 U.S.C. section 
32502(c), which now reads:

    (c) EXEMPTIONS.--For good cause, the (Administrator) may exempt 
from all or any part of a standard--
    (1) A multipurpose passenger vehicle;
    (2) A make, model, or class of a passenger motor vehicle 
manufactured for a special use, if the standard would interfere 
unreasonably with the special use of the vehicle; or
    (3) A passenger motor vehicle for which an application for an 
exemption under section 30113(b) of this title has been filed in 
accordance with the requirements of that section.

    Finally, section 32506(a) GENERAL--has been amended to exclude from 
the violations set forth in sections 32506(a)(1) through (a)(4) the 
exceptions ``provided in this section and section 32502 of this 
title.''

Conforming Amendments We Are Making to 49 Parts 555 and 581

Part 555

    In recognition of the expanded exemption authority, we are changing 
the title of part 555 to ``Temporary Exemption from Motor Vehicle 
Safety and Bumper Standards.'' We are also adding bumper standards to 
Sec. 555.1 Scope, and Sec. 555.2 Purpose. We are also changing the 
statutory references in Secs. 555.1, 555.6(a)(2)(iv), and 555.6(c)(1) 
to reflect the recodification in 1994 under which the exemption 
authority of section 123 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle 
Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 1410) became 49 U.S.C. 30113.
    Under section 30113 as now amended, we may exempt ``motor 
vehicles'' from a safety standard, and ``passenger motor vehicles'' 
from a bumper standard. A ``passenger motor vehicle'' is defined as ``a 
motor vehicle with motive power designed to carry not more than 12 
individuals, but does not include (A) a motorcycle; or (B) a truck not 
designed primarily to carry its operator or passengers,'' 49 U.S.C. 
32101(10). Part 581's bumper standard currently applies to ``passenger 
motor vehicles other than multipurpose passenger vehicles,'' 
Sec. 581.3, which, in effect, means ``passenger cars'' as defined by 49 
CFR 571.3(b) for purposes of compliance with the Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards. Nevertheless, because section 30113 has been amended 
to include the phrase ``passenger motor vehicles,'' we are amending 
Secs. 555.3 and 555.5(a) to apply to manufacturers of passenger motor 
vehicles as well as manufacturers of motor vehicles, to avoid questions 
of interpretation. We are also amending Sec. 555.4 Definitions to 
define ``passenger motor vehicles'' as the term is defined in section 
32101(10).
    The 1994 recodification uses the term ``apply'' rather then 
``petition,'' and we are also amending part 555 where appropriate to 
replace the noun and verb ``petition'' with ``application'' and 
``apply.''
    There are two findings that we must make to grant an exemption. The 
first finding is that ``an exemption is consistent with the public 
interest and (chapter 301) or chapter 325 of this title (as 
applicable).'' Section 30113(b(3)(A), as amended. We are changing the 
corresponding requirement under section 555.5(b)(7) to include chapter 
325.
    The second finding confirms the applicant's arguments under section 
30113(b)(3)(B) that an exemption would serve a purpose listed in 
subsections (B)(i)-(iv): Relieve a substantial economic hardship, make 
easier the introduction of a new motor vehicle safety feature, or the 
introduction of a low-emission motor vehicle without unreasonably 
lowering its safety level, or allow the sale of a motor vehicle whose 
overall level of safety is at least that of a nonexempted vehicle. 
However, Pub. L. 105-277 made no corresponding amendments to sections. 
30113(b)(3)(B)(i)-(iv) to allow arguments for impact protection in lieu

[[Page 2860]]

of safety arguments (None appears needed for section 30113(b)(3)(B)(i) 
whose references to ``the standard'' can now be read to include bumper 
standards).
    Thus, a literal reading of the amended statute would require us to 
find that a bumper standard exemption would make easier the 
introduction of a new safety feature, or contribute to low-emission 
vehicle development without an adverse effect on safety, or allow the 
sale of a vehicle certified to meet all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards which cannot be sold because it does not meet 
the bumper standard.
    We have reviewed this matter carefully, and have concluded that 
Pub. L. 105-277 did not intend that we make safety findings in order to 
grant exemptions from the bumper standard. Safety and bumper standards 
are issued under different authorities for different purposes. One 
purpose is not subservient to the other. In the regulatory sense, the 
bumper standards are the co-equals of the safety standards. The new 
amendments give us specific authority to exempt a manufacturer from 
bumper standards by making the first finding that the exemption is 
consistent with chapter 325. It follows from the first finding, that 
the second finding should complement the first. We have concluded, 
therefore, that Sec. 555.6 should allow arguments that an exemption 
would make easier the introduction of a new impact protection feature 
that is at least equivalent to a conforming vehicle and, for the same 
reason, might facilitate the introduction of a low-emission vehicle. 
The section should also allow a finding that the applicant is otherwise 
unable to sell a vehicle with an overall level of impact protection at 
least equal to that of a nonexempted vehicle. However, we would reserve 
the right to balance safety considerations against considerations of 
property protection as part of our first finding that an exemption 
would be in the public interest. Thus, we would not preclude an 
applicant from making safety arguments in its application, but we would 
neither require it nor expect it.

Part 581

    Under part 581 as amended, the Administrator may provide the three 
types of exemptions from the bumper standard that we discussed earlier. 
We have already exercised the authority to exempt multipurpose 
passenger vehicles under section 32502(c)(1), since the bumper standard 
does not apply to this class of vehicle, but we have never exercised 
our authority to exempt vehicles on the basis of special use under 
section 32502(c)(2). Therefore, we are adding a new section, Sec. 581.8  
Exemptions, to establish an application/decision procedure, not only 
for applications that may be filed under section 30113 and part 555, 
but also for special-use exemptions.
    Under the new exemption procedure, a manufacturer of a passenger 
motor vehicle to which a bumper standard issued under part 581 applies 
may apply to us for rulemaking to exempt a class of passenger motor 
vehicles from all or any part of a bumper standard on the basis that 
the class of vehicles has been manufactured for a special use and that 
compliance with the standard would unreasonably interfere with the 
special use of the class of vehicle. A manufacturer may also ask us to 
exempt a make or model of passenger motor vehicle on this special-use 
basis or in accordance with part 555.
    An application filed for exemption on the basis of special use 
should contain the preliminary information specified in Sec. 555.5 for 
other exemption applications, and data, views, and arguments in support 
that the vehicle has been manufactured for a special use and that 
compliance with the bumper standard would interfere unreasonably with 
the special use of the vehicle. An application filed for exemption on 
the bases specified in Part 555 should be filed in accordance with the 
requirements of that part. We will process all bumper exemption 
applications the same way as we do those for safety exemptions, in 
accordance with Sec. 555.7, publishing a notice in the Federal Register 
that affords the public an opportunity to comment. The statute is 
silent on the length of a special-use exemption, and we will provide no 
term for it. However, it will expire when the make and model covered is 
no longer produced, or when it has been so modified from its original 
design that it can no longer be considered manufactured for the special 
use upon which the exemption was based. We may terminate a bumper 
standard exemption in the manner set forth for termination of safety 
standard exemptions in Secs. 555.8(c) and 555.8(f), and for the reasons 
set forth in Sec. 555.8(d). A vehicle exempted from the bumper standard 
shall be labeled in accordance with Sec. 555.9. We will make available 
to the public information relating to an application in the manner 
specified in Sec. 555.10.
    We are also revising Sec. 581.4 Definitions to update the statutory 
citation of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act.

Effective Date

    Because these amendments are technical in nature, implement 
statutory amendments, and relieve a restriction upon passenger motor 
vehicle manufacturers, it is hereby found that notice and comment are 
not necessary, and that the agency may issue a final rule, 
incorporating these technical amendments, that is effective upon the 
date of publication. The amendments are therefore effective upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

Rulemaking Analyses

A. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    This rulemaking action was not reviewed under Executive Order 
12886. Further, NHTSA has determined that the action is not significant 
under Department of Transportation regulatory policies and procedures. 
The amendments implement statutory amendments extending the right to 
manufacturers of motor vehicles to apply for exemptions from the bumper 
standards. NHTSA concludes that the costs of the final rule are so 
minimal as not to warrant preparation of a full regulatory evaluation. 
The action does not involve any substantial public interest or 
controversy. There is no substantial effect upon State and local 
governments. There is no substantial impact upon a major transportation 
safety program. The amendments may benefit primarily small 
manufacturers who require additional time and resources to comply with 
the full range of Federal motor vehicle safety and bumper standards, or 
manufacturers of any size who may wish to produce a passenger motor 
vehicle for a special use and cannot do so because compliance with the 
bumper standard interferes unreasonably with that special use.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The agency has also considered the effects of this action in 
relation to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). I 
certify that this action will not have a substantial economic impact 
upon a substantial number of small entities.
    The following is NHTSA's statement providing the factual basis for 
the certification (5 U.S.C. 605(b)). The final rule would primarily 
affect motor vehicle manufacturers who cannot comply with 49 CFR part 
581 and are thereby prohibited from selling motor vehicles that do not 
meet the Federal bumper standards. These manufacturers are small 
businesses within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and

[[Page 2861]]

the final rule affords a means by which they may achieve temporary 
relief while they achieve compliance with all applicable Federal bumper 
and motor vehicle safety standards.
    Governmental jurisdictions will not be affected at all since they 
are not purchasers of nonconforming motor vehicles.

C. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

    The agency has analyzed this action in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 
``Federalism'' and determined that the action does not have sufficient 
federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.

D. National Environmental Policy Act

    NHTSA has analyzed this action for purposes of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The action will not have a significant effect 
upon the environment because it is anticipated that the annual volume 
of motor vehicles manufactured pursuant to exemption from a bumper 
standard will not vary significantly from that existing before 
promulgation of the rule.

E. Civil Justice

    This rule will not have any retroactive effect. Under 49 U.S.C. 
32511(a), whenever a Federal passenger motor vehicle bumper standard is 
in effect, a state may prescribe or enforce a bumper standard only if 
the standard is identical to a standard prescribed under 49 U.S.C. 
32502. Section 32503 sets forth a procedure for judicial review of 
final rules establishing, amending or revoking Federal passenger motor 
vehicle bumper standards. That section does not require submission of a 
petition for reconsideration or other administrative proceedings before 
parties may file suit in court.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4) requires 
agencies to prepare a written assessment of the cost, benefits and 
other effects of proposed or final rules that include a Federal mandate 
likely to result in the expenditure by State, local, or tribal 
governments in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of more than 
$100 million annually. Because this final rule will not have a $100 
million effect, no Unfunded Mandates assessment has been prepared.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR parts 555 and 581

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.

PART 555--TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FROM MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AND BUMPER 
STANDARDS

    In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR part 555 is amended as 
follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 555 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30113, 32502, Pub. L. 105-277; delegation 
of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    2. The heading of Part 555 is revised to read as set forth above.
    3. Section 555.1 Scope is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 555.1  Scope.

    This part establishes requirements for the temporary exemption by 
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of certain 
motor vehicles from compliance with one or more Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 30113, and of certain 
passenger motor vehicles from compliance with all or part of a Federal 
bumper standard in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 32502.
    4. Section 555.2 Purpose is amended by designating the current text 
as paragraph (a) and by adding a new paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec. 555.2  Purpose.

* * * * *
    (b) The purpose of this part is also to provide a means by which 
manufacturers of passenger motor vehicles may obtain a temporary 
exemption from compliance with all or part of a Federal bumper standard 
issued under part 581 of this chapter on a basis similar to that 
provided for exemptions from the Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards.
    5. Section 555.3 Application is revised to read:


Sec. 555.3  Application.

    This part applies to manufacturers of motor vehicles and passenger 
motor vehicles.
    6. Section 555.4 Definitions is amended by adding a definition of 
Passenger Motor Vehicle in alphabetical order, between the definition 
of Administrator and the definition of United States, to read as 
follows:


Sec. 555.4  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Passenger motor vehicle means a motor vehicle with motive power 
designed to carry not more than 12 individuals, but does not include a 
truck not designed primarily to carry its operator or passengers, or a 
motorcycle.
* * * * *
    6a. The heading to Secs. 555.5 and 555.6, and Secs. 555.5(b) 
introductory text, 555.5(b)(5), 555.6(a)(1)(v), 555.7(d) introductury 
text, and 555.7(e) are amended by removing ``petition'' and adding in 
its place ``application.''
    7. Sections 555.5(a) and (b)(7) are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 555.5  Application for exemption.

    (a) A manufacturer of motor vehicles or passenger motor vehicles 
may apply to NHTSA for a temporary exemption from any Federal motor 
vehicle safety or bumper standard or for a renewal of any exemption on 
the bases of substantial economic hardship, making easier the 
development or field evaluation of new motor vehicle safety or impact 
protection, or low-emission vehicle features, or that compliance with a 
standard would prevent it from selling a vehicle with an overall level 
of safety or impact protection at least equal to that of nonexempted 
vehicles.
    (b) * * *
    (7) Set forth the reasons why the granting of the exemption would 
be in the public interest, and, as applicable, consistent with the 
objectives of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 or Chapter 325.
* * * * *


Sec. 555.6  [Amended]

    8. Sections 555.6(b)(5), 555.6(c)(5), 555.6(d)(4), 555.7(b), 
555.7(c), 555.8(e), and 555.8(f)(1) are amended by removing ``a 
petition'' and adding in its place ``an application.''
    9. Sections 555.6(a)(2)(iv) last sentence in parenthesis, 555.6(b) 
introductory text, 555.6(b)(1), 555.6(b)(2) introductory text, 
555.6(b)(2)(i), 555.6(b)(2)(iii), 555.6(b)(4), 555.6(c)(1), 555.6(c)(2) 
introductury text, 555.6(c)(2)(iv), 555.6(d) introductory text, 
555.6(d)(1) introductory text, 555.6(d)(1)(ii), 555.6(d)(1)(iv), and 
555.6(d)(1)(v) are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 555.6  Basis for application.

    (a) If the basis of the application is that compliance with the 
standard would cause substantial economic hardship to a manufacturer 
that has tried to comply with the standard in good faith, the applicant 
shall provide the following information:
* * * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iv) * * * (49 U.S.C. 30113(d) limits eligibility for exemption on 
the basis of economic hardship to manufacturers whose total motor 
vehicle production in the year preceding the filing of their 
applications does not exceed 10,000.)
    (b) If the basis of the application is that the exemption would 
make easier the development or field evaluation of a new motor vehicle 
safety or impact

[[Page 2862]]

protection features providing a safety or impact protection level at 
least equal to that of the standard, the applicant shall provide the 
following information:
    (1) A description of the safety or impact protection features, and 
research, development, and testing documentation establishing the 
innovational nature of such features.
    (2) An analysis establishing that the level of safety or impact 
protection of the feature is equivalent to or exceeds the level of 
safety or impact protection established in the standard from which 
exemption is sought, including--
    (i) A detailed description of how a vehicle equipped with the 
safety or impact protection feature differs from one that complies with 
the standard;
* * * * *
    (iii) The results of tests conducted on the safety or impact 
protection features that demonstrates performance which meets or 
exceeds the requirements of the standard.
* * * * *
    (4) A statement whether, at the end of the exemption period, the 
manufacturer intends to conform to the standard, apply for a further 
exemption, or petition for rulemaking to amend the standard to 
incorporate the safety or impact protection features.
* * * * *
    (c) If the basis of the application is that the exemption would 
make the development or field evaluation of a low-emission vehicle 
easier and would not unreasonably lower the safety or impact protection 
level of that vehicle, the applicant shall provide--
    (1) Substantiation that the vehicle is a low-emission vehicle as 
defined by 49 U.S.C. 30113(a).
    (2) Research, development, and testing documentation establishing 
that a temporary exemption would not unreasonably degrade the safety or 
impact protection of the vehicle, including--
* * * * *
    (iv) Reasons why the failure to meet the standard does not 
unreasonably degrade the safety or impact protection of the vehicle.
* * * * *
    (d) If the basis of the application is that the applicant is 
otherwise unable to sell a vehicle whose overall level of safety or 
impact protection is at least equal to that of a nonexempted vehicle, 
the applicant shall provide--
    (1) A detailed analysis of how the vehicle provides the overall 
level of safety or impact protection at least equal to that of 
nonexempted vehicles, including--
* * * * *
    (ii) A detailed description of any safety or impact protection 
features that the vehicle offers as standard equipment that are not 
required by the Federal motor vehicle safety or bumper standards;
* * * * *
    (iv) The results of any tests conducted on the vehicle 
demonstrating that its overall level of safety or impact protection 
exceeds that which is achieved by conformity to the standards.
    (v) Other arguments that the overall level of safety or impact 
protection of the vehicle is at least equal to that of nonexempted 
vehicles.
* * * * *
    10. The heading of Sec. 555.7, and Sec. 555.7(a) are revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 555.7  Processing of applications.

    (a) The NHTSA publishes in the Federal Register, affording 
opportunity for comment, a notice of each application containing the 
information required by this part. However, if the NHTSA finds that an 
application does not contain the information required by this part, it 
so informs the applicant, pointing out the areas of insufficiency and 
stating that the application will not receive further consideration 
until the required information is submitted.
* * * * *
    11. In section 555.10, the first sentence of paragraph (a) is 
revised to read as follows:


Sec. 555.10  Availability for public inspection.

    (a) Information relevant to an application under this part, 
including the application and supporting data, memoranda of informal 
meetings with the applicant or any other interested person, and the 
grant or denial of the application, is available for public inspection, 
except as specified in paragraph (b) of this section, in Room PL-401 
(Docket Management), 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. * * 
*

PART 581--[AMENDED]

    In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR part 581 is amended as 
follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 581 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30113, 32502, Pub. L. 105-277; delegation 
of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    2. The first sentence in Sec. 581.4 Definitions is revised to read 
as follows: Sec. 581.4 Definitions.
    All terms defined in 49 U.S.C. 32101 are used as defined therein.
* * * * *
    3. New Sec. 581.8 Exemptions is added to read:


Sec. 581.8  Exemptions.

    A manufacturer of a passenger motor vehicle to which a bumper 
standard issued under this part applies may apply to the Administrator:
    (a) For rulemaking as provided in part 552 of this chapter to 
exempt a class of passenger motor vehicles from all or any part of a 
bumper standard issued under this part on the basis that the class of 
vehicles has been manufactured for a special use and that compliance 
with the standard would unreasonably interfere with the special use of 
the class of vehicle; or
    (b) To exempt a make or model of passenger motor vehicle on the 
basis set forth in paragraph (a) of this section or part 555 of this 
chapter.
    (c) An application filed for exemption on the basis of paragraph 
(a) of this section shall contain the information specified in 
Sec. 555.5 of this chapter, and set forth data, views, and arguments in 
support that the vehicle has been manufactured for a special use and 
that compliance with the bumper standard would interfere unreasonably 
with the special use of the vehicle.
    (d) An application filed for exemption under part 555 of this 
chapter shall be filed in accordance with the requirements of that 
part.
    (e) The NHTSA shall process exemption applications in accordance 
with Sec. 555.7 of this chapter. An exemption granted a manufacturer on 
the basis of paragraph (a) of this section is indefinite in length but 
expires when the manufacturer ceases production of the exempted 
vehicle, or when the exempted vehicle as produced has been so modified 
from its original design that the Administrator decides that it is no 
longer manufactured for the special use upon which the application for 
its exemption was based. The Administrator may terminate an exemption 
in the manner set forth in Secs. 555.8(c) and 555.8(f) of this chapter, 
and for the reasons set forth in Sec. 555.8(d) of this chapter. An 
exempted vehicle shall be labeled in accordance with Sec. 555.9 of this 
chapter. Information relating to an application shall be available to 
the public in the manner specified in Sec. 555.10 of this chapter.

    Issued on January 11, 1999.
Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-933 Filed 1-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P