[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16860-16862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8580]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 533

[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5464]
RIN 2127-AH52


Light Truck Average Fuel Economy Standard, Model Year 2001

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule establishes the average fuel economy standard 
for light trucks manufactured in model year (MY) 2001. The issuance of 
the standard is required by statute. As required by section 322 of the 
fiscal year (FY) 1999 DOT Appropriations Act, the light truck standard 
for MY 2001 is identical to the standard for MY 2000, 20.7 mpg.

DATES: This final rule becomes effective on June 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Petitions for reconsideration should be submitted to: 
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, call Henrietta 
Spinner, Office of Consumer Programs, at (202) 366-0846, facsimile 
(202) 366-2738, electronic mail ``[email protected]''. For legal 
issues, call Otto Matheke, Office of the Chief Counsel, at 202-366-
5263.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In December 1975, during the aftermath of the energy crisis created 
by the oil embargo of 1973-74, Congress enacted the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act. The Act established an automotive fuel economy 
regulatory program by adding Title V, ``Improving Automotive 
Efficiency,'' to the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Saving Act. 
Title V has been amended and recodified without substantive change as 
Chapter 329 of Title 49 of the United States Code. Chapter 329 provides 
for the issuance of average fuel economy standards for passenger 
automobiles and automobiles that are not passenger automobiles (light 
trucks).
    Section 32902(a) of Chapter 329 states that the Secretary of 
Transportation shall prescribe by regulation corporate average fuel 
economy (CAFE) standards for light trucks for each model year. That 
section also states that ``[e]ach standard shall be the maximum 
feasible average fuel economy level that the Secretary decides the 
manufacturers can achieve in that model year.'' (The Secretary has 
delegated the authority to implement the automotive fuel economy 
program to the Administrator of NHTSA. 49 CFR 1.50(f).) Section 
32902(f) provides that in determining the maximum feasible average fuel 
economy level, we shall consider four criteria: technological 
feasibility, economic practicability, the effect of other motor vehicle 
standards of the Government on fuel economy, and the need of the United 
States to conserve energy. Using this authority, we have set light 
truck CAFE standards through MY 2000. See 49 CFR 533.5(a). The standard 
for MY 2000 is 20.7 mpg.
    We began the process of establishing light truck CAFE standards for 
model years after MY 1997 by publishing an Advance Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register. 59 FR 16324 (April 6, 
1994). The ANPRM outlined the agency's intention to set standards for 
some or all of model years 1998 to 2006.
    On November 15, 1995, the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1996 was enacted. Pub. L. 
104-50. Section 330 of that Act provides:

    None of the funds in this Act shall be available to prepare, 
propose, or promulgate any regulations . . . prescribing corporate 
average fuel economy standards for automobiles . . . in any model 
year that differs from standards promulgated for such automobiles 
prior to enactment of this section.

    We then issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) limited to MY 
1998, which proposed to set the light truck CAFE standard for that year 
at 20.7 mpg, the same standard as had been set for MY 1997. 61 FR 145 
(January 3, 1996). This 20.7 mpg standard was adopted by a final rule 
issued on March 29, 1996. 61 FR 14680 (April 3, 1996).
    On September 30, 1996, the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1997 was enacted. Pub. L. 
104-205. Section 323 of that Act provides:

    None of the funds in this Act shall be available to prepare, 
propose, or promulgate any regulations . . . prescribing corporate 
average fuel economy standards for automobiles . . . in any model 
year that differs from standards promulgated for such

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automobiles prior to enactment of this section.

    On March 31, 1997, we issued a final rule (62 FR 15859) 
establishing light truck fuel economy standards for the 1999 model 
year. This final rule was not preceded by an NPRM. The agency concluded 
that the restriction contained in Section 323 of the FY 1997 
Appropriations Act prevented us from issuing any standards other than 
the standard set for the 1998 model year. Because we had no other 
course of action, we determined that issuing an NPRM was unnecessary 
and contrary to the public interest.
    On October 27, 1997, the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1998 was enacted. Pub. L. 
105-66. Section 322 of that Act provided, as did the corresponding 
sections of the FY 1996 and FY 1997 appropriations acts, that none of 
the funds appropriated could be used to promulgate any regulations 
(including fuel economy standards) that differ from those of a prior 
year. On March 30, 1998, we issued a final rule (63 FR 16699) 
establishing light truck fuel economy standards for the 2000 model 
year. This final rule was also not preceded by an NPRM. The agency 
concluded that the restriction contained in Section 322 of the FY 1998 
Appropriations Act prevented us from issuing any standards other than 
the standard set for the 1999 model year. As was the case in prior 
years, we determined that issuing an NPRM was unnecessary and contrary 
to the public interest because we had no other course of action.
    On October 21, 1998, the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1999 was enacted. Pub. 
L. 105-277. This law contained the appropriations provisions for the 
Department of Transportation for the 1999 fiscal year. Section 322 of 
that Act provides:

    None of the funds in this Act shall be available to prepare, 
propose, or promulgate any regulations pursuant to title V of the 
Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act prescribing corporate 
average fuel economy standards for automobiles, as defined in such 
title, in any model year that differs from standards promulgated for 
such automobiles prior to enactment of this section.

    Because light truck CAFE standards must be set no later than 
eighteen months before the beginning of the model year in question, the 
deadline for us to set the MY 2001 standard is approximately April 1, 
1999. As the agency cannot spend any funds in violation of the terms of 
Section 322, it cannot undertake any work in preparation of a standard 
for MY 2001 unless it is identical to the MY 2000 standard. Preparation 
of any fuel economy standard requires the agency to spend money to 
determine what the appropriate fuel economy level would be, to analyze 
the costs and benefits of that standard and to prepare documents and 
studies regarding the standard. Incurring these costs when the 
legislation dictates the fuel economy level would not be a productive 
use of resources. Accordingly, the agency is foregoing any analysis of 
what the appropriate fuel economy level for MY 2001 might be.
    We note that the language contained in Section 322 of the FY 1999 
Act is identical to that found in Section 330 of the FY 1996 
Appropriations Act and Section 323 of the FY 1997 Appropriations Act. 
The adoption of identical language in the FY 1998 Act leads us to 
conclude that Congress considered our prior view of this language to be 
correct: the limitation precludes NHTSA from setting a light truck 
standard that differs from one adopted in the previous year.
    As explained above, Section 322 precludes NHTSA from preparing, 
proposing, or issuing any CAFE standard that is not identical to those 
previously established for MYs 1998, 1999 and 2000. We are therefore 
establishing the MY 2001 light truck standard through the issuance of 
this final rule. In our view, the express directive in the FY 1999 
Omnibus Appropriations Act stops us from considering a new CAFE 
standard for the 2001 model year. As we cannot expend any funds to set 
the 2001 standard at any level other than the MY 2000 standard, issuing 
a notice of proposed rulemaking and providing an opportunity for notice 
and comment would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. 
Accordingly, this final rule sets the MY 2001 light truck CAFE standard 
at the MY 2000 level of 20.7 mpg.

II. Correcting Amendment

    In a notice published in the Federal Register on April 6, 1994, (59 
FR 16313) we established fuel economy standards for light trucks for 
the 1996 and 1997 model years. The final rule contained in that notice 
also modified the existing fuel economy standards for light trucks by 
eliminating the separate category for captive imports and combining all 
light trucks into a single category. Because of this, Sec. 533.5(a) of 
Part 533 was modified to replace an existing table, table III--which 
had a column for captive imports and a column for all other light 
trucks. However, the regulatory text was not changed to reflect the 
change to a single category for all light trucks. To correct this 
oversight, we are amending Sec. 533.5 by adding a new paragraph--
533.5(f)--indicating that for the 1996 model year and all subsequent 
model years, that captive imports and other trucks will be combined 
into a single category, as shown in table III.

III. Final rule

    These regulations are being published as a final rule. Accordingly, 
the fuel economy standards in Part 533 are fully in effect 30 days 
after the date of the document's publication. No further regulatory 
action by the agency is necessary to make these regulations effective.
    These regulations have been published as a final rule without prior 
issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking because Section 322 of the 
FY 1999 DOT appropriations act prevents us from issuing any fuel 
economy standard for the 2001 model year that differs from those in 
effect for the 2000 model year. Because of this, providing for prior 
notice and opportunity for comment would have been superfluous.
    In the agency's view, vehicle manufacturers and other parties will 
not be harmed by the agency's decision not to issue an NPRM before 
issuing a final rule to establish the MY 2001 light truck fuel economy 
standard. The applicable fuel economy standards established in this 
final rule do not differ from those established for the prior model 
year. As these standards cannot be modified by the agency, use of a 
final rule without a prior NPRM has no impact on the positions of any 
interested party.

IV. Impact Analyses

A. Economic Impacts

    We have not prepared a final economic assessment because of the 
restrictions imposed by Section 322 of the FY 1999 DOT Appropriations 
Act. All past fuel economy rules, however, have had economic impacts in 
excess of $100 million per year. The rule was reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866 and is considered 
significant under the Department's regulatory procedures. Although we 
have no discretion under the statute (as well as with respect to the 
costs it imposes), we are treating this rule as ``economically 
significant'' under Executive Order 12866 and ``major'' under 5 U.S.C. 
801.

B. Environmental Impacts

    We have not conducted an evaluation of the impacts of this action 
under the

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National Environmental Policy Act. There is no requirement for such an 
evaluation where Congress has eliminated the agency's discretion by 
precluding any action other than the one announced in this document.

C. Impacts on Small Entities

    We have not conducted an evaluation of this action pursuant to the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agency notes that this final rule, 
which was not preceded by a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, is not a 
``rule'' as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act and is, 
therefore, not subject to its provisions. As Congress has eliminated 
the agency's discretion by precluding any action other than the one 
taken in this document, we would not be able to take any action in the 
event such an analysis supported setting the light truck fuel economy 
at a different level. Past evaluations indicate, however, that few, if 
any, light truck manufacturers would have been classified as a ``small 
business'' under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-354) requires 
each agency to evaluate the potential effects of a final rule on small 
businesses. Establishment of a fuel economy standard for light trucks 
affects motor vehicle manufacturers, few of which are small entities. 
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has set size standards for 
determining if a business within a specific industrial classification 
is a small business. The Standard Industrial Classification code used 
by the SBA for Motor Vehicles and Passenger Car Bodies (3711) defines a 
small manufacturer as one having 1,000 employees or fewer.
    Very few single stage manufacturers of motor vehicles within the 
United States have 1,000 or fewer employees. Those that do are not 
likely to have sufficient resources to design, develop, produce and 
market a light truck. For this reason, we certify that this final rule 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

D. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

    We have analyzed this final rule in accordance with the principles 
and criteria contained in E.O. 12612, and have determined that this 
final rule does not have significant Federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. As a historical matter, 
prior light truck standards have not had sufficient Federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

E. The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4) requires 
agencies to prepare a written assessment of the costs, 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.
    The agency notes that Section 322 of the FY 1999 DOT Appropriations 
Act precludes the agency from the expenditure of any funds to prepare, 
propose or promulgate any fuel economy standard that differs from those 
currently in effect. This directive forbids NHTSA from studying any 
alternative fuel economy standards other than those presently in force. 
The agency cannot consider any other alternative standards that may 
result in lower costs, lesser burdens, or more cost-effectiveness for 
state, local or tribal governments or the private sector. Furthermore, 
as we are precluded from expending any funds to prepare an alternative 
fuel economy standard, it cannot embark on any studies of such 
alternatives. We have therefore not prepared a written assessment of 
this final rule for the purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Act.

F. Paperwork Reduction Act

    There are no information collection requirements in this final 
rule.

G. Department of Energy Review

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 32902(j), We submitted this final rule 
to the Department of Energy for review. That Department did not make 
any comments that we have not responded to.

V. Conclusion

    Based on the foregoing, we are establishing a combined average fuel 
economy standard for non-passenger automobiles (light trucks) for MY 
2001 at 20.7 mpg.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 533

    Energy conservation, Fuel economy, Motor vehicles.

PART 533--[AMENDED]

    In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR Part 533 is amended as 
follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 533 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 32902; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.

    2. Sec. 533.5 is amended by revising Table IV in paragraph (a) and 
by adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec. 533.5  Requirements.

    (a) * * *

                                Table IV
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                         Model year                            Standard
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1996.......................................................         20.7
1997.......................................................         20.7
1998.......................................................         20.7
1999.......................................................         20.7
2000.......................................................         20.7
2001.......................................................         20.7
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    (f) For model year 1996 and thereafter, each manufacturer shall 
combine its captive imports with its other light trucks and comply with 
the average fuel economy standard in paragraph (a) of this section.

    Issued on: April 1, 1999.
Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-8580 Filed 4-2-99; 3:19 pm]
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