[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 27, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58031-58032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24666]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. 00-7794]


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS); Small Business 
Impacts of School Bus Safety

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

ACTION: Notice of regulatory review; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document grants a request to extend the comment period on 
an agency request for comments on the economic impact of its 
regulations on small entities. As required by Section 610 of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, we are attempting to identify rules that 
may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. We also request comments on ways to make these regulations 
easier to read and understand. The focus of this notice is rules that 
specifically relate to school bus safety.

DATES: Extended comment closing date: Comments on the September 13, 
2000 notice, 65 FR 55212, Docket No. 00-7794, must be received by the 
agency on or before close of business on November 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: You should mention the docket number of this document in 
your comments and submit your comments in writing to: Docket 
Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 
20590. Alternatively, you may submit your comments electronically by e-
mail at http://dms.dot.gov.
    You may call the Docket at 202-366-9324, and visit it from 10 a.m. 
to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nita Kavalauskas, Office of Regulatory 
Analysis and Evaluation, Office of Plans and Policy, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2584. 
Facsimile (fax): (202) 366-2559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 13, 2000, NHTSA published a 
notice announcing a review of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 
(FMVSS) relating to school bus safety. Section 610 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-354), as amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 104-121), 
requires agencies to conduct periodic reviews of

[[Page 58032]]

final rules that have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small business entities. The purpose of these reviews is to 
determine whether such rules should be continued without change, 
amended, or rescinded, consistent with the objectives of applicable 
statutes, to minimize any significant economic impact of the rules on a 
substantial number of small entities. We will consider: (1) The 
continued need for the rule; (2) the nature of complaints or comments 
received from the public; (3) the complexity of the rule: (4) the 
extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other 
federal rules or with state or local government rules; and (5) the 
length of time since the rule has been evaluated or the degree to which 
technology, economic conditions, or other factors have changed in the 
area affected by the rule. We are seeking comments on whether any 
requirements in 49 CFR 571.131, 571.217, and 571.220 through 571.222 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. In conjunction with our section 610 reviews, we will review 
Secs. 57.131, 571.217, and 571.220 through 571.222 to determine if 
these regulations can be organized and/or rewritten to make them easier 
to read, understand, and use.
    The request for comments specified a comment closing date of 
September 29, 2000. However, on September 13, 2000, we received a 
request for an extension of the comment closing date from the National 
Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) on behalf of its affiliate division, 
the Manufacturers Council of Small School Buses (MCSSB). NTEA stated 
that it wished to provide comments on our request, but was unable to 
gather information from small businesses and submit comments within the 
time frame. Therefore, NTEA requested an additional 60 days for 
submission of its comments.
    The agency is interested in comments from NTEA, small businesses 
and other interested parties. Thus, in order to provide NTEA and other 
interested parties ample time and opportunity to express their views on 
the small business impacts of school bus safety, NHTSA believes that 
there is good cause for the extension of the comment period. NHTSA has 
determined that an appropriate comment period is the same amount of 
time it typically allows for comments to a notice of proposed 
rulemaking. However, the agency does not believe that an extension of 
60 days past the original comment date is warranted. NHTSA has 
determined that it is appropriate to extend the comments period for 45 
days and that such an extension is consistent with the public interest. 
Accordingly, NTEA's request to extend the comment period for an 
additional 60 days is denied, but the comment period is extended for a 
period of 45 days to November 13, 2000.

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

William H. Walsh,
Associate Administrator for Plans and Policy.
[FR Doc. 00-24666 Filed 9-26-00; 8:45 am]
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