[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46431-46436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15691]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 571 and 586

[Docket No. NHTSA-2005-21330]
RIN 2127-AJ64


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Fuel System Integrity

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Final rule; response to petitions for reconsideration.

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SUMMARY: This document responds to a petition for reconsideration from 
DaimlerChrysler Corporation of a final rule relating to the agency's 
upgrade of rear and side impact tests in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard No. 301, Fuel System Integrity. Among other matters, that 
final rule provided manufacturers of vehicles with a gross vehicle 
weight rating greater than 2,722 kilograms (6,000 pounds) an additional 
year of lead time to certify their vehicles to the amended side impact 
requirements, but did not provide for a phase-in of those requirements 
for those vehicles. On reconsideration, NHTSA is providing 
manufacturers of those vehicles a two year phase-in for the side impact 
requirements. Ninety percent of the vehicles manufactured on or after 
September 1, 2005 must meet the upgraded side impact requirements, with 
100 percent of the vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2006 
meeting the requirements.

DATES: Effective date: The amendments made in this rule are effective 
August 10, 2005. Petitions for reconsideration must be received by 
September 26, 2005, and should refer to this docket and the notice 
number of this document.

ADDRESSES: Petitions for reconsideration must be sent to: 
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 
Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, you may contact 
Mr. Tewabe Asebe, Office of Crashworthiness Standards, by telephone at 
(202) 366-2365, or by fax at (202) 366-7002. For legal issues, you may 
contact Ms. Deirdre Fujita, Office of Chief Counsel, at (202) 366-2992 
(telephone), or at (202) 366-3820 (fax). You may send mail to these 
officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 
Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    To provide occupant protection from exposure to fire that result 
from fuel spillage during and after crashes, Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 301 (49 CFR 571.301) specifies performance 
requirements for the fuel systems of vehicles with a gross vehicle 
weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kilograms (kg) or less (10,000 pounds 
(lb) or less). The standard limits the amount of fuel spillage from 
vehicles during and after frontal, rear, and side impact tests.

a. December 2003 Final Rule

    In December 2003, NHTSA upgraded both the rear impact and lateral 
(side) impact test requirements in FMVSS No. 301 to increase safety and 
provide for more realistic testing of fuel systems (68 FR 67068, 
December 1, 2003, Docket 16523). The December 2003 upgrade established 
an offset rear impact test procedure that specifies striking the rear 
of the test vehicle at 50 miles per hour (mph) (80  1 
kilometers per hour (km/h)) with a 1,368 kg (3,015 lb) deformable 
barrier at a 70 percent overlap with the test vehicle. The rear impact 
test replaced a 30 mph (48 km/h) crash test that had used a 1,814 kg 
(4,000 lb) rigid moving barrier. The upgrade of the standard's side 
impact test requirements replaced a lateral 20 mph (32 km/h) crash test 
with the side impact crash test specified in FMVSS No. 214, ``Side 
impact protection.'' FMVSS No. 214's test specifies that the test 
vehicle is impacted at 33  0.6 mph (53  1 km/h) 
with a 1,368 kg (3,015 lb) deformable barrier.
    The final rule provided manufacturers three years of lead time to 
meet the upgraded rear impact test, followed by a three year phase-in 
beginning

[[Page 46432]]

September 1, 2006, according to the percentages of production of 40%, 
70% and 100%. The final rule established a September 1, 2004 effective 
date for the upgraded side impact requirements, and did not provide for 
a phase-in of the requirements. A long lead time and a phase-in for the 
side impact requirements were not deemed necessary by NHTSA because the 
agency believed that few vehicles (approximately 1%) will have to be 
modified to meet FMVSS No. 301 when tested to the new side impact test.

b. Alliance Petition for Reconsideration

    The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. (Alliance) \1\ 
petitioned for reconsideration of the December 2003 final rule, 
requesting: (a) A one-year extension of the compliance date for the 
side impact upgrade for all vehicles (from September 1, 2004 to 
September 1, 2005); and (b) a phase-in for vehicles greater than 2,722 
kg (6,000 lb) GVWR.\2\ The Alliance requested the phase-in to begin 
September 1, 2005, with 90% in the first year, and 100% in the second 
year. The petitioner stated that because the moving deformable barrier 
side impact test of FMVSS No. 214 does not presently apply to 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses with a GVWR greater 
than 2,722 kg, manufacturers need more time than that provided by the 
final rule to perform the testing necessary to ensure that the vehicles 
can be certified as meeting the side impact requirements, even if no 
modifications were required to meet the requirements.
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    \1\ The Alliance is a trade association of motor vehicle 
manufacturers including BMW group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor 
Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota, 
and Volkswagen.
    \2\ The agency also received petitions from others, but only the 
Alliance petition is discussed here because of its relevancy to this 
rulemaking action.
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    In August 2004, NHTSA published a final rule that responded to the 
petition (69 FR 51393, August 19, 2004, Docket 18900). The August 2004 
final rule decided against extending the September 1, 2004 compliance 
date for vehicles with a GVWR less than 2,722 kg (6,000 lb). NHTSA 
explained that those vehicles are already subject to the FMVSS No. 214 
side impact test and there was no indication that there would be 
difficulty in certifying these vehicles to the upgraded fuel system 
integrity requirements. On the other hand, the August 2004 final rule 
extended the compliance date a year for vehicles with a GVWR greater 
than 2,722 kg (6,000 lb). NHTSA explained that the vehicles have not 
previously been subject to the FMVSS No. 214 side impact test. While 
the agency continued to believe that less than one percent of vehicles 
required modification to comply with the side impact upgrade, an 
additional year was provided manufacturers to determine what changes, 
if any, need to be made. The request for a phase-in of the side impact 
requirements was not granted.

c. DaimlerChrysler Petition for Reconsideration

    DaimlerChrysler Corporation (``DCC'') petitioned for 
reconsideration of the agency's decision in the August 2004 final rule 
not to provide a two-year phase-in of the FMVSS No. 301 side impact 
requirements for vehicles with a GVWR greater than 2,722 kg (6,000 lb). 
In its petition (Document NHTSA-2004-18900-2), DCC stated that NHTSA 
reached its decision on the Alliance petition when NHTSA ``was not 
aware of the burdens that its decision would impose with regard to the 
Sprinter van.'' DCC stated:

    The Sprinter is a vehicle with a GVWR in excess of 6,000 lb. As 
such, it has not been subject to the FMVSS 214 dynamic side impact 
test, and DCC had not tested it to determine whether it would comply 
with dynamic FMVSS 214. When the agency published the new FMVSS 301 
requirements in December 2003, DCC conducted an analysis of the 
current vehicle and concluded that it would not meet the new FMVSS 
301 side impact requirement based on the current design. [Footnote 
omitted.]

    DCC had not brought its concerns about the Sprinter van to NHTSA 
earlier in the rulemaking proceeding because DCC had not tested the 
Sprinter for compliance with FMVSS No. 214's side impact test. DCC 
submitted information to NHTSA regarding the modifications and costs 
that would be necessary to modify the vehicle to meet the side impact 
requirements.\3\ DCC stated that the necessary modifications would be 
``complicated and expensive, and would involve additional tooling, 
material, and assembly costs.'' The petitioner further stated:
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    \3\ The agency granted confidentiality of the provided cost data 
and production information.

    The magnitude of the fixed costs would be particularly onerous 
because they would be spread across a relatively small number of 
vehicles. This is attributable to the fact that the current version 
of the Sprinter is scheduled to cease production in September 2006--
one year after vehicles with a GVWR in excess of 6,000 lb are 
required under S6.3(c) to begin complying with the new FMVSS 301 
side impact requirement. Thus, if FMVSS 301 is not amended as 
requested herein, the Sprinter will be subject to the new FMVSS 301 
requirements for only one year, and the costs of modifying the 
Sprinter to comply with the new FMVSS 301 requirements would be 
spread out over only one year's production. * * *
    In light of the exorbitant costs that the final rule would 
necessitate for the production of the current Sprinter during its 
remaining production life, DCC respectfully requests that the agency 
reconsider the final rule and amend S6.3(c) to provide a two-year 
phase-in with an implementation schedule of 90% by September 1, 2005 
and 100% by September 1, 2006.

Discussion

    DCC has provided cost and production information regarding a 
specific vehicle that DCC is discontinuing in 2006. The Sprinter was 
heretofore excluded from the FMVSS No. 214 dynamic crash test; 
information about its inability to meet the new fuel leakage 
requirement when tested laterally was not previously available.
    In issuing the final rule on the FMVSS No. 301 upgrade, NHTSA did 
not believe that modifications will involve structural changes. The 
agency stated: ``Since most vehicles readily pass the fuel leakage 
requirements using the Standard No. 214 side impact test, we do not 
believe modifications will be required which are not minor.'' (68 FR 
67079.) The cost data provided by the petitioner indicate that the 
Sprinter will require more substantial modifications than those 
envisioned by the agency. Instituting a two-year, 90%-100% phase-in 
provides a reasonable period of time for manufacturers to adjust to the 
burdens of the upgrade and reduce the costs of the rulemaking. While 
NHTSA believed that the adopted FMVSS No. 214 test was somewhat 
stricter than the existing lateral impact test of FMVSS No. 301, NHTSA 
could not quantify the benefits of adopting the FMVSS No. 214 test. 
Accordingly, the agency does not believe that there will be any 
quantifiable loss of benefits associated with phasing in the side 
impact requirement over two years, particularly if 90% of the vehicles 
in question (GVWR greater than 2,722 kg) must comply in the first year.
    For the aforementioned reasons, NHTSA is providing manufacturers of 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses with a GVWR greater 
than 2,722 kg (6,000 lb) an additional year, for a few model lines, to 
assess whether the vehicles meet the side impact requirements and to 
make necessary changes to meet the requirements. Ninety (90) percent of 
the vehicles they manufacture on or after September 1, 2005 and before 
September 1, 2006 must be certified as meeting the upgraded side impact 
fuel system integrity requirements. One hundred (100) percent of the 
vehicles manufactured on

[[Page 46433]]

or after September 1, 2006 must be certified as meeting the 
requirements. These phase-in requirements are set forth in S6.3(c) of 
FMVSS No. 301, as revised. Reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
implementing the phase-in are also added to Part 586.

Effective Date

    The amendments are effective upon publication in the Federal 
Register. An effective date less than 180 days after date of 
publication of this rule is in the public interest because these 
amendments affect an upcoming September 1, 2005 compliance date for the 
side impact upgrade of FMVSS No. 301 for vehicles with a GVWR greater 
than 2,722 kg (6,000 lb). This rule provides an additional year to 
manufacturers to certify a few model lines. The effective date provides 
relief and allows manufacturers to make informed decisions regarding 
the upcoming September 1, 2005 compliance date.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

A. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    NHTSA has considered the impact of this rulemaking action under 
Executive Order 12866 and the Department of Transportation's regulatory 
policies and procedures. This rulemaking document was not reviewed by 
the Office of Management and Budget under E.O. 12866, ``Regulatory 
Planning and Review.'' The rulemaking action has been determined to not 
be significant under the Department's regulatory policies and 
procedures. The amendments made in this final rule do not significantly 
impact the costs and benefits of the December 2003 final rule. The 
agency has concluded that the impacts of today's amendments are so 
minimal that a regulatory evaluation is not required.
    In response to a petition for reconsideration of the final rule 
published August 19, 2004, we are providing a short phase-in of the 
side impact requirements for manufacturers of multipurpose passenger 
vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR greater than 2,722 kg (6,000 
lb). The phase-in permits these manufacturers to comply with the side 
impact upgrade with the percentages of production of 90% of vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 2005 and 100% of vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 2006. The phase-in allows 
manufacturers an additional year to assess whether their vehicles meet 
the requirements and to make necessary changes to meet the 
requirements. NHTSA estimates that most vehicles already meet the 
upgraded side impact requirements of FMVSS No. 301.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency is required to publish a notice 
of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make 
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the effect of the rule on small entities (i.e., small 
businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions). 
The Small Business Administration's regulations at 13 CFR part 121 
define a small business, in part, as a business entity ``which operates 
primarily within the United States.'' (13 CFR 121.105(a)). No 
regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of an agency 
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    NHTSA has considered the effects of this final rule under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. I certify that this final rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The December 2003 final rule, and the August 2004 final rule 
which this document amends, were certified as not having a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The 
amendments made by today's final rule affect manufacturers of 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses with a GVWR or more 
than 2,722 kg (6,000 lb) by providing an additional year to meet the 
side impact requirements of the upgraded FMVSS No. 301 for a few model 
lines. NHTSA believes that most of these vehicles already meet the 
requirements at issue.

C. National Environmental Policy Act

    NHTSA has analyzed these amendments for the purposes of the 
National Environmental Policy Act and determined that they will not 
have any significant impact on the quality of the human environment.

D. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    The agency has analyzed this rulemaking in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13132 and has 
determined that it does not have sufficient federalism implications to 
warrant consultation with State and local officials or the preparation 
of a federalism summary impact statement. The final rule has no 
substantial effects on the States, or on the current Federal-State 
relationship, or on the current distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various local officials.

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 
requires Federal 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 in any one year (adjusted for inflation with base 
year of 1995). This final rule will not result in the expenditure by 
State, local, or tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of more than $100 million annually. Consequently, no 
Unfunded Mandates assessment has been prepared.

F. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)

    This final rule does not have any retroactive effect. Under section 
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.

G. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before an agency submits 
a proposed collection of information to OMB for approval, it must first 
publish a document in the Federal Register providing a 60-day comment 
period and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected 
agencies concerning each proposed collection of information. The OMB 
has promulgated regulations describing what must be included in such a 
document. Under OMB's regulation (at 5CFR 1320.8(d), an agency must ask 
for public comment on the following:
    (i) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the

[[Page 46434]]

agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    (iv) How to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    In compliance with these requirements, NHTSA asks for public 
comments on the following proposed collection of information:
    Title: Final rule, response to a petition for reconsideration; 
Phase-in reporting requirements.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Affected Public: Manufacturers of passenger cars, and trucks and 
multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating 
(GVWR) of 2,722 kilograms (6,000 pounds) or more but not more than GVWR 
of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
    Form Number: None.
    Number of Respondents: No more than 21.
    Estimated Annual Burden: Since almost all of the information 
required is already recorded by the manufacturers as part of their 
production control and tracking systems, a nominal assessment of 24 
total burden hours per respondent is estimated for data retrieval and 
report preparation. The estimated cost per hour in dollars is $45. 
Based on this estimate, the total annual burden for manufacturers would 
be: (21 respondents) x (24 total burden hours per respondent) x ($45 
per hour) = $22,680.
    Abstract: In August 2004, NHTSA published a final rule to upgrade 
Federal motor vehicle safety standard No. 301, ``Fuel system 
integrity,'' in response to petitions for reconsideration (69 FR51393, 
August 19, 2004). On October 4, 2004, DaimlerChrysler Corporation 
petitioned to reconsider the August 2004 final rule. The petitioner 
requested a two-year phase-in of the upgraded fuel system integrity 
side impact requirements for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight 
rating (GVWR) in excess of 2,722 kg (6,000 pounds). DaimlerChrysler 
Corporation requested an implementation schedule of 90 percent by 
September 1, 2005, and 100 percent by September 1, 2006. This action 
responds to the petition.
    This final rule gives vehicle manufacturers an additional year for 
vehicles above GVWR of 2,722 kg and up to 4,536 kg to comply with the 
FMVSS No. 301 side impact test requirement. Ninety (90) percent of 
these vehicles must be certified as meeting the FMVSS No. 301 side 
impact test requirement before September 1, 2005. One hundred (100) 
percent of the vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2006 must 
be certified as meeting the requirements. The collection of information 
is used for recordkeeping to keep track of covered vehicles, and for 
reporting to the agency the covered vehicles that comply with the 
requirements.
    Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

H. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)

    The Department of Transportation assigns a regulation identifier 
number (RIN) to each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of 
Federal Regulations. The Regulatory Information Service Center 
publishes the Unified Agenda in April and October of each year. You may 
use the RIN contained in the heading at the beginning of this document 
to find this action in the Unified Agenda.

I. Executive Order 13045

    Executive Order 13045 applies to any rule that: (1) is determined 
to be ``economically significant'' as defined under E.O. 12866, and (2) 
concerns an environmental, health or safety risk that NHTSA has reason 
to believe may have a disproportionate effect on children. If the 
regulatory action meets both criteria, we must evaluate the 
environmental health or safety effects of the planned rule on children, 
and explain why the planned regulation is preferable to other 
potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives considered 
by us. This rulemaking does not involve decisions about health risks 
that disproportionately affect children.

J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272) 
directs NHTSA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory 
activities unless doing so would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling 
procedures, and business practices) that are developed or adopted by 
voluntary consensus standards bodies, such as the Society of Automotive 
Engineers (SAE). The NTTAA directs NHTSA to provide Congress, through 
OMB, explanations when the agency decides not to use available and 
applicable voluntary consensus standards.
    This final rule does not address matters such as performance 
requirements or test conditions, procedures or devices. It addresses 
compliance schedules only. There are no voluntary consensus standards 
applicable to this final rule.

K. Privacy Act

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all submissions 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment or petition (or signing the comment or petition, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Parts 571 and 586

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Tires.


0
In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA is amending 49 CFR part 571 
and part 586 as follows:

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for part 571 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. Section 571.301 is amended by revising S6.3(c) to read as follows.


Sec.  571.301  Standard No. 301; Fuel system integrity.

* * * * *

[[Page 46435]]

    S6.3 * * *
    (c)(1) Notwithstanding S6.3(b) of this standard, vehicles having a 
GVWR greater than 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) may meet S6.3(a) instead of 
S6.3(b) of this standard until September 1, 2005.
    (2) Notwithstanding S6.3(b) of this standard, vehicles having a 
GVWR greater than 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) manufactured on or after 
September 1, 2005 must meet the requirements of S6.3(b) of this 
standard unless they are excluded from S6.3(b) under the phase-in 
specified in this paragraph. Excluded vehicles must meet the 
requirements of S6.3(a) of this standard. For vehicles having a GVWR 
greater than 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) manufactured on or after September 1, 
2005 and before September 1, 2006, the number of vehicles complying 
with S6.3(b) shall be not less than 90 percent of:
    (i) The manufacturer's average annual production of vehicles with a 
GVWR greater than 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) manufactured on or after 
September 1, 2002 and before September 1, 2005; or
    (ii) The manufacturer's production of vehicles with a GVWR greater 
than 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) on or after September 1, 2004 and before 
September 1, 2005.
    (iii) Vehicles that have a GVWR greater than 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) 
and that are manufactured on or after September 1, 2006 must meet the 
requirements of S6.3(b) of this standard.
    (3) Vehicles produced by more than one manufacturer. For the 
purpose of calculating average annual production of vehicles for each 
manufacturer and the number of vehicles manufactured by each 
manufacturer under S6.3(c)(2)(i) and S6.3(c)(2)(ii) of this standard, a 
vehicle produced by more than one manufacturer shall be attributed to a 
single manufacturer as follows, subject to S6.3(c)(4).
    (i) A vehicle which is imported shall be attributed to the 
importer.
    (ii) A vehicle manufactured in the United States by more than one 
manufacturer, one of which also markets the vehicle, shall be 
attributed to the manufacturer that markets the vehicle.
    (4) A vehicle produced by more than one manufacturer shall be 
attributed to any one of the vehicle's manufacturers specified by an 
express written contract, reported to the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration under 49 CFR 568.6, between the manufacturer so 
specified and the manufacturer to which the vehicle would otherwise be 
attributed under S6.3(c)(3).
* * * * *

PART 586--FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY UPGRADE PHASE-IN REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS

0
3. The authority citation for Part 586 continues to read as follows:

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

0
4. Sections 586.5, 586.6 and 586.7 are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  586.5  Response to inquiries.

    At any time during the production years ending August 31, 2006, 
August 31, 2007, August 31, 2008 and August 31, 2009, each manufacturer 
must, upon request from the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, 
provide information identifying the vehicles (by make, model and 
vehicle identification model) that have been certified as complying 
with S6.2(b) and S6.3(b) of Standard No. 301 (49 CFR 571.301). The 
manufacturer's designation of a vehicle as a certified vehicle is 
irrevocable.


Sec.  586.6  Reporting requirements.

    (a) Phase-in reporting requirements. (1) Within 60 days after the 
end of the production years ending August 31, 2006, each manufacturer 
must submit a report to the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration concerning its compliance with S6.3(b) of Standard No. 
301 (49 CFR 571.301) for its multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, 
and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 2,722 
kg (6,000 pounds) produced in that year.
    (2) Within 60 days after the end of the production years ending 
August 31, 2007, August 31, 2008, and August 31, 2009, each 
manufacturer must submit a report to the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration concerning its compliance with S6.2(b) of 
Standard No. 301 (49 CFR 571.301) for its passenger cars, multipurpose 
passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of less than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) produced in that 
year.
    (3) Each report must--
    (i) Identify the manufacturer;
    (ii) State the full name, title, and address of the official 
responsible for preparing the report;
    (iii) Identify the production year being reported on;
    (iv) Contain a statement regarding whether the manufacturer 
complied with the requirements of S6.2(b), S6.2(c) if applicable, or 
S6.3(b) of Standard No. 301 (49 CFR 571.301) for the period covered by 
the report and the basis for that statement;
    (v) Provide the information specified in paragraph (b) of this 
section;
    (vi) Be written in the English language; and
    (vii) Be submitted to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.
    (b) Phase-in report content--(1) Basis for statement of compliance 
with side impact test requirements. (i) Each manufacturer must provide 
the number of multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a 
GVWR greater than 2,722 kilograms (6,000 pounds) manufactured for sale 
in the United States for each of the three previous production years, 
or, at the manufacturer's option, for the previous production year. A 
new manufacturer that has not previously manufactured these vehicles 
for sale in the United States must report the number of such vehicles 
manufactured during the current production year.
    (ii) Production. Each manufacturer must report for the production 
year for which the report is filed: the number of multipurpose 
passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR greater than 2,722 
kilograms (6,000 pounds) that meets S6.3(b) of Standard No. 301 (49 CFR 
571.301).
    (2) Basis for statement of compliance with rear impact test 
requirements. (i) Each manufacturer must provide the number of 
passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with 
a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or 
less manufactured for sale in the United States for each of the three 
previous production years, or, at the manufacturer's option, for the 
previous production year. A new manufacturer that has not previously 
manufactured these vehicles for sale in the United States must report 
the number of such vehicles manufactured during the current production 
year.
    (ii) Production. Each manufacturer must report for the production 
year for which the report is filed: the number of passenger cars, 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less that meet 
S6.2(b) of Standard No. 301 (49 CFR 571.301).
    (3) Vehicles produced by more than one manufacturer. Each 
manufacturer whose reporting of information is affected by one or more 
of the express written contracts permitted by S6.3(c)(4) and S8.3.2 of 
Standard No. 301 (49 CFR 571.301) must:
    (i) Report the existence of each contract, including the names of 
all parties to the contract, and explain how the contract affects the 
report being submitted.

[[Page 46436]]

    (ii) Report the actual number of vehicles covered by each contract.
* * * * *


Sec.  586.7  Records.

    Each manufacturer must maintain records of the Vehicle 
Identification Number (VIN) for each vehicle for which information is 
reported under Sec.  586.6(b)(1)(ii) until December 31, 2007. Each 
manufacturer must maintain records of the VIN for each vehicle for 
which information is reported under Sec.  586.6(b)(2)(ii) until 
December 31, 2010.

    Issued on: August 3, 2005.
Jeffrey W. Runge,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-15691 Filed 8-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P