[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 212 (Thursday, November 2, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64473-64474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18390]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-15712]


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Glazing Materials; 
Correction

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

ACTION: Correcting amendment.

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SUMMARY: In July 2003, the agency published a final rule updating our 
Federal motor vehicle safety standard on glazing materials. As part of 
that rulemaking, boundaries were established for shade bands on vehicle 
windshields in order to limit their potential encroachment on the 
driver's field of view. As part of the new shade band requirements, the 
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Recommended Practice J100 (rev. 
June 1995), ``Class `A' Vehicle Glazing Shade Bands,'' was incorporated 
by reference into the standard. However, in a July 2005 final rule 
responding to petitions for reconsideration of that earlier rulemaking, 
the standard's provisions related to shade bands requirements were 
amended, and as a result, a later but substantively identical version 
of SAE J100 (i.e., the November 1999 revision) was inadvertently 
included in the standard. The July 2005 final rule should have 
referenced SAE J100 (rev. June 1995), the document properly 
incorporated by reference into the safety standard. This document 
corrects this inconsistency resulting from administrative error.

DATES: Effective date: This correcting amendment is effective December 
4, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Eric Stas, Attorney-Advisor, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, NCC-112, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2992. Fax: (202) 366-3820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 25, 2003, the agency published a 
final rule updating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 
205, Glazing Materials (68 FR 43964). As part of that rulemaking, 
boundaries were established for shade bands on vehicle windshields in 
order to limit their potential encroachment on the driver's field of 
view. Prior to that rulemaking, the size of the shade band was not 
explicitly defined under the standard. As part of the new shade band 
requirements (see S3.2(c)), the final rule incorporated by reference 
SAE Recommended Practice J100 (rev. June 1995), ``Class `A' Vehicle 
Glazing Shade Bands'' into the standard (see 68 FR 43964, 43972 (July 
25, 2003)).
    However, in a July 12, 2005 final rule responding to petitions for 
reconsideration of that earlier rulemaking, the standard's provisions 
related to shade bands requirements were amended, and as a result, a 
later version of SAE J100 (i.e., the November 1999 revision) was 
inadvertently included in the standard under paragraph S5.3.1 (see 70 
FR 39959, 39965). The latest version of SAE J100 (the November 1999 
revision) is not substantively different from the prior June 1995 
version of that standard; it merely reaffirmed that Recommended 
Practice as part of SAE's cyclical review process. Furthermore, the 
final rule responding to petitions for reconsideration does not reflect 
any affirmative intention on the part of the agency to adopt the later 
version of SAE J100. Thus, the July 2005 final rule's amendments to 
Standard No. 205 should have referenced SAE J100 (rev. June 1995), the 
document properly incorporated by reference into the safety standard. 
This document corrects this inconsistency resulting from administrative 
error.

[[Page 64474]]

    This correction will not impose or relax any substantive 
requirements or burdens on manufacturers. Therefore, NHTSA finds for 
good cause that any notice and opportunity for comment on these 
correcting amendments are not necessary.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Incorporation by reference, Motor vehicle safety; 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Tires.

0
Accordingly, 49 CFR part 571 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendment:

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. Paragraph S5.3.1 of 571.205 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  571.205  Glazing materials.

* * * * *
    S5.3 Shade Bands. * * *
    S5.3.1 Shade bands for windshields shall comply with SAE J100 JUNE 
1995.
* * * * *

    Issued: October 26, 2006.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E6-18390 Filed 11-1-06; 8:45 am]
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