[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 48 (Friday, March 12, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11806-11808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5177]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 575

[Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0018]


Notice of Public Meeting; Tire Fuel Efficiency

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On June 22, 2009, NHTSA published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) proposing a new consumer information program for 
replacement tires (74 FR 29542). The new consumer information program 
responded to a requirement in the Energy Independence and Security Act 
of 2007 (EISA), which directed NHTSA to develop a national tire fuel 
efficiency rating system and consumer education program for replacement 
tires. The program would inform consumers about the effect of tires on 
fuel efficiency, safety and durability.
    Prior to the NPRM, NHTSA conducted focus group studies in which it 
presented several labels using different graphics and scales to relay 
the ratings proposed in the NPRM. After the NPRM was issued, NHTSA 
conducted an internet survey to further explore what influences 
consumers' tire purchasing decisions and how best to convey the 
information in this new program to consumers.
    To further refine the consumer education portion of this new 
program, NHTSA intends to conduct further consumer research. NHTSA 
invites interested parties to submit written comments and participate 
in a public meeting on the research plan using the instructions set 
forth in this notice. As described in the Procedural Matters section of 
this notice, each speaker should anticipate speaking for approximately 
ten minutes, although we may need to adjust the time for each speaker 
if there is a large turnout. To facilitate discussion, NHTSA has placed 
documents concerning early research, and the draft research plan for 
the future in the docket. NHTSA will consider the public comments 
received in developing a research plan to aid in the development of 
consumer information requirements and NHTSA's consumer education plan 
regarding tire fuel efficiency.

DATES: Public Meeting: The public meeting will be held on Friday, March

[[Page 11807]]

26, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590. NHTSA recommends that 
all persons attending the meeting arrive at least 45 minutes early in 
order to facilitate entry into the Department. If you wish to attend or 
speak at the meeting, you must register in advance no later than 
Monday, March 22, 2010, by following the instructions in the Procedural 
Matters section of this notice. NHTSA will consider late registrants to 
the extent time and space allows, but NHTSA cannot ensure that late 
registrants will be able to speak at the meeting.
    Comments: NHTSA must receive written comments by Friday, April 2, 
2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Versailles, Telephone: 1-202-
366-2057, Office of International Vehicle, Fuel Economy and Consumer 
Standards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. E-mail: 
[email protected].

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to the docket number identified in 
the heading of this document by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern 
time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Regardless of how you submit your comments, you should mention the 
docket number of this document.
    You may call the Docket at 1-800-647-5527.
    Note that all comments received, including any personal 
information, will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 22, 2009, NHTSA published a notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing a new consumer information 
program for replacement tires (74 FR 29542). The new consumer 
information program responded to a requirement in the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA),\1\ which directed NHTSA 
to develop a national tire fuel efficiency rating system and consumer 
education program for replacement tires. The program would inform 
consumers about the effect of tires on fuel efficiency, safety and 
durability.
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    \1\ Public Law 110-140, 121 Stat. 1492 (Dec. 18, 2007).
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    Prior to the NPRM, NHTSA conducted focus group studies in which it 
presented several labels using different graphics and scales to relay 
the ratings proposed in the NPRM. After the NPRM was issued, NHTSA 
conducted an internet survey to further explore what influences 
consumers' tire purchasing decisions and how best to convey the 
information in this new program to consumers.
    To further refine the consumer education portion of this new 
program, NHTSA intends to conduct further consumer research. NHTSA 
invites interested parties to submit written comments and participate 
in a public meeting on the research plan using the instructions set 
forth in this notice. To facilitate discussion, NHTSA has placed 
documents concerning early research, and the draft research plan for 
the future in the docket. NHTSA will consider the public comments 
received in developing a research plan to aid in the development of 
consumer information requirements and NHTSA's consumer education plan 
regarding tire fuel efficiency.
    NHTSA would like to emphasize that the only topic of discussion at 
this public meeting is NHTSA's research plans for consumer education. 
Comments on other aspects of the proposed regulation should be 
presented to NHTSA as described in the NPRM and not via this forum.
    Procedural Matters: The meeting will be open to the public with 
advanced registration for seating on a space-available basis. 
Individuals wishing to register to assure a seat in the public seating 
area should provide their name, affiliation, phone number, and e-mail 
address to Ms. Mary Versailles using the contact information in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section at the beginning of this notice no 
later than Monday March 22, 2010. Should it be necessary to cancel the 
meeting due to an emergency or some other reason, NHTSA will take all 
available means to notify registered participants by e-mail or 
telephone.
    The meeting will be held at a site accessible to individuals with 
disabilities. Individuals who require accommodations such as sign 
language interpreters should contact Ms. Mary Versailles using the 
contact information in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
above no later than Monday March 22, 2010. Any written materials NHTSA 
presents at the meeting will be available electronically on the day of 
the meeting to accommodate the needs of the visually impaired. Because 
this meeting is solely to develop a research plan, a transcript of the 
meeting will not be created. Therefore, NHTSA recommends that speakers 
also submit materials to the docket for the record.

How long will I have to speak at the public meeting?

    Once NHTSA learns how many people have registered to speak at the 
public meeting, NHTSA will allocate an appropriate amount of time to 
each participant, allowing time for lunch and necessary breaks 
throughout the day. For planning purposes, each speaker should 
anticipate speaking for approximately ten minutes, although we may need 
to adjust the time for each speaker if there is a large turnout. To 
accommodate as many speakers as possible, NHTSA prefers that speakers 
not use technological aids (e.g., audio-visuals, computer slideshows). 
However, if you plan to do so, you must let Ms. Mary Versailles know by 
Monday, March 22, 2010, using the contact information in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. You also must make 
arrangements to provide your presentation or any other aids to NHTSA in 
advance of the meeting in order to facilitate set-up. During the week 
of March 22nd, NHTSA will post information on its Web site (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov) indicating the amount of time allocated for each 
speaker and each speaker's approximate order on the agenda for the 
meeting.

How do I prepare and submit written comments?

    It is not necessary to attend or to speak at the public meeting to 
be able to comment on the issues. NHTSA invites the submission of 
written comments, which the agency will consider in preparing its 
research plan. Your comments must be written and in English. To ensure 
that your comments are correctly filed in the Docket, please include 
the docket number at the beginning of this notice in your comments.
    Your primary comments may not exceed 15 pages.\2\ However, you may 
attach supporting documents to your primary comments. There is no limit 
to the length of the attachments.

[[Page 11808]]

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register at 65 FR 19477, 
April 11, 2000, or you may visit http://www.regulations.gov.
    If you wish Docket Management to notify you upon its receipt of 
your comments, enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in the 
envelope containing your comments. Upon receiving your comments, Docket 
Management will return the postcard by mail.

How do I submit confidential business information?

    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, send three copies of your complete submission, 
including the information you claim to be confidential business 
information, to the Chief Counsel, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. 
Include a cover letter supplying the information specified in our 
confidential business information regulation (49 CFR part 512).
    In addition, send two copies from which you have deleted the 
claimed confidential business information to Docket Management, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590, or submit them electronically, in the manner described at the 
beginning of this notice.

Will the agency consider late comments?

    NHTSA will consider all comments that Docket Management receives 
before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated 
above under DATES. To the extent the research schedule allows, NHTSA 
will try to consider comments that Docket Management receives after 
that date, but we cannot ensure that we will be able to do so.\3\
    Please note that even after the comment closing date we will 
continue to file relevant information in the docket as it becomes 
available. Further, some commenters may submit late comments. 
Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically check the docket for 
new material.

    Issued: March 5, 2010.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2010-5177 Filed 3-11-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P