[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 84 (Monday, May 2, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24402-24403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10605]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 541

[Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0069]
RIN 2127-AK81


Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: In this technical amendment, the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) updates the address for submission, and 
the procedure to submit designation of target areas on high theft major 
parts of motor vehicles. E-mail is now included as a means to submit 
the target area designations. Under the Theft Prevention Standard, 
manufacturers of high theft passenger motor vehicle lines subject to 
parts marking, and manufacturers of replacement parts designed for high 
theft lines, must submit designation of target areas for identifying 
numbers to be marked on each major part and symbols to be marked on 
each major replacement part. This rulemaking makes no substantive 
changes to the Theft Prevention Standard.

DATES: This final rule becomes effective June 1, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carlita Ballard, NHTSA, 1200 New 
Jersey Ave., SE., Rm. W43-439, NVS-131, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. 
Ballard's telephone number is: (202) 366-0846.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 49 CFR Part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft 
Prevention Standard, specifies that major parts \1\ and major 
replacement parts of motor vehicles subject to the standard must be 
marked in accordance with Section 541.5, for passenger motor vehicles, 
and Section 541.6 for replacement parts. The standard specifies that 
each manufacturer that is the original producer that installs or 
assembles the covered major parts on a line shall designate a target 
area for the identifying numbers to be marked on each major part. For 
replacement parts, the standard specifies that each manufacturer that 
is the original producer or assembler of the vehicle for which the 
replacement part is designed shall designate a target area for the 
identifying symbols to be marked on each replacement part for a major 
part.
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    \1\ Each of the following parts, if present on a motor vehicle: 
engine; transmission; right front fender; left front fender; hood; 
right front door; left front door; right rear door; left rear door; 
sliding or cargo door(s); front bumper; rear bumper; right rear 
quarter panel (passenger cars); left rear quarter panel (passenger 
cars); right side assembly (MPVs); left side assembly (MPVs); pickup 
box and/or cargo box (LDTs); rear door(s) (both doors in case of 
double doors), decklid, tailgate, or hatchback, whichever is 
present.
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    At present, Part 541 specifies that designation of target areas is 
to be submitted to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. NHTSA 
has moved, and this address is no longer applicable. This technical 
amendment updates NHTSA's address. In addition, to facilitate timely 
release of target area information, and to maximize use of electronic 
means, the target area information henceforth may be sent to the Docket 
Management Facility (Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0069) which is accessible 
at: http://www.regulations.gov. Through this technical amendment, 
manufacturers will have several options when providing the target area 
information: electronic means through the portal http://www.regulations.gov; paper copies (via US mail, private courier or hand 
delivery) to Docket Management at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., (NHTSA's 
new address); or faxing the information.
    Through these new means, it is anticipated that the public will be 
able to view target area information much more quickly than was the 
case in the past. Because the information may go directly to a publicly 
reviewable docket, (i.e., NHTSA-2009-0069), NHTSA does not advise that 
manufacturers send any information for which a manufacturer wishes to 
assert confidential treatment to Docket Management or to http://www.regulations.gov. In the event that a manufacturer wishes the target 
location data to be treated as confidential information prior to the 
release of a new model, it should submit the theft area data to NHTSA's 
Office of the Chief Counsel and request confidential treatment as set 
forth in 49 CFR Part 512 Confidential Business Information. Because 
confidential target location data will become public when a new model 
is released for sale, sections 541.5(e)(2) and 541.6(e)(3) also require 
submission of the target location data within seven days after the 
information has been made public or the new vehicle line has been 
released for sale to the public, whichever comes first.
    This change will not make any substantive changes to the Theft 
Prevention Standard and will not impose any additional substantive 
requirements or burdens on manufacturers. Therefore, NHTSA finds for 
good cause that a notice of proposed rulemaking and opportunity for 
comment on these amendments are not necessary. In addition, this final 
rule will change the address to which manufacturers will provide target 
location data, but will have no effect on the collection of information 
burden associated with the Theft Prevention Standard (See OMB Clearance 
No. 2127-0539 Procedure for Selecting Lines to be Covered by the Theft 
Prevention Standard, expiration date: 6/30/2011).

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 541

    Crime, Labeling, Motor vehicles, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA amends 49 CFR Part 541 as 
set forth below.

[[Page 24403]]

PART 541--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT PREVENTION STANDARD

0
1. The authority citation for Part 541 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102, 33013, and 330105; delegation 
of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


0
2. In Sec.  541.5, paragraph (e)(2) is amended by revising the second 
sentence, by adding third and fourth sentences, and paragraphs 
(e)(2)(i) through (iv) are added to read as follows:


Sec.  541.5  Requirements for passenger motor vehicles.

* * * * *
    (e)(2) * * * In those instances where a manufacturer has submitted 
this target area information to NHTSA with a request for confidential 
treatment pursuant to 49 CFR Part 512, the manufacturer must also 
submit a complete copy of the target area information within seven (7) 
days after the information becomes public, or the new line is released 
for sale to the public, whichever comes first. The information must be 
submitted to: Docket Management, Room W12-140, West Building, Ground 
Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 by any of the 
following methods. In all cases, the docket number for the submission, 
(Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0069) must be cited.
    (i) Electronic submission to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting 
information.
    (ii) By U.S. Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, D.C. 20590.
    (iii) Hand delivery or by courier: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. Telephone: 1-800-647-5527.
    (iv) By Fax transmission: (202) 493-2251.
* * * * *


0
3. In Sec.  541.6, paragraph (e)(3) is amended by revising the second 
sentence, by adding third and fourth sentences, and paragraphs 
(e)(3)(i) through (iv) are added to read as follows:


Sec.  541.6  Requirement for replacement parts.

* * * * *
    (e)(3) * * * In those instances where a manufacturer has submitted 
this target area information to NHTSA with a request for confidential 
treatment under 49 CFR Part 512, the manufacturer shall also submit a 
complete copy of the target area information within seven (7) days 
after the information has become public or the new line has been 
released for sale to the public, whichever comes first. The information 
should be submitted to: Docket Management, Room W12-140, Ground Floor, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 by any of the 
following methods. In all cases, the docket number for the submission, 
(Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0069) must be cited.
    (i) Electronic submission to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting 
information.
    (ii) By U.S. Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
    (iii) Hand delivery or by courier: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., 
West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. Telephone: 1-800-647-5527.
    (iv) By Fax transmission: (202) 493-2251.
* * * * *

    Issued on: April 26, 2011.
Christopher J. Bonanti,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2011-10605 Filed 4-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P