[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76932-76933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31653]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 85, 86, and 600

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 523, 531, 533, 536, and 537

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0799; FRL-9505-1; NHTSA-2010-0131]
RIN 2060-AQ54; RIN 2127-AK79


Public Hearings for 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of public hearings

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SUMMARY: EPA and NHTSA are announcing public hearings to be held for 
the joint proposed rules ``2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy 
Standards,'' published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2011. The 
agencies will also accept comment on NHTSA's Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (Draft EIS), available on NHTSA's Web site at http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy. Three hearings will be held, on January 17, 
January 19, and January 24, 2012. The agencies will assume that all 
oral comments presented at the hearing are addressed to the joint 
proposed rules only, unless speakers specifically reference NHTSA's 
Draft EIS in oral or written testimony.

DATES: NHTSA and EPA will jointly hold three public hearings on the 
following dates: January 17, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan; January 19, 
2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and January 24, 2012 in San 
Francisco, California. The hearings will start at 10 a.m. local time 
and continue until 5 p.m. or until everyone has had a chance to speak. 
If you would like to present oral testimony at one of these public 
hearings, please contact the person identified under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT, at least ten days before the hearing.

ADDRESSES: The January 17, 2012 hearing will be held at the Courtyard 
Detroit Downtown, 333 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226. 
The January 19, 2012 hearing will be held at the Crowne Plaza 
Philadelphia Downtown, 1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
19103. The January 24, 2012 hearing will be held at the Hyatt at 
Fisherman's Wharf, 555 North Point Street, San Francisco, California 
94133. The hearings will be held at sites accessible to individuals 
with disabilities. In addition, the agencies will provide the 
opportunity for the public to listen to each hearing through the 
following conference call-in line: 1-(866) 299-3188; conference code 
734 214 4423. Please note that this conference line will allow 
the public to listen only; persons listening will not be able to give 
an oral presentation via the conference line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to present oral 
testimony at a public hearing, please contact JoNell Iffland at EPA by 
the date specified under DATES, at: Office of

[[Page 76933]]

Transportation and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division 
(ASD), Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann 
Arbor, MI 48105; telephone number: (734) 214-4454; fax number: (734) 
214-4816; email address: [email protected]. Please provide the 
following information: Name, affiliation, address, email address, 
telephone and fax numbers, time you wish to speak (morning, afternoon) 
if there is a preference, and whether you require accommodations such 
as a sign language interpreter or translator.
    Questions concerning the proposed rules should be addressed to 
NHTSA: Rebecca Yoon, Office of the Chief Counsel, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2992. EPA: Chris Lieske, Office of 
Transportation and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division 
(ASD), Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann 
Arbor, MI 48105; telephone number: (734) 214-4584; fax number: (734) 
214-4816; email address: [email protected]. You may learn more 
about the proposal by visiting NHTSA's or EPA's web pages at http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy or http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm or by searching the public dockets (NHTSA-2010-0131 
(for the proposed rule) or NHTSA-2011-0056 (for the Draft EIS); EPA-HQ-
OAR-2010-0799) at http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the public hearings is to 
provide the public an opportunity to present oral comments regarding 
NHTSA and EPA's proposals for ``2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty 
Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy 
Standards.'' (December, 1, 2011; 76 FR 74854) These hearings also offer 
an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments regarding 
NHTSA's Draft EIS, accompanying the proposed NHTSA fuel economy 
standards. The agencies will assume that all oral comments presented at 
the hearing are addressed to the joint proposed rules only, unless 
speakers specifically reference NHTSA's Draft EIS in oral or written 
testimony.
    The joint proposed rules issued by EPA and by NHTSA on behalf of 
the Department of Transportation, would further reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions from and improve fuel economy for light-duty vehicles for 
model years 2017-2025. The proposal extends the National Program beyond 
the greenhouse gas and corporate average fuel economy standards for 
these vehicles set for model years 2012-2016. On May 21, 2010, 
President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum requesting that NHTSA 
and EPA develop through notice and comment rulemaking a coordinated 
National Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of light-duty 
vehicles for model years 2017-2025. The proposal, consistent with the 
President's request, responds to the country's critical needs to 
address global climate change and to reduce oil consumption. NHTSA is 
proposing Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards under the Energy 
Policy and Conservation Act, as amended by the Energy Independence and 
Security Act, and EPA is proposing greenhouse gas emissions standards 
under the Clean Air Act. These standards would apply to passenger cars, 
light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles, and, if 
ultimately adopted, would represent a continued harmonized and 
consistent National Program. Under the National Program for model years 
2017-2025, automobile manufacturers would be able to continue building 
a single light-duty national fleet that satisfies all requirements 
under both programs while ensuring that consumers still have a full 
range of vehicle choices. EPA is also proposing minor changes to the 
light-duty vehicle regulations applicable to model years 2012-2016, 
with respect to air conditioner performance, regulatory treatment of 
emergency vehicles, and measurement of nitrous oxides.
    The proposal for which EPA and NHTSA are holding the public 
hearings was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2011 (76 
FR 74854) and is also available at the Web pages listed above under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and also in the rulemaking dockets. NHTSA's 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available on NHTSA's web page 
and in NHTSA's docket for the EIS, both referenced above. Once NHTSA 
and EPA learn how many people have registered to speak at each public 
hearing, we will allocate an appropriate amount of time to each 
participant, allowing time for necessary breaks. In addition, we will 
reserve a block of time for anyone else in the audience who wishes to 
give an oral presentation. For planning purposes, each speaker should 
anticipate speaking for approximately ten minutes, although we may need 
to shorten that time if there is a large turnout. We request that you 
bring three copies of your statement or other material for the EPA and 
NHTSA panels. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, we prefer 
that speakers not use technological aids (e.g., audio-visuals, computer 
slideshows). However, if you wish to do so, you must notify the contact 
persons in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. You also 
must make arrangements to provide your presentation or any other aids 
to NHTSA and EPA in advance of the hearing in order to facilitate set-
up.
    NHTSA and EPA will conduct the hearings informally, and technical 
rules of evidence will not apply. We will arrange for a written 
transcript of each hearing and keep the official record of each hearing 
open for 30 days to allow speakers to submit supplementary information. 
Panel members may ask clarifying questions during the oral 
presentations, but will not respond to the presentations at that time. 
You may make arrangements for copies of the transcripts directly with 
the court reporter. Written statements and supporting information 
submitted during the comment period will be considered with the same 
weight as oral comments and supporting information presented at the 
public hearings. To be assured of consideration, written comments on 
the proposal must be received by January 30, 2012 (76 FR 74854). 
Written comments on NHTSA's Draft EIS must be received or uploaded to 
NHTSA's docket for the EIS by January 31, 2012.

    Dated: December 5, 2011.
Ronald Medford,
Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
    Dated: December 5, 2011.
Margo T. Oge,
Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental 
Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-31653 Filed 12-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P