[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32903-32909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13424]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 541

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0032]
RIN 2127-AL21


 Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard; Final Listing 
of 2013 Light Duty Truck Lines Subject to the Requirements of This 
Standard and Exempted Vehicle Lines for Model Year 2013

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule announces NHTSA's determination that there are 
no new model year (MY) 2013 light duty truck lines subject to the 
parts-marking requirements of the Federal motor vehicle theft 
prevention standard, because they have been determined by the agency to 
be high-theft or because they have a majority of interchangeable parts 
with those of a passenger motor vehicle line. This final rule also 
identifies those vehicle lines that have been granted an exemption from 
the parts-marking requirements, because the vehicles are equipped with 
antitheft devices determined to meet certain statutory criteria.

DATES: Effective Date: The amendment made by this final rule is 
effective June 4, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rosalind Proctor, Consumer 
Standards Division, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and 
Consumer Programs, NHTSA, West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
(NVS-131, Room W43-302) Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Proctor's telephone 
number is (202) 366-4807. Her fax number is (202) 493-0073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The theft prevention standard applies to (1) 
all passenger car lines, (2) all multipurpose passenger vehicle (MPV) 
lines with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 6,000 pounds or 
less, (3) low-theft light-duty truck (LDT) lines with a GVWR of 6,000 
pounds or less that have major parts that are interchangeable with a 
majority of the covered major parts of passenger car or MPV lines and 
(4) high-theft light-duty truck lines with a GVWR of 6,000 pounds or 
less.
    The purpose of the theft prevention standard (49 CFR Part 541) is 
to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle theft by facilitating the 
tracing and recovery of parts from stolen vehicles. The standard seeks 
to facilitate such tracing by requiring that vehicle identification 
numbers (VINs), VIN derivative numbers, or other symbols be placed on 
major component vehicle parts. The theft prevention standard requires 
motor vehicle manufacturers to inscribe or affix VINs onto covered 
original equipment major component parts, and to inscribe or affix a 
symbol identifying the manufacturer and a common symbol identifying the 
replacement component parts for those original equipment parts, on all 
vehicle lines subject to the requirements of the standard.
    Section 33104(d) provides that once a line has become subject to 
the theft prevention standard, the line remains subject to the 
requirements of the standard unless it is exempted under section 33106. 
Section 33106 provides that a manufacturer may petition annually to 
have one vehicle line exempted from the requirements of section 33104, 
if the line is equipped with an antitheft device meeting certain 
conditions as standard equipment. The exemption is granted if NHTSA 
determines that the antitheft device is likely to be as effective as 
compliance with the theft prevention standard in reducing and deterring 
motor vehicle thefts.
    The agency annually publishes the names of those LDT lines that 
have been determined to be high theft pursuant to 49 CFR Part 541, 
those LDT lines that have been determined to have major parts that are 
interchangeable with a majority of the covered major parts of passenger 
car or MPV lines and those vehicle lines that are exempted from the 
theft prevention standard under section 33104. Appendix A to Part 541 
identifies those LDT lines that are or will be subject to the theft 
prevention standard beginning in a given model year. Appendix A-I to 
Part 541 identifies those vehicle lines that are or have been exempted 
from the theft prevention standard.
    For MY 2013, there are no new LDT lines that will be subject to the 
theft prevention standard in accordance with the procedures published 
in 49 CFR Part 542. Therefore, Appendix A does not need to be amended.
    For MY 2013, the list of lines that have been exempted by the 
agency from the parts-marking requirements of Part 541 is amended to 
include ten vehicle lines newly exempted in full. The ten exempted 
vehicle lines are the Buick Verano, Chrysler Dart, Ford C-Maxx, Land 
Rover LR2, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Juke, Subaru XV 
Crosstrek, Toyota Prius and the Volkswagen Audi A4 Allroad (MPV).
    Subsequent to publishing the April 12, 2011 final rule (See 76 FR 
20251), Nissan North America, Inc., (Nissan) informed the agency that 
beginning with MY 2012, it would no longer be installing an antitheft 
device as standard equipment on the Versa vehicle line and would begin 
applying parts marking to its Versa vehicles beginning with the same 
model year. Nissan was granted a parts marking exemption by the agency 
on January 3, 2007 for the Versa line (See 72 FR 188), but changed its 
nameplate from Nissan Versa to the Versa Hatchback vehicle line 
beginning with MY 2012. The agency also granted two petitions for 
exemption in full subsequent to publishing the April 2011 Federal 
Register notice. Specifically, the agency granted a full exemption to 
Nissan North America, Inc., for its Nissan Leaf vehicle line and Telsa 
Motors, Inc., for its Model S vehicle line beginning with their MY 2012 
vehicles.
    We note that the agency also removes vehicle lines that have been 
discontinued more than 5 years ago from the list published in the 
Federal Register, annually. Therefore, the agency is removing the Ford 
Five-Hundred (2007) and Volkswagen Audi Allroad vehicle lines from the 
Appendix A-I listing. The agency will continue to maintain a 
comprehensive database of all exemptions on our Web site. However, we 
believe that republishing a list containing vehicle lines that have not 
been in production for a considerable period of time is unnecessary.
    The vehicle lines listed as being exempt from the standard have 
previously been exempted in

[[Page 32904]]

accordance with the procedures of 49 CFR Part 543 and 49 U.S.C., 33106. 
Therefore, NHTSA finds for good cause that notice and opportunity for 
comment on these listings are unnecessary. Further, public comment on 
the listing of selections and exemptions is not contemplated by 49 
U.S.C. Chapter 331. For the same reasons, since this revised listing 
only informs the public of previous agency actions and does not impose 
additional obligations on any party, NHTSA finds for good cause that 
the amendment made by this notice should be effective as soon as it is 
published in the Federal Register.

Regulatory Impacts

A. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 
51735, October 4, 1993), provides for making determinations whether a 
regulatory action is ``significant'' and therefore subject to Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) review and to the requirements of the 
Executive Order. The Order defines a ``significant regulatory action'' 
as one that is likely to result in a rule that may:
    (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or 
adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local, or Tribal governments or 
communities,
    (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another agency,
    (3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, 
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof, or
    (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in 
the Executive Order.
    This final rule was not reviewed under Executive Order 12866. It is 
not significant within the meaning of the DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures. It will not impose any new burdens on vehicle 
manufacturers. This document informs the public of previously granted 
exemptions. Since the only purpose of this final rule is to inform the 
public of previous actions taken by the agency, no new costs or burdens 
will result.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
requires agencies to evaluate the potential effects of their rules on 
small businesses, small organizations and small governmental 
jurisdictions. I have considered the effects of this rulemaking action 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act and certify that it would not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. As noted above, the effect of this final rule is only to 
inform the public of agency's previous actions.

C. National Environmental Policy Act

    NHTSA has analyzed this final rule for the purposes of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The agency has determined that implementation 
of this action will not have any significant impact on the quality of 
the human environment. Accordingly, no environmental assessment is 
required.

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 Federal implications to 
warrant consultation with State and local officials or the preparation 
of a federalism summary impact statement.

E. Unfunded Mandates Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires 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 annually 
($120.7 million as adjusted annually for inflation with base year of 
1995). The assessment may be combined with other assessments, as it is 
here.
    This final rule will not result in expenditures by State, local or 
tribal governments or automobile manufacturers and/or their suppliers 
of more than $120.7 million annually. This document informs the public 
of previously granted exemptions. Since the only purpose of this final 
rule is to inform the public of previous actions taken by the agency, 
no new costs or burdens will result.

F. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)

    Pursuant to Executive Order 12988, ``Civil Justice Reform'' \1\, 
the agency has considered whether this final rule has any retroactive 
effect. We conclude that it would not have such an effect. In 
accordance with Sec.  33118, when the Theft Prevention Standard is in 
effect, a State or political subdivision of a State may not have a 
different motor vehicle theft prevention standard for a motor vehicle 
or major replacement part. 49 U.S.C. 33117 provides that judicial 
review of this rule may be obtained pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 32909. 
Section 32909 does not require submission of a petition for 
reconsideration or other administrative proceedings before parties may 
file suit in court.
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    \1\ See 61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996.
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G. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Department of Transportation has not submitted an information 
collection request to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork 
reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). This rule 
does not impose any new information collection requirements on 
manufacturers.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 541

    Administrative practice and procedure, Labeling, Motor vehicles, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR part 541 is amended as 
follows:

PART 541--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102, 33103, 33104, 33105 and 
33106; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


0
2. In Part 541, Appendix A-I is revised to read as follows:
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    Issued on: May 29, 2012.
Nathaniel Beuse,
Acting Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2012-13424 Filed 6-1-12; 8:45 am]
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