[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13489-13490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04385]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2023-0071]


Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Exemption 
Application From Waymo LLC, and Aurora Operations, Inc.

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Waymo 
LLC, and Aurora Operations, Inc. (Waymo/Aurora) for a 5-year exemption 
from the required placement of warning devices around stopped 
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs); the requirement that lamps for 
warning devices be steady-burning; and the utilization of a warning 
device for stopped vehicles not currently allowed by Agency rules. The 
exemption sought would allow Waymo and Aurora to operate CMVs operated 
by a Level 4 automated driving system (ADS) equipped with warning 
beacons mounted on the truck cab in lieu of traditional warning devices 
placed around a stopped autonomous CMV, as required by current 
regulations. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request 
for exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Number FMCSA-2023-0071 by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. See the 
Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further 
information.
     Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number 
(FMCSA-2023-0071) for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments 
received without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading 
below.

[[Page 13490]]

    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or visit Room W12-140 
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Dockets 
Operations.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its exemption process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov. As described in the 
system of records notice DOT/ALL 14--FDMS, which can be reviewed at 
https://www.transportation.gov/privacy, the comments are searchable by 
the name of the submitter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Luke Loy, Vehicle and Roadside 
Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety 
Standards, FMCSA, at (202) 366-0676 or [email protected]. If you have 
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact 
Dockets Operations at (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and 
related materials.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2023-0071), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for 
suggestions or recommendations. You may submit your comments and 
material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only 
one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of 
your document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions 
regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to www.regulations.gov and put 
the docket number ``FMCSA-2023-0071'' in the keyword box, and click 
``Search.'' Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' choose 
the first notice listed, click the ``Comment'' button, and type your 
comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether you 
are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third 
party and then submit. If you submit your comments by mail or hand 
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 
inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit 
comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, 
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA 
will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period.

II. Legal Basis

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant 
exemptions from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). 
FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal 
Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an 
opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, 
including any safety analyses that have been conducted. The Agency must 
provide an opportunity for public comment on the request.
    The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted 
and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a 
level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be 
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The Agency must 
publish its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with 
the reasons for denying or granting the application and, if granted, 
the name of the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and 
the regulatory provision from which the exemption is granted. The 
notice must specify the effective period and explain the terms and 
conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 
381.300(b)).

III. Applicant's Request

    Waymo and Aurora seek an exemption from the regulations that 
require specific placement of warning devices around a stopped CMV. 
Waymo and Aurora believe it is possible to achieve the safety purpose 
of the warning device in an alternative way by using forward- and 
rearward-facing amber flashing lights mounted on the cab at a height 
above the upper edge of the sideview mirrors. Waymo and Aurora each 
separately tested variants of such devices and have concluded that the 
use of the cab-mounted warning devices was equally or more effective in 
enabling road users to recognize and react to the potential hazard 
presented by the stopped CMV.
    Waymo and Aurora therefore request an exemption from the warning 
device placement requirements of 49 CFR 392.22(b), the utilization of a 
warning device that does not meet the steady-burning lamp requirement 
of 49 CFR 393.25(e), and the utilization of a warning device for 
stopped vehicles that is not currently identified in 49 CFR 393.95(f). 
The exemption sought would allow motorcarriers to operate Waymo and 
Aurora autonomous CMVs which come to a stop upon the traveled portion 
or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic 
stops, to utilize a warning device consisting of forward- and rearward-
facing cab mounted flashing amber lamps mounted at a height above the 
upper edge of the sideview mirrors in lieu of the currently allowed 
warning devices placed around the CMV, as described in 49 CFR 
392.22(b).
    A copy of Waymo/Aurora's application for exemption and supporting 
documentation is available for review in the docket for this notice.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), FMCSA requests public 
comment from all interested persons on Waymo and Aurora's application 
for a 5-year exemption from the warning device placement requirements 
of 49 CFR 392.22(b), the requirement that warning devices be steady 
burning (49 CFR 393.25(e)), and the requirement that warning devices 
comply with 49 CFR 393.95(f). All comments received before the close of 
business on the comment closing date indicated at the beginning of this 
notice will be considered and will be available for examination in the 
docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. Comments received after the comment closing date will be filed 
in the public docket and will be considered to the extent practicable. 
In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also continue to file, in the 
public docket, relevant information that becomes available after the 
comment closing date. Interested persons should continue to examine the 
public docket for new material.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-04385 Filed 3-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P