[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 30 (Friday, February 14, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9609-9610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02582]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Parts 561 and 571
[Docket No. NHTSA-2024-0091]
RIN 2127-AM43
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; FMVSS No. 305a Electric-
Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity Global Technical
Regulation No. 20; Incorporation by Reference
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
[[Page 9610]]
ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.
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SUMMARY: This document delays until March 20, 2025, the effective date
of the December 20, 2024, final rule that adopted Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to replace FMVSS No. 305, ``Electric-
powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock
protection.'' FMVSS No. 305a applies to light and heavy vehicles and
includes performance requirements for the propulsion battery. The final
rule also established a part entitled, ``Documentation for Electric-
powered Vehicles,'' that requires manufacturers to compile risk
mitigation documentation and submit standardized emergency response
information to assist first and second responders handling electric
vehicles.
DATES: The effective date of the rule published on December 20, 2024,
at 89 FR 104318, is delayed until March 20, 2025. The incorporation by
reference approval of certain publications listed in the rule by the
Director of the Federal Register is delayed until March 20, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Correspondence related to this rule should refer to the
docket number set forth above (NHTSA-2024-0091) and be submitted to
regulations.gov or the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical issues: Mr. Ian
MacIntire, Office of Crashworthiness Standards, Telephone: (202) 493-
0248; Facsimile: (202) 366-7002. For legal issues: Ms. K. Helena Sung,
Office of the Chief Counsel, Telephone: (202) 366-2992, Facsimile:
(202) 366-3820. The mailing address for these officials is: National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the memorandum of January
20, 2025 from the President to executive departments and agencies,
entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' \1\ this action
temporarily delays until March 20, 2025, the effective date of the rule
entitled ``Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; FMVSS No. 305a
Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity, Global
Technical Regulation No. 20, Incorporation by Reference,'' published in
the Federal Register on December 20, 2024, at 89 FR 104318. NHTSA
established Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to
replace FMVSS No. 305, ``Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte
spillage and electrical shock protection.'' FMVSS No. 305a applies to
light and heavy vehicles and includes performance requirements for the
propulsion battery. The final rule also established 49 CFR part 561,
``Documentation for Electric-powered Vehicles,'' that requires
manufacturers to compile risk mitigation documentation and submit
standardized emergency response information to assist first and second
responders handling electric vehicles.
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\1\ Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/regulatory-freeze-pending-review/ (last accessed
Jan. 22, 2025).
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This action is exempt from notice and comment under 5 U.S.C. 553
and is effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register,
based on the good cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 553(d)(3),
respectively. Seeking public comment is impracticable, unnecessary, and
contrary to the public interest. The temporary delay in effective date
is necessary to give Department officials the opportunity for further
review and consideration of new regulations, consistent with the
President's memorandum of January 20, 2025. Given the imminence of the
effective date, seeking prior public comment on this temporary delay
would have been impractical, as well as contrary to the public interest
in the orderly promulgation and implementation of regulations. The
imminence of the effective date is also good cause for making this
action effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register.
Issued in Washington, DC, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
1.95 and 501.5.
Peter Simshauser,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2025-02582 Filed 2-13-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P