[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55793-55794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17742]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Part 555
[Docket No. NHTSA-2026-1585]
Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety and Bumper
Standards; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Interim final rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: In response to a request from the Alliance for Automotive
Innovation (Auto Innovators), NHTSA is announcing a 30-day extension of
the public comment period for the interim final rule (IFR) published on
July 31, 2026 amending NHTSA's general exemption regulations to remove
language limiting the application of temporary exemptions from the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and the bumper standard
to motor vehicles manufactured on and after the effective date of an
exemption, and to align the regulations with the Administrator's
statutory discretion to determine the vehicle population covered by a
temporary exemption. The notice also removed the requirement that
applications for exemption be submitted in three copies and specified
an electronic means for submission. The comment period for the notice
was originally scheduled to end on August 31, 2026. It will now end on
September 30, 2026.
DATES: The comment period for the IFR published on July 31, 2026 at 91
FR 48307, is extended. Comments should be received on or before
September 30, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number in
the heading of this document through any of the following methods:
Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Suite W58-
213, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except on Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help
you, please call (202) 366-9826 or (202) 366-9317 before coming.
[[Page 55794]]
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
docket number for this notice. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
dockets via internet.
Confidential Business Information: If you claim that any of the
information in your comment (including any additional documents or
attachments) constitutes confidential business information within the
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) or is protected from disclosure pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. 1905, please see the detailed instructions given under the
Public Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Eli Wachtel, Office of the Chief
Counsel email: [email protected], National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 31, 2026, NHTSA published an IFR to
amend NHTSA's general exemption regulations in 49 CFR part 555 to
remove language limiting the application of temporary exemptions from
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and the bumper
standard to motor vehicles manufactured on and after the effective date
of an exemption, and to align the regulations with the Administrator's
statutory discretion to determine the vehicle population covered by a
temporary exemption.\1\ The IFR also removed the requirement that
applications for exemption be submitted in three copies and specified
an electronic means for submission. The notice stated that although the
amendments were effective immediately, NHTSA will publish a final rule
following the comment period responding to any comments received and
making any appropriate changes to the IFR. The notice provided a 30-day
comment period which closes on August 31, 2026.
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\1\ 91 FR 48307.
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On August 10, 2026, NHTSA received a request from Auto Innovators
for a 30-day extension of the comment period.\2\ Auto Innovators stated
that ``the proposal raises significant legal, technical, and policy
issues that warrant careful evaluation.'' Auto Innovators said a 30-day
extension of the comment period would facilitate technical analysis and
stakeholder coordination and allow more comprehensive comments.
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\2\ Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Docket No. NHTSA-2026-
1585-0003.
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NHTSA is granting the request to extend the comment period by 30
days. NHTSA has determined that the requestors have shown good cause
for an extension and that the extension is consistent with public
interest. A 30-day extension appropriately balances NHTSA's interest in
providing the public with sufficient time to comment on the notice with
its interest in obtaining specific feedback from stakeholders in a
timely manner. Accordingly, NHTSA is extending the comment period until
September 30, 2026.\3\
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\3\ Readers should note that, even after the comment closing
date has passed, interested persons are able to file comments in the
docket, which NHTSA will consider to the extent practicable. 49 CFR
553.23. NHTSA may also continue to file relevant information in the
docket as it becomes available. Accordingly, the Agency recommends
that readers periodically check the docket for new material.
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Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30113; delegation of authority at 49 CFR
1.95.
Jonathan Morrison,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2026-17742 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
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