Temporary Exemption From Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Bumper Standard

This document amends NHTSA's temporary exemption regulation (49 CFR part 555) and bumper standard (49 CFR part 581) to reflect recent statutory amendments that allow us to grant temporary exemptions from Federal bumper standards on the same bases as we grant temporary exemptions from the Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Before now, we had authority to grant a bumper standard exemption only if the vehicle exempted was manufactured for a special use, and if compliance with the bumper standard would interfere unreasonably with the special use of the vehicle. Low-volume manufacturers may now present hardship arguments in asking for an exemption of up to 3 years. All manufacturers may ask for exemptions of up to 2 years for a limited number of vehicles if the exemption would make easier the introduction of innovative impact protection devices or the use of low-emission vehicles, or if it would allow the sale of a vehicle whose overall level of impact protection is at least equal to that of nonexempted vehicles. Because part 581 does not reflect our authority to provide special- use exemptions, we are taking this opportunity to establish a procedure for exemptions from the bumper standard on this basis similar to those of part 555, including providing an opportunity for public comment. However, these special-use exemptions would be permanent, given the likelihood that the vehicle is intended for its special use throughout its production life. We are also making minor amendments to conform to the terminology and section numbers adopted in the 1994 recodification of our statutes.