CLEVELAND (Sept. 20, 2012)—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to issue its proposed rule on the labeling and consumer education provisions of the tire fuel efficiency standard on March 15, 2013.
NHTSA posted its new rulemaking schedule on its website this week, said Tracey L. Norberg, senior vice president-environmental & recovery resources at the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Norberg was one of the speakers at the International Tire Exhibition & Conference in Cleveland.
The schedule calls for NHTSA to submit the proposal to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation Nov. 1, 2012, Norberg said. If all goes to plan, the document will reach the Office of Management and Budget Dec. 11 and be published in the Federal Register March 15, she said.
A 60-day public comment period will follow publication of the proposal, as is required for major rulemaking, Norberg said.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 required NHTSA to issue a standard establishing tire fuel efficiency labeling and consumer information programs, Norberg said.
The agency issued a final rule March 30, 2010, three months past its statutory deadline, but left the specifics of the labeling and consumer information provisions for further study, she said.