31208 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 95 / Tuesday, May 16, 2000 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

Petition for Exemption from the

Federal Motor Vehicle Motor Theft

Prevention Standard; Volkswagen

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Grant of petition for exemption.

SUMMARY: This document grants in full

the petition of Volkswagen of America,

Inc. (VW) for an exemption of a new

high-theft line, the Audi allroad

Quattro, from the parts-marking

requirements of the Federal motor

vehicle theft prevention standard. The

petition is granted because the agency

has determined that the antitheft device

to be placed on the line as standard

equipment is likely to be as effective in

reducing and deterring motor vehicle

theft as compliance with the partsmarking requirements of the Theft

Prevention Standard.

DATES: The exemption granted by this

notice is effective beginning with the

2001 model year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Rosalind Proctor, Office of Planning and

Consumer Programs, NHTSA, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Washington D.C.

20590. Ms. Proctor’s phone number is

(202) 366–0846. Her fax number is (202)

493–2290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a

petition dated January 4, 2000, VW

requested an exemption from the partsmarking requirements of 49 CFR Part

541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft

Prevention Standard, for the Audi

allroad Quattro, a new high-theft vehicle

line beginning in MY 2001. The petition

requested an exemption from partsmarking pursuant to 49 CFR 543,

Exemption from Vehicle Theft

Prevention Standard, based on the

installation of an antitheft device as

standard equipment for the entire

vehicle line.

Review of VW’s petition disclosed

that certain information was not

provided in its original petition.

Consequently, by telephone call on

March 17, 2000, VW was informed of its

omissions. Subsequently on March 22,

2000, VW submitted supplemental

information providing the omitted

information. VW’s March 22, 2000

submission constitutes a complete

petition, as required by 49 CFR Part

543.7, in that it met the general

requirements contained in § 543.5 and

the specific content requirements of

§ 543.6.

In its petition, VW provided a

detailed description and diagram of the

identity, design, and location of the

components of the antitheft device for

the new line. This antitheft device

includes: (1) An alarm system that

activates the vehicle’s emergency flasher

system and horn in the event

unauthorized entry is attempted through

any of the doors, the rear hatch, or the

engine compartment; (2) an ultrasonic

interior monitoring system to detect

window breakage or movement inside

the vehicle; and (3) an electronic engine

immobilizer which utilizes a

transponder in the ignition key.

In order to ensure the reliability and

durability of the device, VW conducted

tests based on its own specified

standards. VW provided a detailed list

of tests conducted. Because the device

complied with these tests, VW believes

that the device is reliable and durable.

Volkswagen believes the proposed

device will be as effective in deterring

motor vehicle theft as the devices used

in lines for which NHTSA has already

granted a parts-marking exemption.

Specifically, Volkswagen based its belief

on the theft rate experience of several

lines with similar devices which have

experienced significant theft rate

reductions, such as the Mitsubishi

Diamante, the Toyota Cressida, the

Nissan Maxima, the Toyota Supra, the

Nissan 300ZX, the Mazda RX–7, the

Audi 5000, the Ford Taurus and some

General Motors Chevrolet, Pontiac and

Cadillac car lines.

Additionally, VW compared theft rate

experiences of its 1992 Jetta and Golf/

GTI vehicles (with no alarm system) to

the theft rate experiences of its 1993,

1994 and 1997 model years Jetta and

Golf/GTI vehicles (with a standard

alarm system) to demonstrate the effects

of a standard alarm systems installation.

Based on data from the FBI’s National

Crime Information Center (NCIC), VW

showed that the theft rates for the 1993,

1994 and 1997 Jetta and Golf/GTI

vehicles that have been equipped with

a standard alarm system resulted in a

significant decrease in theft rates from

its MY 1992 vehicles. The theft rates for

the 1993, 1994 and 1997 Jetta vehicles

were 0.7699, 2.4344 and 2.6010,

respectively, down from the 1992 theft

rate of 7.5005. The theft rates for the

1993, 1994 and 1997 Golf/GTI vehicles

were 0.6789, 1.5329 and 2.6010,

respectively, down from the 1992 theft

rate of 20.2320.

VW stated that the Vehicle

Information Center of Canada (VICC),

which compiles insurance loss statistics

in Canada, conducted a study

comparing the frequency of theft claims

per 100 vehicles for MY 1992 and 1993

Volkswagen Golf and Jetta lines. The

standard alarm system had been

installed on both lines for MY 1993. The

results of the study showed a reduction

in the frequency of theft claims per 100

vehicles for the Jetta and Golf vehicle

lines in Canada. Specifically, the

reductions ranged from 75% for the Jetta

line to 90% for the Golf (4-door) vehicle

line.

Further, VW stated that its Audi lines

have historically demonstrated theft

rates below the median theft rate

(3.5826). VW cited the theft rankings of

the 1995, 1996 and 1997 Audi A6

vehicle line equipped with an alarm

system as standard equipment. The A6

was granted an exemption from the

parts-marking standard beginning with

MY 1995 (see 59 FR 55150, November

3, 1994). The theft rates for the 1995,

1996 and 1997 Audi A6 line were

0.5888, 0.3237 and 1.5512, respectively.

Based on the evidence submitted by

VW, the agency believes that the

antitheft device for the new vehicle line

is likely to be as effective in reducing

and deterring motor vehicle theft as

compliance with the parts-marking

requirements of the Theft Prevention

Standard (49 CFR 541).

The agency believes that the device

will provide the types of performance

listed in 49 CFR Part 543.6(a)(3):

Promoting activation; attracting

attention to unauthorized entries;

preventing defeat or circumvention of

the device by unauthorized persons;

preventing operation of the vehicle by

unauthorized entrants; and ensuring the

reliability and durability of the device.

As required by 49 U.S.C. 33106 and

49 CFR part 543.6(a) (4) and (5), the

agency finds that VW has provided

adequate reasons for its belief that the

antitheft device will reduce and deter

theft. This conclusion is based on the

information VW provided about its

device, much of which the agency has

determined to be confidential. This

confidential information included a

description of reliability and functional

tests conducted by VW for the antitheft

device and its components.

For the foregoing reasons, the agency

hereby grants in full VW’s petition for

exemption for the MY 2001 Audi

allroad Quattro vehicle line from the

parts-marking requirements of 49 CFR

part 541. VW requested confidential

treatment for some of the information

and attachments submitted in support of

its petition. In a letter to VW dated

February 4, 2000, the agency granted the

petitioner’s request for confidential

treatment of most aspects of its petition.

If VW decides not to use the

exemption for this line, it should

formally notify the agency. If such a

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 95 / Tuesday, May 16, 2000 / Notices 31209

decision is made, the line must be fully

marked according to the requirements

under 49 CFR parts 541.5 and 541.6

(marking of major component parts and

replacement parts).

NHTSA notes that if VW wishes in

the future to modify the device on

which this exemption is based, the

company may have to submit a petition

to modify the exemption. Part 543.7(d)

states that a Part 543 exemption applies

only to vehicles that belong to a line

exempted under this part and equipped

with the antitheft device on which the

line’s exemption is based. Further, Part

543.9(c)(2) provides for the submission

of petitions ‘‘to modify an exemption to

permit the use of an antitheft device

similar to but differing from the one

specified in that exemption.’’

The agency wishes to minimize the

administrative burden that Part

543.9(c)(2) could place on exempted

vehicle manufacturers and itself. The

agency did not intend in drafting Part

543 to require the submission of a

modification petition for every change

to the components or design of an

antitheft device. The significance of

many such changes could be de

minimis. Therefore, NHTSA suggests

that if the manufacturer contemplates

making any changes the effects of which

might be characterized as de minimis, it

should consult the agency before

preparing and submitting a petition to

modify.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33106; delegation of

authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Issued on: May 10, 2000.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Safety

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 00–12260 Filed 5–15–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

Open Meeting of Citizen Advocacy

Panel, Pacific-Northwest District

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),

Treasury.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: An open meeting of the

Pacific-Northwest Citizen Advocacy

Panel will be held in Juneau, Alaska.

DATES: The meeting will be held Friday,

May 19, 2000 and Saturday, May 20,

2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judi

Nicholas at 1–888–912–1227 or 206–

220–6096.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is

hereby given pursuant to Section

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. (1988),

that an open meeting of the Citizen

Advocacy Panel will be held Friday

May 19, 2000, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at

the Internal Revenue Service Federal

Building located at 709 West 9th

Avenue, Room 859, Juneau, AK 99801

and Saturday May 20, 2000, 9:00 a.m. to

Noon at the Westmark Baranof Hotel,

Gastineau Room, 127 N. Franklin Street,

Juneau, AK 99801. The public is invited

to make oral comments. Individual

comments will be limited to 10 minutes.

If you would like to have the CAP

consider a written statement, please call

1–888–912–1227 or 206–220–6096, or

write Judi Nicholas, CAP Office, 915

2nd Avenue, Room 442, Seattle, WA

98174. Due to limited conference space,

notification of intent to attend the

meeting must be made with Judi

Nicholas. Ms. Nicholas can be reached

at 1–888–912–1227 or 206–220–6096.

The Agenda will include the

following: various IRS issue updates

and reports by the CAP sub-groups.

Note: Last minute changes to the agenda

are possible and could prevent effective

advance notice.

Dated: April 28, 2000.

M. Cathy VanHorn,

Director, CAP, Communications & Liaison.

[FR Doc. 00–12202 Filed 5–15–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

Open Meeting of Citizen Advocacy

Panel, Brooklyn District

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),

Treasury.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: An open meeting of the

Brooklyn District Citizen Advocacy

Panel will be held in Flushing, New

York.

DATES: The meeting will be held

Wednesday, June 7, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eileen Cain at 1–888–912–1227 or 718–

488–3555.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is

hereby given pursuant to section

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. (1988),

that an operational meeting of the

Citizen Advocacy Panel will be held

Wednesday, June 7, 2000, 7:30 p.m. to

9:30 p.m. at the Queens Borough Public

Library at 41–17 Main Street, Flushing,

N.Y. 11355. If you are in need of a

hearing impaired or a language

interpreter or for more information

please contact Eileen Cain. Mrs. Cain

can be reached at 1–888–912–1227 or

718–488–3555. The public is invited to

make oral comments from 7:30 p.m. to

9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2000.

Individual comments will be limited to

5 minutes. If you would like to have the

CAP consider a written statement,

please call 1–888–912–1227 or 718–

488–3555, or write Eileen Cain, CAP

Office, P.O. Box R, Brooklyn, NY 11202.

The Agenda will include the

following: introductions of the panel

and open discussions with the public.

Note: Last minute changes to the agenda

are possible and could prevent effective

advance notice.

Dated: April 28, 2000.

M. Cathy VanHorn,

Director, CAP, Communications & Liaison.

[FR Doc. 00–12203 Filed 5–15–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–U

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900–0376]

Proposed Information Collection

Activity: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Health

Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Veterans Health

Administration (VHA) is announcing an

opportunity for public comment on the

proposed collection of certain

information by the agency. Under the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of

1995, Federal agencies are required to

publish notice in the Federal Register

concerning each proposed collection of

information, including each proposed

reinstatement, with change, of a

previously approved collection for

which approval has expired, and allow

60 days for public comment in response

to the notice. This notice solicits

comments on the information needed to

maintain an up-to-date Agent Orange

Registry.

DATES: Written comments and

recommendations on the proposed

collection of information should be

received on or before July 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

on the collection of information to Ann

Bickoff, Veterans Health Administration

(191A1), Department of Veterans

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW.,