38096 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

49 CFR Part 541

[Docket No. NHTSA–98–3752]

RIN 2127–AH06

Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention

Standard; Final Listing of Model Year

1999 High-Theft Vehicle Lines

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This final rule announces

NHTSA’s determination for model year

(MY) 1999 high-theft vehicle lines that

are subject to the parts-marking

requirements of the Federal motor

vehicle theft prevention standard, and

high-theft lines that are exempted from

the parts-marking requirements because

the vehicles are equipped with antitheft

devices determined to meet certain

statutory criteria for MY 1999, pursuant

to the statute relating to motor vehicle

theft prevention.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The amendment made

by this final rule is effective July 15,

1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Rosalind Proctor, Motor Vehicle Theft

Group, Office of Planning and

Consumer Programs, NHTSA, 400

Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20590. Ms. Proctor’s telephone number

is (202) 366–0846. Her fax number is

(202) 493–2739.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ‘‘Anti

Car Theft Act of 1992,’’ P. L. 102–519,

amended the law relating to the partsmarking of major component parts on

designated high-theft vehicle lines and

other motor vehicles. The Anti Car Theft

Act amended the definition of

‘‘passenger motor vehicle’’ in 49 U.S.C.

§ 33101(10) to include a ‘‘multipurpose

passenger vehicle or light duty truck

when that vehicle or truck is rated at not

more than 6,000 pounds gross vehicle

weight.’’ Since ‘‘passenger motor

vehicle’’ was previously defined to

include passenger cars only, the effect of

the Anti Car Theft Act is that certain

multipurpose passenger vehicle (MPV)

and light-duty truck (LDT) lines may be

determined to be high-theft vehicles

subject to the Federal motor vehicle

theft prevention standard (49 CFR Part

541).

The purpose of the theft prevention

standard is to reduce the incidence of

motor vehicle theft by facilitating the

tracing and recovery of parts from stolen

vehicles. The standard seeks to facilitate

such tracing by requiring that vehicle

identification numbers (VINs), VIN

derivative numbers, or other symbols be

placed on major component vehicle

parts. The theft prevention standard

requires motor vehicle manufacturers to

inscribe or affix VINs onto covered

original equipment major component

parts, and to inscribe or affix a symbol

identifying the manufacturer and a

common symbol identifying the

replacement component parts for those

original equipment parts, on all vehicle

lines selected as high-theft.

The Anti Car Theft Act also amended

49 U.S.C. § 33103 to require NHTSA to

promulgate a parts-marking standard

applicable to major parts installed by

manufacturers of ‘‘passenger motor

vehicles (other than light duty trucks) in

not to exceed one-half of the lines not

designated under 49 U.S.C. § 33104 as

high-theft lines.’’ NHTSA published a

final rule amending 49 CFR Part 541 to

include the definitions of MPV and

LDT, and major component parts. See

59 FR 64164, December 13, 1995.

49 U.S.C. § 33104(a)(3) specifies that

NHTSA shall select high-theft vehicle

lines, with the agreement of the

manufacturer, if possible. Section

33104(d) provides that once a line has

been designated as likely high-theft, it

remains subject to the theft prevention

standard unless that line is exempted

under § 33106. Section 33106 provides

that a manufacturer may petition to

have a high-theft line exempted from

the requirements of § 33104, if the line

is equipped with an antitheft device as

standard equipment. The exemption is

granted if NHTSA determines that the

antitheft device is likely to be as

effective as compliance with the theft

prevention standard in reducing and

deterring motor vehicle thefts.

The agency annually publishes the

names of the lines which were

previously listed as high-theft, and the

lines which are being listed for the first

time and will be subject to the theft

prevention standard beginning in a

given model year. It also identifies those

lines that are exempted from the theft

prevention standard for a given model

year under § 33104.

On April 8, 1996, the final listing of

high-theft lines for the MY 1997 vehicle

lines was published in the Federal

Register (61 FR 15390). The final listing

identified vehicle lines that were listed

for the first time and became subject to

the theft prevention standard beginning

with the 1997 model year. However, the

agency was subsequently informed that

beginning with MY 1997, two of those

lines, the Chevrolet Beretta and the

Chevrolet Caprice, are no longer being

manufactured for sale in the United

States. Therefore, those two vehicle

lines were not properly included on the

list in Appendix A, and have been

deleted. In addition, two other General

Motors car lines, the Chevrolet Corsica

and the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

underwent name and platform changes

for model year 1997. The new names

have been substituted in Appendix A,

with a footnote indicating the former

name and the date of the change.

On July 31, 1997, the final listing of

high-theft lines for the MY 1998 vehicle

lines was published in the Federal

Register (62 FR 40949). The final listing

identified vehicle lines that were listed

for the first time and became subject to

the theft prevention standard beginning

with the 1998 model year.

For MY 1999, the agency identified

four new vehicle lines that are likely to

be high-theft lines, in accordance with

the procedures published in 49 CFR Part

542. The new lines are the Honda

Odyssey, the Hyundai (nameplate to be

announced), the Toyota Lexus RX300

(SUV) and the Toyota Solara. In

addition to these four vehicle lines, the

list of high-theft vehicle lines includes

all lines previously selected as hightheft and listed for prior model years.

Furthermore, Appendix A has been

amended to reflect a name change for

the Suzuki Sidekick (MPV) and the

Oldsmobile Achieva. The Suzuki

Sidekick has been renamed the Suzuki

Grand Vitara, and the Oldsmobile

Achieva has been renamed the

Oldsmobile Alero beginning with MY

1999.

The list of lines that have been

exempted by the agency from the partsmarking requirements of Part 541

includes high-theft lines newly

exempted in full beginning with MY

1999. The three vehicle lines newly

exempted in full are the BMW Car line

3, the General Motors Oldsmobile Alero

and the Nissan Maxima. Additionally,

the agency was subsequently informed

that the Mazda Amati 1000 car line has

never been manufactured for sale in the

United States. Therefore, the Mazda

Amati 1000 car line has been deleted

from Appendix A–I of this listing.

The vehicle lines listed as being

subject to the parts-marking standard

have previously been selected as hightheft lines in accordance with the

procedures set forth in 49 CFR Part 542.

Under these procedures, manufacturers

evaluate new vehicle lines to conclude

whether those new lines are likely to be

high theft. The manufacturer submits

these evaluations and conclusions to the

agency, which makes an independent

evaluation; and, on a preliminary basis,

determines whether the new line should
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 38097

be subject to the parts-marking

requirements. NHTSA informs the

manufacturer in writing of its

evaluations and determinations,

together with the factual information

considered by the agency in making

them. The manufacturer may request the

agency to reconsider the preliminary

determinations. Within 60 days of the

receipt of these requests, the agency

makes its final determination. NHTSA

informs the manufacturer by letter of

these determinations and its response to

the request for reconsideration. If there

is no request for reconsideration, the

agency’s determination becomes final 45

days after sending the letter with the

preliminary determination. Each of the

new lines on the high-theft list has been

the subject of a final determination

under either 49 U.S.C. § 33103 or

§ 33104.

Similarly, the lines listed as being

exempt from the standard have

previously been exempted in

accordance with the procedures of 49

CFR Part 543 and 49 U.S.C. § 33106.

Therefore, NHTSA finds for good

cause that notice and opportunity for

comment on these listings are

unnecessary. Further, public comment

on the listing of selections and

exemptions is not contemplated by 49

U.S.C. Chapter 331.

For the same reasons, since this

revised listing only informs the public

of previous agency actions and does not

impose additional obligations on any

party, NHTSA finds for good cause that

the amendment made by this notice

should be effective as soon as it is

published in the Federal Register.

Regulatory Impacts

1. Costs and Other Impacts

NHTSA has analyzed this rule and

determined that it is not ‘‘significant’’

within the meaning of the Department

of Transportation’s regulatory policies

and procedures. The agency has also

considered this notice under Executive

Order 12866. As already noted, the

selections in this final rule have

previously been made in accordance

with the provisions of 49 U.S.C.

§ 33104, and the manufacturers of the

selected lines have already been

informed that those lines are subject to

the requirements of 49 CFR Part 541 for

MY 1999. Further, this listing does not

actually exempt lines from the

requirements of 49 CFR Part 541; it only

informs the general public of all such

previously granted exemptions. Since

the only purpose of this final listing is

to inform the public of prior agency

actions for MY 1999, a full regulatory

evaluation has not been prepared.

2. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The agency has also considered the

effects of this listing under the

Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby

certify that this rule will not have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities. As

noted above, the effect of this final rule

is simply to inform the public of those

lines that are subject to the requirements

of 49 CFR Part 541 for MY 1999. The

agency believes that the listing of this

information will not have any economic

impact on small entities.

3. Environmental Impacts

In accordance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the

agency has considered the

environmental impacts of this rule, and

determined that it will not have any

significant impact on the quality of the

human environment.

4. Federalism

This action has been analyzed in

accordance with the principles and

criteria contained in Executive Order

12612, and it has been determined that

this final rule does not have sufficient

Federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

5. Civil Justice Reform

This final rule does not have a

retroactive effect. In accordance with

§ 33118 when the Theft Prevention

Standard is in effect, a State or political

subdivision of a State may not have a

different motor vehicle theft prevention

standard for a motor vehicle or major

replacement part. 49 U.S.C. § 33117

provides that judicial review of this rule

may be obtained pursuant to 49 U.S.C.

§ 32909. Section 32909 does not require

submission of a petition for

reconsideration or other administrative

proceedings before parties may file suit

in court.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 541

Administrative practice and

procedure, Labeling, Motor vehicles,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

In consideration of the foregoing, 49

CFR Part 541 is amended as follows:

PART 541—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 541

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33102–33104 and

33106; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

2. In Part 541, Appendices A, A–I and

A–II are revised to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 541—Lines Subject to the Requirements of This Standard

Manufacturer Subject lines

ALFA ROMEO ................................................................................................................................. Milano 161.

164.

BMW ................................................................................................................................................ Z3.

6 Car Line.

CHRYSLER ..................................................................................................................................... Chrysler Cirrus.

Chrysler Executive, Sedan/Limousine.

Chrysler Fifth Avenue/Newport.

Chrysler Laser.

Chrysler LeBaron/Town & Country.

Chrysler LeBaron GTS.

Chrysler’s TC.

Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue.

Chrysler Sebring.

Chrysler Town & Country.

Dodge 600.

Dodge Aries.

Dodge Avenger.

Dodge Colt.

Dodge Daytona.
38098 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

Manufacturer Subject lines

Dodge Diplomat.

Dodge Lancer.

Dodge Neon.

Dodge Shadow.

Dodge Stratus.

Dodge Stealth.

Eagle Summit.

Eagle Talon.

Jeep Cherokee (MPV).

Jeep Grand Cherokee (MPV).

Jeep Wrangler (MPV).

Plymouth Caravelle.

Plymouth Colt.

Plymouth Laser.

Plymouth Gran Fury.

Plymouth Neon.

Plymouth Reliant.

Plymouth Sundance.

Plymouth Breeze.

CONSULIER .................................................................................................................................... Consulier GTP.

FERRARI ......................................................................................................................................... Mondial 8.

308.

328.

FORD .............................................................................................................................................. Ford Aspire.

Ford Crown Victoria.

Ford Escort.

Ford Mustang.

Ford Probe.

Ford Taurus.

Ford Thunderbird.

Lincoln Continental.

Lincoln Mark.

Lincoln Town Car.

Mercury Capri.

Mercury Cougar.

Mercury Grand Marquis.

Mercury Sable.

Mercury Tracer.

Merkur Scorpio.

Merkur XR4Ti.

GENERAL MOTORS ...................................................................................................................... Buick Electra.

Buick Reatta.

Buick Skylark.

Chevrolet Astro (MPV).

Chevrolet Lumina Minivan.

Chevrolet Malibu.1

Chevrolet Monte Carlo (MYs 1987–88).

Chevrolet Nova.

Chevrolet Blazer (MPV).

Chevrolet Prizm.2

Chevrolet S–10 Pickup.

Geo Storm.

Chevrolet Tracker (MPV).2

GMC Jimmy (MPV).

GMC Safari (MPV).

GMC Sonoma Pickup.

Oldsmobile Achieva (MYs 1997–1998).3

Oldsmobile Bravada.

Oldsmobile Cutlass.4

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (MYs 1988–

1997).5

Oldsmobile Intrigue.

Pontiac Fiero.

Pontiac Grand Am.

Saturn Sports Coupe.

Pontiac Grand Prix.

HONDA ............................................................................................................................................ Accord.

CRV (MPV).

Odyssey (MPV).6

Passport.

Prelude.

Acura Integra.

HYUNDAI ........................................................................................................................................ Accent.

(nameplate to be announced).6
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 38099

Manufacturer Subject lines

Sonata.

Tiburon.

ISUZU .............................................................................................................................................. Impulse.

Rodeo.

Stylus.

Trooper/Trooper II.

JAGUAR .......................................................................................................................................... XJ.

XJ–6.

XJ–40.

KIA MOTORS .................................................................................................................................. S–II.

LOTUS ............................................................................................................................................. Elan.

MASERATI ...................................................................................................................................... Biturbo.

Quattroporte.

228.

MAZDA ............................................................................................................................................ GLC.

626.

MX–3.

MX–5 Miata.

MX–6.

MERCEDES-BENZ ......................................................................................................................... 190 D.

190 E.

250D–T.

260 E.

300 SE.

300 TD.

300 SDL.

300 SEC/500 SEC.

300 SEL/500 SEL.

420 SEL.

560 SEL.

560 SEC.

560 SL.

MITSUBISHI .................................................................................................................................... Cordia.

Eclipse.

Mirage.

Montero (MPV).

Montero Sport (MPV).

Tredia.

3000GT.

NISSAN ........................................................................................................................................... 240SX.

Pathfinder.

Sentra/200SX.

Stanza/Altima.

PEUGEOT ....................................................................................................................................... 405.

PORSCHE ....................................................................................................................................... 924S.

SUBARU .......................................................................................................................................... XT.

SVX.

Forester.

Legacy.

SUZUKI ........................................................................................................................................... X90.

Samurai (MPV).

Sidekick (MYs 1997–1998).7

Grand Vitara (MPV).

TOYOTA .......................................................................................................................................... Toyota 4-Runner (MPV).

Toyota Avalon.

Toyota Camry.

Toyota Celica.

Toyota Corolla/Corolla Sport.

Toyota MR2.

Toyota RAV4 (MPV).

Toyota Sienna (MPV).

Toyota Solara.8

Toyota Starlet.

Toyota Tercel.

Lexus RX300 (SUV).8

VOLKSWAGEN ............................................................................................................................... Audi Quattro.

Volkswagen Rabbit.

Volkswagen Scirocco.

1 Replaced the Chevrolet Corsica beginning with MY 1997.

2The Geo make identifier was replaced by the Chevrolet make identifier beginning with MY 1998.

3 Renamed the Oldsmobile Alero beginning with MY 1999.

4 Replaced the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera in MY 1997.

5 Renamed the Oldsmobile Intrigue beginning with MY 1998.

6 Lines added for MY 1999.
38100 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

7 Renamed the Suzuki Grand Vitara beginning with MY 1999.

8 Lines added for MY 1999.

Appendix A–I—High-Theft Lines With Antitheft Devices Which are Exempted From the Parts-Marking Requirements

of This Standard Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 543

Manufacturer Subject lines

AUSTIN ROVER ............................................................................................................................. Sterling.

BMW ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Car Line.1

5 Car Line.

7 Car Line.

8 Car Line.

CHRYSLER ..................................................................................................................................... Chrysler Conquest.

Chrysler Imperial.

GENERAL MOTORS ...................................................................................................................... Buick Park Avenue.

Buick Regal/Century.

Buick Riviera.

Cadillac Allante.

Cadillac Seville.

Chevrolet Cavalier.

Chevrolet Corvette.

Chevrolet Lumina/Monte Carlo.

Oldsmobile Alero.1.

Oldsmobile Aurora.

Oldsmobile Toronado.

Pontiac Sunfire.

HONDA ............................................................................................................................................ Acura CL.

Acura Legend (MYs 1987–1996).2

Acura NSX.

Acura RL.

Acura SLX.

Acura TL.

Acura Vigor (MYs 1992–1995).3

ISUZU .............................................................................................................................................. Impulse (MYs 1987–1991).

JAGUAR .......................................................................................................................................... XK8

MAZDA ............................................................................................................................................ 929.

RX–7.

Millenia.

MERCEDES–BENZ ......................................................................................................................... 124 Car Line (the models within this line are):

300D.

300E.

300CE.

300TE.

400E.

500E.

129 Car Line (the models within this line are):

300SL.4

500SL.5

600SL.6

SL320.

SL500.

SL600.

202 Car Line (the models within this line are):

C220.

C230.

C280.

C36

MITSUBISHI .................................................................................................................................... Galant.

Starion.

Diamante.

NISSAN ........................................................................................................................................... Nissan Maxima.7

Nissan 300ZX.

Infiniti I30.

Infiniti J30.

Infiniti M30.

Infiniti QX4.

Infiniti Q45.

PORSCHE ....................................................................................................................................... 911.

928.

968.

Boxster.

SAAB ............................................................................................................................................... 900.

9000.

TOYOTA .......................................................................................................................................... Toyota Supra.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 38101

Manufacturer Subject lines

Toyota Cressida.

Lexus ES.

Lexus GS.

Lexus LS.

Lexus SC

VOLKSWAGEN ............................................................................................................................... Audi 5000S.

Audi 100.

Audi 200.

Audi A6.

Audi S4.

Audi S6.

Audi Cabriolet.

Volkswagen Cabrio.

Volkswagen Corrado.

Volkswagen Golf/GTI.

Volkswagen Passat.

Volkswagen Jetta/Jetta III

1Exempted in full beginning with MY 1999.

2 Renamed the Acura RL beginning with MY 1997.

3 Replaced by the Acura TL beginning with MY 1996.

4 Replaced by the SL320 beginning with MY 1997.

5 Renamed the SL500 beginning with MY 1994.

6 Renamed the SL600 beginning with MY 1994.

7Exempted in full beginning with MY 1999.

Appendix A—II to Part 541—High-Theft Lines With Antitheft Devices Which are Exempted In-Part From the PartsMarking Requirements of This Standard Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 543

Manufacturers Subject lines Parts to be marked

GENERAL MOTORS .................................................. Buick LeSabre ............................................................ Engine, Transmission.

Cadillac Deville ........................................................... Engine, Transmission.

Cadillac Eldorado ....................................................... Engine, Transmission.

Cadillac Sixty Special 1 .............................................. Engine, Transmission.

Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight ............................................. Engine, Transmission.

Pontiac Bonneville ...................................................... Engine, Transmission.

Pontiac Firebird .......................................................... Engine, Transmission.

Chevrolet Camaro ...................................................... Engine, Transmission.

Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight ............................................. Engine, Transmission.

1 Renamed the Cadillac Concours beginning with MY 1994.

Issued on: June 30, 1998.

L. Robert Shelton,

Associate Administrator for Safety

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 98–18538 Filed 7–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 980406085-8164-01; I.D.

031998C]

RIN 0648–AJ27

Fisheries off West Coast States and in

the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast

Groundfish Fishery; Management

Measures for Nontrawl Sablefish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to

implement management measures

recommended by the Pacific Fishery

Management Council (Council) for the

limited entry, fixed gear sablefish

fishery north of 36° N. lat. These

measures provide a three-tiered

management regime with three different

cumulative landings limits for permit

holders participating in the regular,

limited entry, fixed gear sablefish

fishery. The cumulative landings limit

available to a permit holder depends on

the tier to which the permit is assigned,

with tier assignment based on historical

and more recent participation in the

fixed gear sablefish fishery. Both the

limited entry and open access fixed gear

sablefish fisheries will be closed for 48

hours immediately before and for 30

hours immediately after the regular

fishery, with different restrictions

applying during the two closed periods.

Provisional 1997 regulatory language is

updated by this final rule. These actions

are intended to recognize the historical

and more recent participation and

investment in the fixed gear sablefish

fishery while eliminating the traditional

‘‘derby’’ style management system.

DATES: Effective July 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the

Environmental Assessment/Regulatory

Impact Review/Initial Regulatory

Flexibility Analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) and

the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

(FRFA) for this action are available from

the Pacific Fishery Management

Council, 2130 SW. Fifth Avenue, Suite

224, Portland, OR 97201. Comments

regarding the collection-of-information

requirements contained in this rule

should be sent to William Stelle,

Administrator, Northwest Region,

NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN

C15700, Seattle, WA 98115–0070 or to