[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31086-31087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15593]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. 95-98; Notice No. 2]


Public Meeting on School Bus Transportation.

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting at which NHTSA will 
seek information about school bus transportation. NHTSA held a national 
meeting on February 14, 1996. In response to comments received at the 
February meeting, NHTSA is holding regional meetings. NHTSA is seeking 
information from school bus manufacturers, school transportation 
providers, and other members of the public on issues related to the 
transportation of school children. NHTSA is also requesting suggestions 
for actions with respect to NHTSA's regulations and Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that govern the manufacture of school 
buses. This notice also invites written comments on the same subject.

DATES: Public meeting: The meeting will be held on August 15, 1996 at 
9:00 a.m. Those wishing to make oral presentations at the meeting 
should contact Charles Hott, at the address or telephone number listed 
below, by August 8, 1996.
    Written comments: Written comments may be submitted to the agency 
and must be received by September 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Public meeting: The public meeting will be held at the 
following location: Holiday Inn, 411 South Larkin, Joliet, IL 60436, 
Tel: (815) 729-2000.
    Written comments: All written comments (preferably 10 copies) 
should be mailed to the Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room 5109, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. 
Please refer to the docket number when submitting written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Hott, Office of Vehicle Safety 
Standards, NPS-15, NHTSA, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590 
(telephone 202-366-0247, Fax: 202-366-4329).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Reform

    Calling for a new approach to the way Government regulates the 
private sector, President Clinton asked Executive Branch agencies to 
improve the regulatory process. Specifically, the President requested 
that agencies: (1) cut obsolete regulations; (2) reward agency and 
regulator performance by rewarding results, not red tape; (3) create 
grassroots partnerships by meeting with those affected by regulations 
and other interested parties; and (4) use consensual rulemaking, such 
as regulatory negotiation, more frequently.
    NHTSA previously announced public meetings to create grassroots 
partnerships with regulated industries and other affected parties that 
do not deal with NHTSA on a routine basis. By meeting with these 
groups, NHTSA believes that it can build a better understanding of 
their needs and concerns.
    At the February 14, 1996 public meeting on school bus 
transportation commenters suggested that NHTSA hold public meetings in 
different regions of the country. By holding regional public meetings 
on school bus transportation, NHTSA hopes to obtain the views from 
those parties affected by school bus transportation and the public on 
the local issues, as well as, national issues. NHTSA believes that 
their views are important because school bus transportation is an issue 
that affects most school districts in the United States. This meeting 
is a way of obtaining information from those persons that do not attend 
the national meetings on school transportation on a regular basis. 
NHTSA has decided to hold these meetings based on the geographic 
locations served by the NHTSA Regional Offices. This meeting is being 
held in NHTSA Region 5 which includes the following States: Illinois; 
Indiana; Michigan; Minnesota; Ohio; and Wisconsin. Interested parties 
from these states are encouraged to attend. However, parties from other 
states are also welcome.
    NHTSA recognizes that manufacturers who build school buses operate 
under different conditions than manufacturers of passenger cars and 
trucks. In addition, the agency is aware that school transportation 
providers and school bus manufacturers share a common interest in 
matters relating to pupil transportation safety. Therefore, the agency 
has decided to hold public meetings to listen to the views of these 
groups and others in order to be better informed of their specific 
needs. The agency is interested in obtaining their views on how it can 
improve its regulations that govern the manufacture of school buses. 
Suggestions should be accompanied by a statement of the rationale for 
the suggested action and of the expected consequences of that action. 
Suggestions should address at least the following considerations:

Administrative/compliance burdens
Cost effectiveness
Costs of the existing regulation and the proposed changes to 
consumers
Costs of testing or certification to regulated parties
Effects on safety
Effects on small businesses
Enforceability of the standard
Whether the suggestion reflects a ``common sense'' approach to 
solving the problem

    Statements should be as specific as possible and provide the best 
available supporting information. Statements also should specify 
whether any change recommended in the regulatory process would require 
a legislative change in NHTSA's authority.

Other Topics of Interest

    In recent years there have been many changes to the Federal 
requirements for school buses. These new requirements include stop arms 
for all school buses, more emergency exits for most of the larger 
school buses, performance requirements for wheelchair restraints in 
school buses, and mirror systems that are performance based instead of 
design based. Future requirements includes antilock brake systems for 
large school buses and may require small school buses to meet Standard 
No. 221, joint strength.
    Improvements have been made to the safety of the school bus loading 
zones. The stop arm and mirror requirements

[[Page 31087]]

were implemented to reduce the number of loading zone injuries and 
fatalities. However, changes in clothing style and design have resulted 
in snagging and dragging injuries to bus occupants departing from the 
school bus. Most manufacturers have implemented recalls to modify 
handrail designs.
    The agency is interested in your views on how the above regulations 
and developments have affected school bus safety. Have increased costs 
of school buses affected the normal replacement cycle for your school 
buses?
    There have also been many changes to the Federal requirements for 
school bus drivers. School bus drivers are now required to possess a 
commercial drivers license which requires pre-employment drug tests and 
random drug and alcohol tests. Staff from the Federal Highway 
Administration will be available to answer questions at the meeting.

Procedural Matters

    The agency intends to conduct the meeting informally so as to allow 
for maximum participation by all who attend. Interested persons may ask 
questions or provide comments during any period after a party has 
completed its presentation, on a time allowed basis as determined by 
the presiding official. If time permits, persons who have not requested 
time to speak, but would like to make a statement, will be afforded an 
opportunity to do so.
    The agency is interested in obtaining the views of its customers 
both orally and in writing. An agenda for the meeting will be made 
based on the number of persons wishing to make oral presentations and 
will be available on the day of the meeting.
    Those speaking at the public meeting should limit their 
presentations to 20 minutes. If the presentation will include slides, 
motion pictures, or other visual aids, please indicate so that the 
proper equipment may be made available. Presenters should bring at 
least one copy of their presentation to the meeting so that NHTSA can 
readily include the material in the public record.
    A schedule of participants making oral presentations will be 
available at the designated meeting room. NHTSA will place a copy of 
any written statement in the docket for this notice. Participation in 
the meeting is not a prerequisite for the submission of written 
comments. NHTSA invites written comments from all interested parties. 
It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
    If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including 
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, Room 5219, at the street address given above, 
and copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been 
deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for 
confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth 
the information specified in the agency's confidential business 
information regulation (49 CFR Part 512.)
    All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
closing date indicated above will be considered. Comments will be 
available for inspection in the docket.
    After the closing date, NHTSA will continue to file relevant 
information in the docket as it becomes available. It is therefore 
recommended that interested persons continue to examine the docket for 
new material.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    Issued: June 14, 1996.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-15593 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
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