Document ID: NHTSA-2008-0060-0528
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for New Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards; Notice of Public Hearing
Posted Date: 2008-07-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register: July 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 128)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 37922-37927]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jy08-53]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 523, 531, 533, 534, 536 and 537

[Docket No. NHTSA-2008-0060]

 
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for New Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards; Notice of 
Public Hearing

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS); notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: NHTSA has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) to disclose and analyze the potential environmental impacts of 
proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for model year 
(MY) 2011-2015 passenger cars and light trucks, which NHTSA recently 
proposed pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, 
and a reasonable range of alternative standards. To inform 
decisionmakers and the public, the DEIS compares the potential 
environmental impacts of the proposed standards and alternative 
standards reflecting a full range of stringencies, and it analyzes 
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts in proportion to their 
significance. The DEIS provides a detailed analysis of potential 
impacts on energy resources, air quality, and climate. The DEIS uses 
climate modeling and NHTSA's own computer model to provide quantitative 
estimates of potential impacts on air quality, carbon dioxide 
(CO2) emissions, global mean surface temperature,

[[Page 37923]]

rainfall, and sea level rise. The DEIS provides a qualitative analysis 
of resources that may be impacted by changes in climate, such as 
freshwater resources, terrestrial ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, land 
use, human health, and environmental justice. It examines these impacts 
on the U.S. and on a global scale. In addition, the DEIS analyzes 
potential environmental impacts unrelated to climate change.
    NHTSA invites Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, 
and the public to submit written comments and participate in a public 
hearing on the DEIS using the instructions set forth in this notice. As 
described in the PROCEDURAL MATTERS section of this notice, each 
speaker should anticipate speaking for approximately ten minutes, 
although we may need to adjust the time for each speaker if there is a 
large turnout. To facilitate review of the DEIS, NHTSA has posted the 
DEIS on its Web site, and it will be available in the Docket identified 
by the docket number at the beginning of this notice.\1\ Copies in hard 
copy or electronic (CD-ROM) form have been mailed to all stakeholders 
on NHTSA's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) mailing list for 
the proposed CAFE standards, and NHTSA will mail a copy of the DEIS or 
a CD-ROM containing the Appendices to any other interested party who 
requests one. NHTSA will consider the public comments received on the 
DEIS in preparing final NEPA documents to support final CAFE standards 
for MY 2011-2015 passenger cars and light trucks, which NHTSA plans to 
issue later this year. The agency's NEPA analysis is informing NHTSA's 
development of those standards.
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    \1\ The DEIS is available at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/
site/nhtsa/menuitem.43ac99aefa80569eea57529cdba046a0/ (last visited 
June 26, 2008).

DATES: Public Hearing: The public hearing will be held on Monday, 
August 4, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Transportation 
Safety Board Conference Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 
20594. NHTSA recommends that all persons attending the hearing arrive 
at least 45 minutes early in order to facilitate entry into the 
Conference Center. If you wish to attend or speak at the hearing, you 
must register in advance no later than Friday, July 25, 2008, by 
following the instructions in the PROCEDURAL MATTERS section of this 
notice. NHTSA will consider late registrants to the extent time and 
space allow, but NHTSA cannot ensure that late registrants will be able 
to attend or speak at the hearing.
    Comments: NHTSA must receive written comments on the DEIS by 
Monday, August 18, 2008. NHTSA will try to consider comments received 
after that date to the extent the NEPA and rulemaking schedules allow, 
but NHTSA cannot ensure that it will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carol Hammel-Smith, Telephone: 
202-366-5206, or Mr. Michael Johnsen, Telephone: 202-366-0258, Fuel 
Economy Division, Office of International Vehicle, Fuel Economy and 
Consumer Standards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. E-mail: 
nhtsa.nepa@dot.gov. Information about the CAFE rulemaking and the NEPA 
process is also available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to the docket number identified in 
the heading of this document by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern 
time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Regardless of how you submit your comments, you should mention the 
docket number of this document.
    You may call the Docket at 202-366-9324.
    Note that all comments received, including any personal 
information, will be posted without change to http://
www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA has prepared a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) to disclose and analyze the potential 
environmental impacts of proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) 
standards for model year (MY) 2011-2015 passenger cars and light trucks 
and a reasonable range of alternative standards.\2\ NHTSA recently 
proposed the standards pursuant to amendments made by the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) to the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act (EPCA).\3\ To inform decisionmakers and the public, 
the DEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed 
standards and alternative standards reflecting a range of stringencies, 
and it analyzes direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts in proportion 
to their significance. The DEIS provides a detailed analysis of 
potential impacts on energy resources, air quality, and climate. The 
DEIS uses climate modeling and NHTSA's own computer model to provide 
quantitative estimates of potential impacts on air quality, 
CO2 emissions, global mean surface temperature, rainfall, 
and sea level rise. The DEIS provides a qualitative analysis of 
resources that may be impacted by changes in climate, such as 
freshwater resources, terrestrial ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, land 
use, human health, and environmental justice. It examines impacts on 
the U.S. and on a global scale. In addition, the DEIS analyzes 
potential environmental impacts unrelated to climate change.
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    \2\ See National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 
4321-4347, and implementing regulations issued by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ), 40 CFR Pts. 1500-1508, and NHTSA, 49 
CFR Pt. 520.
    \3\ EISA is Public Law 110-140, 121 Stat. 1492 (December 19, 
2007). EPCA is codified at 49 U.S.C. 32901 et seq.
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    Background. EPCA sets forth extensive requirements concerning the 
rulemaking to establish MY 2011-2015 CAFE standards. It requires the 
Secretary of Transportation \4\ to establish average fuel economy 
standards at least 18 months before the beginning of each model year 
and to set them at ``the maximum feasible average fuel economy level 
that the Secretary decides the manufacturers can achieve in that model 
year.'' When setting ``maximum feasible'' fuel economy standards, the 
Secretary is required to ``consider technological feasibility, economic 
practicability, the effect of other motor vehicle standards of the 
Government on fuel economy, and the need of the United States to 
conserve energy.'' \5\ NHTSA construes the statutory factors as 
including environmental and safety considerations.\6\ NHTSA also 
considers environmental impacts under NEPA when setting CAFE standards.
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    \4\ NHTSA is delegated responsibility for implementing the EPCA 
fuel economy requirements assigned to the Secretary of 
Transportation. 49 CFR 1.50, 501.2(a)(8).
    \5\ 49 U.S.C. 32902(a), 32902(f).
    \6\ See, e.g., Competitive Enterprise Inst. v. NHTSA, 956 F.2d 
321, 322 (D.C. Cir. 1992) (citing Competitive Enterprise Inst. v. 
NHTSA, 901 F.2d 107, 120 n.11 (D.C. Cir. 1990)).
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    As recently amended, EPCA further directs the Secretary, after 
consultation with the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and the EPA 
Administrator, to establish

[[Page 37924]]

separate average fuel economy standards for passenger cars and for 
light trucks manufactured in each model year beginning with model year 
2011 ``to achieve a combined fuel economy average for model year 2020 
of at least 35 miles per gallon for the total fleet of passenger and 
non-passenger automobiles manufactured for sale in the United States 
for that model year.'' \7\ In doing so, the Secretary of Transportation 
is required to increase average fuel economy standards for MY 2011-2020 
vehicles through ``annual fuel economy standard increases.'' \8\ The 
standards for passenger cars and light trucks must be ``based on 1 or 
more vehicle attributes related to fuel economy.'' In any single 
rulemaking, standards may be established for not more than five model 
years.\9\ EPCA also mandates a minimum standard for domestically 
manufactured passenger cars.\10\
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    \7\ 49 U.S.C.A. Sec. Sec.  32902(b)(1), 32902(b)(2)(A).
    \8\ 49 U.S.C.A. Sec.  32902(b)(2)(C).
    \9\ 49 U.S.C.A. Sec. Sec.  32902(b)(3)(A), 32902(b)(3)(B).
    \10\ 49 U.S.C.A. Sec.  32902(b)(4).
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    Earlier this year, NHTSA initiated the EIS process for MY 2011-2015 
CAFE standards, which include light truck standards for one model year 
previously covered by a 2006 final rule establishing CAFE standards for 
MY 2008-2011 light trucks (namely, MY 2011).\11\ We did so because a 
standard for MY 2011 must be issued by the end of March 2009 and 
achieving an industry-wide combined fleet average of at least 35 miles 
per gallon for MY 2020 depends, in substantial part, upon setting 
standards well in advance so as to provide the automobile manufacturers 
with as much lead time as possible to make the extensive necessary 
changes to their automobiles.
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    \11\ See Average Fuel Economy Standards for Light Trucks Model 
Years 2008-2011; Final Rule, April 6, 2006.
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    The Proposed Action and Possible Alternatives: In its recent Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), NHTSA proposed attribute-based (vehicle 
size) fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks 
consistent with the ``Reformed CAFE'' approach NHTSA used to establish 
standards for MY 2008-2011 light trucks.\12\ The NPRM proposes separate 
standards for MY 2011-2015 passenger cars and separate standards for MY 
2011-2015 light trucks. This notice briefly describes the proposed 
standards and the alternatives, which the NPRM and the DEIS discuss in 
more detail.
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    \12\ Average Fuel Economy Standards, Passenger Cars and Light 
Trucks; Model Years 2011-2015; Proposed Rule, 73 FR 24352, May 2, 
2008.
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    Under the proposed standards, each vehicle manufacturer's required 
level of CAFE would be based on target levels of average fuel economy 
set for vehicles of different sizes and on the distribution of that 
manufacturer's vehicles among those sizes. Size would be defined by 
vehicle footprint.\13\ The level of the performance target for each 
footprint would reflect the technological and economic capabilities of 
the industry. The target for each footprint would be the same for all 
manufacturers, regardless of differences in their overall fleet mix. 
Compliance would be determined by comparing a manufacturer's 
harmonically averaged fleet fuel economy levels in a model year with a 
required fuel economy level calculated using the manufacturer's actual 
production levels and the targets for each footprint of the vehicles 
that it produces.
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    \13\ A vehicle's ``footprint'' is generally defined as ``the 
product of track width [the lateral distance between the centerlines 
of the base tires at ground, including the camber angle] * * * times 
wheelbase [the longitudinal distance between front and rear wheel 
centerlines] * * * divided by 144. * * *'' 49 CFR 523.2.
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    In developing the proposed standards and the alternatives, NHTSA 
considered the four EPCA factors underlying maximum feasibility 
(technological feasibility, economic practicability, the effect of 
other standards of the Government on fuel economy, and the need of the 
nation to conserve energy) as well as relevant environmental and safety 
considerations. NHTSA used a computer model (known as the ``Volpe 
model'') that, for any given model year, applies technologies to a 
manufacturer's fleet until the manufacturer achieves compliance with 
the standard under consideration. In light of the EPCA factors, the 
agency placed monetary values on relevant externalities (both energy 
security and environmental externalities, including the benefits of 
reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions). As discussed 
in the NPRM, NHTSA also consulted with EPA and DOE regarding a wide 
variety of matters.
    After assessing what fuel saving technologies would be available, 
how effective they are, and how quickly they could be introduced, NHTSA 
balanced the EPCA factors relevant to standard-setting. The agency used 
a marginal benefit-cost analysis to set the proposed standards at 
levels such that, considering the seven largest manufacturers, the cost 
of the last technology application equaled the benefits of the 
improvement in fuel economy resulting from that application. That is 
the level at which net benefits are maximized. Accordingly, NHTSA 
refers to the proposed standards as ``optimized'' standards or the 
``optimized scenario''. In considering further action on the proposed 
standards and reasonable alternatives, NHTSA also will consider its 
NEPA analysis.
    NHTSA projects what the industry-wide average fuel economy level 
would be for passenger cars and for light trucks if each manufacturer 
produced its expected mix of automobiles and exactly met its 
obligations under the proposed ``optimized'' standards for each model 
year. For passenger cars, the average fuel economy (in miles per 
gallon, or mpg) would range from 31.2 mpg in MY 2011 to 35.7 mpg in MY 
2015. For light trucks, the average fuel economy would range from 25.0 
mpg in MY 2011 to 28.6 mpg in MY 2015. The combined industry-wide 
average fuel economy for all passenger cars and light trucks would 
range from 27.8 mpg in MY 2011 to 31.6 mpg in MY 2015, if each 
manufacturer exactly met its obligations under the standards proposed 
in the NPRM.\14\
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    \14\ NHTSA notes that it cannot set out the precise level of 
CAFE that each manufacturer would be required to meet for each model 
year under the proposed standards, because the level for each 
manufacturer would depend on that manufacturer's final production 
figures and fleet mix for a particular model year. That information 
will not be available until the end of each model year.
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    Under the proposed standards, the annual average increase during 
the five-year period from MY 2011-MY 2015 would be approximately 4.5 
percent. The annual percentage increases would be greater in the early 
years due to the uneven distribution of new model introductions during 
this period and to the fact that significant technological changes can 
be most readily made in conjunction with those introductions.\15\ 
Pursuant to EISA's mandate, domestically manufactured passenger car 
fleets also must meet an alternative minimum standard for each model 
year. The alternative minimum standard would range from 28.7 mpg in MY 
2011 to 32.9 mpg in MY 2015 under NHTSA's proposal.
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    \15\ With the proposed standards, the combined industry-wide 
average fuel economy would have to increase by an average of 2.1 
percent per year from MY 2016-MY 2020 in order to reach EISA's goal 
of at least 35 mpg by MY 2020. In addition, the NPRM and the DEIS 
discuss flexibility mechanisms available to manufacturers to meet 
their obligations.
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    In addition to the proposed standards, NHTSA has considered several 
regulatory alternatives for purposes of both Executive Order 12,866 
\16\ and its NEPA analysis, which includes a ``no action'' alternative 
as required by NEPA.

[[Page 37925]]

The alternatives, in order of increasing stringency, are:
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    \16\ Exec. Order 12,866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' 58 
FR 51,735, October 4, 1993, as amended.
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    (1) A ``no action'' alternative of maintaining CAFE standards at 
the MY 2010 levels of 27.5 mpg and 23.5 mpg for passenger cars and 
light trucks, respectively.\17\ NEPA requires agencies to consider a 
``no action'' alternative in their NEPA analyses, although the recent 
amendments to EPCA direct NHTSA to set new CAFE standards and do not 
permit the agency to take no action on fuel economy. (NHTSA also refers 
to this ``no action'' alternative as a ``no increase'' or ``baseline'' 
alternative.)
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    \17\ See 40 CFR 1502.2(e), 1502.14(d).
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    (2) An alternative reflecting standards that fall below the 
optimized scenario by the same absolute amount by which the ``25 
percent above optimized alternative'' (described below) exceeds the 
optimized scenario. NHTSA refers to this as the ``25 percent below 
optimized alternative''.
    (3) An alternative reflecting the ``optimized scenario'', the 
proposed standards based on applying technologies until net benefits 
are maximized.
    (4) An alternative reflecting standards that exceed the optimized 
scenario by 25 percent of the interval between the optimized scenario 
and an alternative (described below) based on applying technologies 
until total costs equal total benefits. NHTSA refers to this 
alternative as the ``25 percent above optimized alternative''.
    (5) An alternative reflecting standards that exceed the optimized 
scenario by 50 percent of the interval between the optimized scenario 
and the alternative based on applying technologies until total costs 
equal total benefits. This alternative is known as the ``50 percent 
above optimized alternative''.
    (6) An alternative reflecting standards based on applying 
technologies until total costs equal total benefits (zero net 
benefits). This is known as the ``TC=TB alternative''.
    (7) A ``technology exhaustion alternative'' in which NHTSA applied 
all feasible technologies without regard to cost by determining the 
stringency at which a reformed CAFE standard would require every 
manufacturer to apply every technology estimated to be potentially 
available for its MY 2011-2015 fleet. Accordingly, the penetration 
rates for particular technologies would vary on an individual 
manufacturer basis. NHTSA has presented this alternative in order to 
explore how the stringency of standards would vary based solely on the 
potential availability of technologies at the individual manufacturer 
level without regard to the costs to society.
    Under NEPA, the purpose of and need for an agency's action inform 
the range of reasonable alternatives to be considered in its NEPA 
analysis.\18\ NHTSA believes that these alternatives represent a 
reasonable range of stringencies to consider for purposes of evaluating 
the potential environmental impacts of proposed CAFE standards under 
NEPA, because these alternatives represent a wide spectrum of potential 
impacts ranging from the current standards to standards based on the 
maximum technology expected to be available over the period necessary 
to meet the statutory goals of EPCA, as amended by EISA.\19\ However, 
as discussed in the NPRM and in the DEIS, NHTSA's provisional analysis 
of these alternatives suggests that some of them may not satisfy the 
four EPCA factors that NHTSA must apply in setting ``maximum feasible'' 
CAFE standards (i.e., technological feasibility, economic 
practicability, the effect of other motor vehicle standards of the 
Government on fuel economy, and the need of the nation to conserve 
energy).
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    \18\ 40 CFR 1502.13.
    \19\ Given EPCA's mandate that NHTSA consider specific factors 
in setting CAFE standards and NEPA's instruction that agencies give 
effect to NEPA's policies ``to the fullest extent possible,'' NHTSA 
recognizes that a very large number of alternative CAFE levels are 
potentially conceivable and that the alternatives described above 
essentially represent several of many points on a continuum of 
alternatives. Along the continuum, each alternative represents a 
different way in which NHTSA conceivably could assign weight to each 
of the four EPCA factors and NEPA's policies. CEQ guidance instructs 
that ``[w]hen there are potentially a very large number of 
alternatives, only a reasonable number of examples, covering the 
full spectrum of alternatives, must be analyzed and compared in the 
EIS.'' CEQ, Forty Most Asked Questions Concerning CEQ's National 
Environmental Policy Act Regulations, 46 FR 18026, 18027, March 23, 
1981 (emphasis original).
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    The NEPA Process and the DEIS. In March 2008, NHTSA issued a notice 
of intent to prepare an EIS for the MY 2011-2015 CAFE standards and 
opened the NEPA ``scoping'' process. In that notice, NHTSA described 
the statutory requirements for the proposed standards, provided initial 
information about the NEPA process, and initiated scoping by requesting 
public input on the scope of NHTSA's NEPA analysis for the proposed 
standards.\20\ In April 2008, NHTSA published a supplemental scoping 
notice providing additional guidance for participating in the scoping 
process and additional information about the proposed standards and the 
alternatives NHTSA expected to consider in its NEPA analysis.\21\ NHTSA 
also outlined its plans for its NEPA analysis.\22\ NHTSA mailed both 
Federal Register notices to hundreds of stakeholders and developed a 
mailing list of interested parties, including Federal agencies with 
environmental expertise, the Governors of every State and U.S. 
territory or State NEPA contacts they identified, Indian tribes, 
organizations representing state and local governments and tribes, the 
automobile industry, environmental organizations, and other 
stakeholders interested in the CAFE program. NHTSA received 1,748 
comment letters in response to its scoping notices. NHTSA received 11 
individual letters commenting on the scope of its NEPA analysis from 
federal and state agencies, automobile trade associations, 
environmental organizations, and individuals. The remaining comment 
letters are form letters from individuals.
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    \20\ See Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for New Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, 73 FR 
16615, March 28, 2008.
    \21\ Supplemental Notice of Public Scoping for an Environmental 
Impact Statement for New Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, 
73 FR 22913, April 28, 2008.
    \22\ Id. at 22916.
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    In developing the DEIS, NHTSA also consulted with Federal agencies 
including: CEQ; EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, both of 
which submitted scoping comments to NHTSA; the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) within the U.S. Department of 
Commerce; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park 
Service within the U.S. Department of the Interior; and the U.S. Forest 
Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
    NHTSA used the scoping process to help determine ``the range of 
actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered'' in the DEIS and 
to identify the most important issues for analysis.\23\ The DEIS 
consists of a Summary and ten chapters: (1) Purpose and Need for the 
Proposed Action; (2) The Proposed Action and Alternatives; (3) Affected 
Environment and Consequences; (4) Cumulative Impacts; (5) Mitigation; 
(6) Unavoidable Adverse Impacts; Short-Term Uses and Long-term 
Productivity; Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources; 
(7) Preparers; (8) References; (9) Distribution List; and (10) Index. 
Three appendices include sources identified in scoping comments 
(Appendix A), modeling data for air emissions and climate modeling 
(Appendix B); and a cost-benefit analysis excerpt from

[[Page 37926]]

NHTSA's Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis (Appendix C).
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    \23\ See 40 CFR Sec. Sec.  1500.5(d), 1501.7, 1508.25.
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    The DEIS devotes the most detailed analysis to direct, indirect and 
cumulative impacts of the proposed standards and the alternatives on 
energy, air quality, and climate. Key findings concerning estimated 
potential impacts on CO2 emissions, global mean surface temperature, 
rainfall, and sea level rise include the following:
     Global CO2 Emissions Reductions. Over the 2010 to 2100 
timeframe, the range of alternatives NHTSA analyzed would reduce global 
CO2 emissions (from all sources) by about 18 to 35 billion metric tons 
of CO2 (based on global emissions of 4.85 trillion metric tons of CO2). 
The alternatives would slow the expected increase in greenhouse gas 
(GHG) emissions from the transportation sector over this period.
     CO2 Concentration and Global Mean Surface 
Temperature: Estimates for CO2 atmospheric concentrations 
and global mean surface temperature vary considerably, depending on 
which global emissions scenario is used as a reference case. 
Temperature increases are sensitive to climate sensitivity. Yet, 
projected differences among the CAFE alternatives are small--i.e., 
CO2 concentrations as of 2100 are within 1.7 to 3.2 parts 
per million across alternatives, and temperatures are within 0.0006 to 
0.012 [deg]C across alternatives--regardless of reference scenario and 
climate sensitivity.
     Rainfall: The CAFE alternatives reduce temperature 
increases slightly and thus reduce increases in precipitation slightly, 
compared to the ``No Action'' alternative.
     Impact on Sea Level Rise: The impact on sea level rise 
from the alternatives is at the threshold of the climate model's 
reporting: The alternatives reduce sea level rise by 0.1 cm. Although 
the model does not report enough significant figures to distinguish 
between the effects of the alternatives, it is clear that the more 
stringent the alternative (i.e., the lower the emissions), the lower 
the temperature (as shown above), and the lower the sea level.
    The DEIS provides a qualitative analysis of resources that may be 
impacted by changes in climate, such as freshwater resources, 
terrestrial ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, land use, human health, and 
environmental justice. It examines impacts on the U.S. and a global 
scale. In addition, the DEIS qualitatively examines the alternatives' 
non-climate change related direct, indirect and cumulative impacts on 
potentially affected resources. Such resources include: Water 
resources, biological resources, land use, hazardous materials, safety, 
noise, historic and cultural resources, and environmental justice.
    Throughout the DEIS, NHTSA's analysis relies extensively on 
findings of the United National Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 
Change (IPCC) and the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (USCCSP), 
including those presented in the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report: 
Climate Change 2007 and the USCCSP's Scientific Assessments of the 
Effects of Global Change on the United States and Synthesis and 
Assessment Products.\24\ The DEIS also uses applicable CEQ regulations 
to acknowledge uncertainty and incomplete or unavailable information 
relevant to NHTSA's NEPA analysis.\25\
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    \24\ See generally http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/assessments-
reports.htm (last visited June 25, 2008) and http://
www.climatescience.gov (last visited June 25, 2008).
    \25\ 40 CFR 1502.22; see 40 CFR 1502.21.
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    Procedural Matters: The public hearing will be open to the public 
with advanced registration for seating on a space-available basis. 
Individuals wishing to register to assure a seat in the public seating 
area should provide their name, affiliation, phone number, and e-mail 
address to Ms. Carol Hammel-Smith or Mr. Michael Johnsen using the 
contact information in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section at 
the beginning of this notice no later than Friday, July 25, 2008. 
Should it be necessary to cancel the hearing due to an emergency or 
some other reason, NHTSA will take all available means to notify 
registered participants by e-mail or telephone.
    The hearing will be held at a site accessible to individuals with 
disabilities. Individuals who require accommodations such as sign 
language interpreters should contact Ms. Carol Hammel-Smith or Mr. 
Michael Johnsen using the contact information in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section above no later than Friday, July 25, 2008. 
Any written materials NHTSA presents at the hearing will be available 
electronically on the day of the hearing to accommodate the needs of 
the visually impaired. A transcript of the hearing and information 
received by NHTSA at the hearing will be placed in the docket for this 
notice at a later date.

How long will I have to speak at the public hearing?

    Once NHTSA learns how many people have registered to speak at the 
public hearing, NHTSA will allocate an appropriate amount of time to 
each participant, allowing time for lunch and necessary breaks 
throughout the day. For planning purposes, each speaker should 
anticipate speaking for approximately ten minutes, although we may need 
to adjust the time for each speaker if there is a large turnout. To 
accommodate as many speakers as possible, NHTSA prefers that speakers 
not use technological aids (e.g., audio-visuals, computer slideshows). 
However, if you plan to do so, you must let Ms. Carol Hammel-Smith or 
Mr. Michael Johnsen know by Friday, July 25, 2008, using the contact 
information in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. You 
also must make arrangements to provide your presentation or any other 
aids to NHTSA in advance of the hearing in order to facilitate set-up. 
During the week of July 28, NHTSA will post information on its Web site 
(http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov) indicating the amount of time allocated for 
each speaker and each speaker's approximate order on the agenda for the 
hearing.

How can I get a copy of the DEIS?

    The DEIS is available on NHTSA's Web site at http://
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/
menuitem.43ac99aefa80569eea57529cdba046a0/ (last visited June 26, 
2008), and it will be available in the Docket identified by the docket 
number at the beginning of this notice. To request a hard copy or a CD-
ROM of the DEIS, or to request a CD-ROM containing the Appendices, 
please contact Ms. Carol Hammel-Smith or Mr. Michael Johnsen using the 
contact information in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
above.

How do I prepare and submit written comments?

    It is not necessary to attend or to speak at the public hearing to 
be able to comment on the issues. NHTSA invites the submission of 
written comments on the DEIS which the agency will consider in 
preparing the final NEPA documents to support the new CAFE standards 
for MY 2011-2015 passenger cars and light trucks. Your comments must be 
written and in English. To ensure that your comments are correctly 
filed in the Docket, please include the docket number at the beginning 
of this notice in your comments.
    Your primary comments cannot exceed 15 pages.\26\ However, you may 
attach additional documents to your primary comments. There is no limit 
to the length of the attachments.
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    \26\ 49 CFR 553.21.
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    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the

[[Page 37927]]

name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register at 65 FR 19477, April 11, 2000, or you may visit http://
www.regulations.gov.
    If you wish Docket Management to notify you upon its receipt of 
your comments, enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in the 
envelope containing your comments. Upon receiving your comments, Docket 
Management will return the postcard by mail.

How do I submit confidential business information?

    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, send three copies of your complete submission, 
including the information you claim to be confidential business 
information, to the Chief Counsel, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. 
Include a cover letter supplying the information specified in our 
confidential business information regulation (49 CFR Part 512).
    In addition, send two copies from which you have deleted the 
claimed confidential business information to Docket Management, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590, or submit them electronically, in the manner described at the 
beginning of this notice.

Will the agency consider late comments?

    NHTSA will consider all comments that Docket Management receives 
before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated 
above under DATES. To the extent the NEPA and rulemaking schedules 
allow, NHTSA will try to consider comments that Docket Management 
receives after that date, but we cannot ensure that we will be able to 
do so.\27\
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    \27\ See 49 CFR 553.23.
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    Please note that even after the comment closing date, we will 
continue to file relevant information in the docket as it becomes 
available. Further, some commenters may submit late comments. 
Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically check the docket for 
new material. In addition, you may wish to check two separate dockets 
relating to the proposed CAFE standards: (1) Docket No. NHTSA-2008-
0089, which accompanies NHTSA's NPRM; and (2) Docket No. NHTSA-2008-
0069, which accompanies NHTSA's request for manufacturers' product plan 
information.\28\
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    \28\ Passenger Car Average Fuel Economy Standards--Model Years 
2008--2020 and Light Truck Average Fuel Economy Standards--Model 
Years 2008-2020; Request for Product Plan Information, 73 FR 24190, 
May 2, 2008.
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    Comments and information submitted to these dockets may be relevant 
to NHTSA's NEPA analysis for the proposed CAFE standards.

    Issued: June 27, 2008.
Ronald Medford,
Senior Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety.
[FR Doc. 08-1406 Filed 6-30-08; 11:21 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P