Uniform Criteria for State Observational Surveys of Seat Belt Use

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

23 CFR Part 1340

[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4280]

RIN 2127-AH46

Uniform Criteria for State Observational Surveys of Seat Belt Use

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

ACTION: Interim final rule; Reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

published an interim final rule on September 1, 1998, setting forth

criteria for State seat belt use surveys to be conducted in connection

with a new Federal grant program under section 1403 of the

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, ``Safety Incentive

Grants for Use of Seat Belts.'' The comment period for the rule closed

on January 29, 1999. In response to interest by the States, NHTSA is

reopening the comment period and extending it until March 1, 1999.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number set forth above

and be submitted in writing to: Docket Management, Room PL-401,

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nassif Building, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are Monday

through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding Federal holidays.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The following persons at the National

[[Page 8715]]

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20590: For program issues, Joan Catherine Tetrault,

State and Community Services, NSC-01, (202) 366-2674; For legal issues,

John Donaldson, Office of the Chief Counsel, NCC-30, (202) 366-1834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1403 of the recently enacted

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Pub. L. 105-178) added

a new Section 157 to Title 23 of the United States Code (replacing a

predecessor Section 157). The new section authorizes a State seat belt

incentive grant program covering fiscal years 1999 through 2003. Under

this program, the Secretary of Transportation is directed to allocate

funds to the States (beginning in fiscal year 1999) based on their seat

belt use rates.

On September 1, 1998, NHTSA published an interim final rule, the

Uniform Criteria for State Observational Surveys of Seat Belt Use (23

CFR part 1340; 63 FR 46389), providing guidance to the States on the

seat belt use rate information that must be submitted under the new

program. The closing date for receipt of comments under that notice was

January 29, 1999. On January 28, 1999, during a meeting with the States

to discuss a variety of issues related to implementation of NHTSA grant

programs, a number of States raised issues or concerns related to this

new grant program. In view of the issues and concerns raised, NHTSA has

placed a summary of the discussions that took place at this meeting in

the docket for this rulemaking action, and concluded that it is in the

agency's best interest to allow additional time for comment.

Accordingly, the agency is reopening the comment period until March 1,

1999. It is not necessary for commenters to resubmit views that have

already been expressed in previous comments.

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 157; delegation of authority at 49 CFR

1.50.

Issued on: February 17, 1999.

Ricardo Martinez,

Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-4332 Filed 2-22-99; 8:45 am]

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