DOT Announces Proposal for Reforming Federal Fuel Efficiency Program; Begins National Dialogue on Increasing Vehicle Fuel Economy |
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
December 22, 2003
NHTSA 55-03
Monday, December 22, 2003
Contact: Rae Tyson
Telephone: (202) 366-9550
A proposal for strengthening a federal program aimed at increasing fuel efficiency, improving safety and protecting the nation's economy was announced today by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.
The Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comment on a host of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) reforms aimed at revising and modernizing fuel economy standards to balance America's need for better fuel efficiency while maximizing auto safety and maintaining a healthy economy.
In April, the agency successfully increased fuel economy standards for light trucks for model years 2005-2007, the greatest increase in fuel economy standards in 20 years.
"This marks the beginning of an important national dialogue on how best to reform CAFE," said Secretary Mineta. "We can and must work together to save more fuel, increase passenger safety and protect American jobs."
The advance notice of proposed rulemaking, which will be published in the Federal Register, includes several reform options that are based, in part, on recommendations by the National Academy of Sciences made in July 2001.
Among the Administration's reform options are revising the structure of light truck standards to reduce manufacturers' incentives to lower vehicle weight, which, according to NHTSA research, can increase occupant vulnerability in certain crashes. Another would look at modernizing existing regulatory definitions, developed in the 1970s, that distinguish passenger cars from light trucks to reflect today's modern and significantly different vehicle fleet.
The proposal also would look at setting fuel economy standards for some or all vehicles weighing between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds, a category that currently does not have to comply with CAFE standards.
NHTSA will accept comments for the next 120 days. The advance notice will be on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/CAFE/rulemaking.htm. Written comments concerning it should be sent to the DOT Docket Facility, Attn: Docket No. NHTSA 2003-16128, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or faxed to (202) 493-2251. The advance notice also will be available for viewing at http://dms.dot.gov/. Comments may be submitted electronically via that same web site.
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