|
|---|
|
Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Exemption Application From Waymo LLC, and Aurora Operations, Inc. Publication: Federal Register Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Byline: Larry W. Minor Date: 3 March 2023 Subjects: American Government  , Autonomous Vehicles, Trucking
Topic: Aurora Innovation, Waymo |
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13489-13490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04385]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2023-0071]
Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Exemption
Application From Waymo LLC, and Aurora Operations, Inc.
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Waymo
LLC, and Aurora Operations, Inc. (Waymo/Aurora) for a 5-year exemption
from the required placement of warning devices around stopped
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs); the requirement that lamps for
warning devices be steady-burning; and the utilization of a warning
device for stopped vehicles not currently allowed by Agency rules. The
exemption sought would allow Waymo and Aurora to operate CMVs operated
by a Level 4 automated driving system (ADS) equipped with warning
beacons mounted on the truck cab in lieu of traditional warning devices
placed around a stopped autonomous CMV, as required by current
regulations. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request
for exemption.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 3, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) Number FMCSA-2023-0071 by any of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. See the
Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further
information.
Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number
(FMCSA-2023-0071) for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments
received without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
[[Page 13490]]
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or visit Room W12-140
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you,
please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Dockets
Operations.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its exemption process. DOT
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov. As described in the
system of records notice DOT/ALL 14--FDMS, which can be reviewed at
https://www.transportation.gov/privacy, the comments are searchable by
the name of the submitter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Luke Loy, Vehicle and Roadside
Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety
Standards, FMCSA, at (202) 366-0676 or mcpsv@dot.gov. If you have
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact
Dockets Operations at (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation and Request for Comments
FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and
related materials.
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
notice (FMCSA-2023-0071), indicate the specific section of this
document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for
suggestions or recommendations. You may submit your comments and
material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only
one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a
mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of
your document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions
regarding your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to www.regulations.gov and put
the docket number ``FMCSA-2023-0071'' in the keyword box, and click
``Search.'' Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' choose
the first notice listed, click the ``Comment'' button, and type your
comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether you
are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third
party and then submit. If you submit your comments by mail or hand
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11
inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit
comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility,
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA
will consider all comments and material received during the comment
period.
II. Legal Basis
FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant
exemptions from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal
Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an
opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application,
including any safety analyses that have been conducted. The Agency must
provide an opportunity for public comment on the request.
The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted
and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a
level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The Agency must
publish its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with
the reasons for denying or granting the application and, if granted,
the name of the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and
the regulatory provision from which the exemption is granted. The
notice must specify the effective period and explain the terms and
conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR
381.300(b)).
III. Applicant's Request
Waymo and Aurora seek an exemption from the regulations that
require specific placement of warning devices around a stopped CMV.
Waymo and Aurora believe it is possible to achieve the safety purpose
of the warning device in an alternative way by using forward- and
rearward-facing amber flashing lights mounted on the cab at a height
above the upper edge of the sideview mirrors. Waymo and Aurora each
separately tested variants of such devices and have concluded that the
use of the cab-mounted warning devices was equally or more effective in
enabling road users to recognize and react to the potential hazard
presented by the stopped CMV.
Waymo and Aurora therefore request an exemption from the warning
device placement requirements of 49 CFR 392.22(b), the utilization of a
warning device that does not meet the steady-burning lamp requirement
of 49 CFR 393.25(e), and the utilization of a warning device for
stopped vehicles that is not currently identified in 49 CFR 393.95(f).
The exemption sought would allow motorcarriers to operate Waymo and
Aurora autonomous CMVs which come to a stop upon the traveled portion
or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic
stops, to utilize a warning device consisting of forward- and rearward-
facing cab mounted flashing amber lamps mounted at a height above the
upper edge of the sideview mirrors in lieu of the currently allowed
warning devices placed around the CMV, as described in 49 CFR
392.22(b).
A copy of Waymo/Aurora's application for exemption and supporting
documentation is available for review in the docket for this notice.
IV. Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), FMCSA requests public
comment from all interested persons on Waymo and Aurora's application
for a 5-year exemption from the warning device placement requirements
of 49 CFR 392.22(b), the requirement that warning devices be steady
burning (49 CFR 393.25(e)), and the requirement that warning devices
comply with 49 CFR 393.95(f). All comments received before the close of
business on the comment closing date indicated at the beginning of this
notice will be considered and will be available for examination in the
docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this
notice. Comments received after the comment closing date will be filed
in the public docket and will be considered to the extent practicable.
In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also continue to file, in the
public docket, relevant information that becomes available after the
comment closing date. Interested persons should continue to examine the
public docket for new material.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-04385 Filed 3-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P