Interpretation ID: aiam2314
United States Senate
Washington
DC 20510;
Dear Senator Hart: This is in response to your letter of May 11, 1976, forwarding petition for reconsideration of the recently issued Part 581 bumper standard from Gulf + Western Manufacturing Company. You ask that the agency provide Gulf + Western with cost-benefit data upon which the bumper standard was based and also supply you with any available information justifying promulgation of the standard.; All of the data upon which the National Highway Traffic Safet Administration (NHTSA) based the Part 581 bumper standard, including several cost- benefit analyses, are in the public docket and available for public examination. A series of proposals preceded the issuance of the final rule, and information submitted in response to each of these proposals was closely reviewed and taken into account in reaching the finally adopted provisions.; Although we are prepared to provide you with the data that led to th issuance of the final rule, the volume of information is tremendous. Cost- benefit data are contained not only in several agency-prepared studies, but also in a large number of submissions from the automotive industry and other interested parties. I am therefore only enclosing the major agency studies on the costs and benefits of the bumper standard. You should note, however, that a considerable amount of additional information was considered. I am also enclosing copies of the *Federal Register* notices that preceded promulgation of the Part 581 standard. The preambles of these notices will give you an overview of the information upon which the agency based its bumper regulation.; It is the NHTSA's policy to issue a notice of action taken on petition for reconsideration within 120 days after publication of the final rule, unless action within that time is impracticable. I assure you that Gulf + Western's comments and the information contained in all of the petitions for reconsideration will receive thorough consideration. The agency's response to the petitions will be published in the *Federal Register*.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel