[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 201 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58380-58384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22975]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2017-0039; Notice 2]


Ride the Ducks International, LLC, Denial of Petition for 
Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

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

ACTION: Denial of petition.

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SUMMARY: Ride the Ducks International, LLC (RTDI), has determined that 
certain model year (MY) 1996-2014 RTDI Stretch Amphibious passenger 
vehicles (APVs) do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) No. 113, Hood Latch System, and FMVSS No. 302, 
Flammability of Interior Materials. RTDI filed a noncompliance 
information report dated March 15, 2017. RTDI also petitioned NHTSA on 
April 12, 2017, for a decision that the subject noncompliances are 
inconsequential as they relate to motor vehicle safety. This document 
announces the denial of RTDI's petition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abraham Diaz at (202) 366-5310 
regarding FMVSS No. 302, and Neil Dold at (202) 366-7352 regarding 
FMVSS No. 113; Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA, facsimile 
(202) 366-5930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Overview: RTDI has determined that certain MY 1996-2014 RTDI 
APVs do not fully comply with paragraph S4.2 of FMVSS No. 113, Hood 
Latch System (49 CFR 571.113), and paragraph S2 of FMVSS No. 302, 
Flammability of Interior Materials (49 CFR 571.302). RTDI filed a 
noncompliance information report dated March 15, 2017 pursuant to 49 
CFR 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports. RTDI also 
petitioned NHTSA on April 12, 2017, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 
30120(h) and 49 CFR part 556, for an exemption from the notification 
and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. chapter 301 on the basis that 
these noncompliances are inconsequential as they relate to motor 
vehicle safety.
    Notice of receipt of the petition was published in the Federal 
Register (82 FR 43452) with a 30-day public comment period, on 
September 15, 2017. No comments were received. To view the petition and 
all supporting documents log onto the Federal Docket Management System 
(FDMS) website at: http://www.regulations.gov/. Then follow the online 
search instructions to locate docket number ``NHTSA-2017-0039.''
    II. Vehicles Involved: Approximately 105 MY 1996-2014 RTDI Stretch 
APVs, manufactured between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2014 are 
potentially involved.
    III. Noncompliances: RTDI explained that the noncompliances are 
that the subject vehicles were not equipped with a secondary hood latch 
system, as required by paragraph S4.2 of FMVSS No. 113, and that there 
are interior components and materials that do not conform to the burn 
rate requirements of paragraph S2 of FMVSS No. 302.
    IV. Rule Requirements: Requirements from FMVSS No. 113 and 302 are 
relevant to this petition. Specifically, paragraph S4.2 of FMVSS No. 
113 requires that a front opening hood which, in any open position, 
partially or completely obstructs a driver's forward view through the 
windshield must be provided with a second latch position on the hood 
latch system or with a second hood latch system. Paragraphs S2 and S4 
of FMVSS No. 302 explain that the purpose of FMVSS No. 302 is to reduce 
the deaths and injuries to motor vehicle occupants caused by vehicle 
fires, especially those originating in the interior of the vehicle from 
sources such as matches or cigarettes. FMVSS No. 302 lists the 
components of vehicle occupant compartments that shall meet the burn 
rate requirements of the standard and specifies the maximum allowable 
burn rate of material under specified test conditions.
    V. Summary of RTDI's Petition: RTDI states that it began to produce 
APVs in

[[Page 58381]]

1996 by performing extensive modifications to General Motors (GM) 
amphibious military trucks, which were originally designated with 
product code DUKW per GM's nomenclature.\1\ The resulting ``Stretch'' 
APVs were refurbished by RTDI in accordance with state and U.S. Coast 
Guard rules and regulations. RTDI has not manufactured any vehicles 
since 2014.
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    \1\ NHTSA notes that the ability of the DUKW to transport 
troops, supplies or equipment across both land and water made them 
indispensable in World War II and the Korean War. The modifications 
performed by RTDI, which included replacement of the original 
drivetrain and enlarging the hull or body, were such that the end 
product was a newly manufactured vehicle employing donor parts.
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    RTDI described the subject noncompliances as the lack of a 
secondary hood latch system and the failure of certain materials in the 
passenger compartment to meet burn resistance requirements. RTDI stated 
its belief that the noncompliances are inconsequential as they relate 
to motor vehicle safety.
    In support of its petition, RTDI submitted the following reasoning:
    1. FMVSS No. 113 specifies, ``a front opening hood which, in any 
open position, partially or completely obstructs a driver's forward 
view through the windshield must be provided with a second latch 
position on the hood latch system or with a second hood latch system.'' 
49 CFR 571.113, S4.2. The purpose of FMVSS No. 113 is to establish 
requirements for vehicle hood latch systems so that the hood remains 
secure while the vehicle is operated even if the primary latch fails or 
is not properly engaged. The absence of a secondary latch increases the 
possibility that the hood may open during vehicle operation and prevent 
the driver from seeing the road ahead.
    2. The U.S. Coast Guard has adopted specific design and operational 
requirements for APVs.\2\ Pursuant to U.S. Coast Guard regulations, 
while an APV is operating on water, the hood is to remain in an 
``open'' position. See 46 CFR 182.460 (``a space containing machinery 
powered by, or fuel tanks for, gasoline must have a ventilation system 
that complies with this section''), 46 CFR 182.465 (``a space 
containing diesel machinery must be fitted with adequate means . . . to 
provide sufficient air for proper operation of main engines and 
auxiliary engines.''). This requirement is intended to permit a 
sufficient amount of air flow around the engine compartment, which 
reduces the potential for the engine to overheat and potentially cause 
a fire.\3\ During waterborne operation, the hood of the APV is opened 
or elevated by approximately four inches. Although the hood of the APV 
is slightly raised, it has vertical arms which rest on manually 
operated drop latches. The hood does not pose a risk of opening 
unexpectedly during operation, even without a secondary hood latch 
system. The hoods of the APVs are substantially heavier than the hoods 
of traditional motor vehicles. As a practical matter, it is highly 
unlikely that the force of the wind against the vehicle could move the 
hood of the APV. In its more than 30 years of operation, RTDI has never 
received a report or allegation involving the opening of a vehicle's 
hood while operating either on the public roads or in the public 
waterways.
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    \2\ Under the U.S. Coast Guard rubric, APVs are classified as 
``T-Boats'' which are small passenger vessels weighing less than 100 
gross tons.
    \3\ U.S. Coast Guard regulations also require that while 
operating in the water, the engine compartment can be fully closed. 
In the event of a fire in the engine compartment, the operator will 
deploy the hood latch, dropping the hood and closing off the 
compartment. This feature is designed to contain the fire by 
preventing the flow of oxygen around the engine.
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    3. FMVSS No. 302 sets out the burn resistance requirements for 
materials used in certain parameters within the occupant compartments 
of vehicles. The stated purpose of FMVSS No. 302 is ``to reduce the 
deaths and injuries to motor vehicle occupants caused by vehicle fires, 
especially those originating in the interior of the vehicle from 
sources such as matches or cigarettes.'' 49 CFR 571.302, S2.
    The fire risks that exist in traditional motor vehicles are not the 
same concerns that present themselves in the APVs. Mitigating the risks 
of a fire occurring on board an APV are centered around the operation 
and safeguarding of the engine compartment and passenger egress 
conditions.
    The APVs also have installed a series of systems designed to 
protect passengers and allow for ease of egress from the occupant 
compartment in the event of a fire. The RTDI vehicles have an open-air 
design with multiple areas of passenger egress. Additionally, and per 
U.S. Coast Guard requirements, all of the vehicles have a fire 
suppression system installed throughout the vehicle. The fire 
suppression systems include vent closures, heat detection devices, 
vapor detection systems and fire extinguishing systems. In the event of 
a fire in the APV, the operator will activate the fire suppression 
system which releases the carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agent. The 
vehicles are also equipped with two portable fire extinguishers and all 
vehicle operators receive emergency evacuation training on no less than 
a quarterly basis, per U.S. Coast Guard requirements, and often more 
regularly.
    4. By contrast, FMVSS No. 302 is primarily concerned with 
protecting passengers against vehicle fires that occur due to flames or 
sparks inside the vehicle. In addition to the safety features described 
above, the vehicles have implemented other measures that provide an 
equivalent measure of safety to vehicle occupants. Smoking is expressly 
prohibited in the APVs. Passengers are advised of this requirement 
prior to the start of the tour. Onboard each vehicle there is a 
``narrator'' or second crew member present. The narrator sits rearward, 
facing into the occupant compartment and in continuous view of the 
passengers' activities at all times while the APV is in operation. The 
narrator is physically located so that he/she would be able to see and 
stop a passenger attempting to light a match, flame or smoke on board.
    In recognizing that APVs have a unique design and may encounter 
specialized hazard conditions, the U.S. Coast Guard employs a ``systems 
approach'' to certification for APVs. To meet U.S. Coast Guard 
requirements, the APVs must have ``a level of safety equivalent to that 
required for a vessel of similar size and service.'' See Navigation and 
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 1-01. These requirements are met, 
``in part through a combination of design requirements and operational 
restrictions'' and by considering ``the entire vehicle and its 
equipment as a complete safety system.'' Id. The RTDI APVs are 
certified to meet U.S. Coast Guard fire safety requirements for T-
boats.
    5. From its inception, the Safety Act has included a provision 
recognizing that some noncompliances may pose little or no actual 
safety risk. The Safety Act exempts manufacturers from their statutory 
obligation to provide notice and remedy upon a determination by NHTSA 
that a noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. See 49 
U.S.C. 30118(d). In applying this recognition to particular fact 
situations, the agency considers whether the noncompliance gives rise 
to ``a significantly greater risk than . . . in a compliant vehicle.'' 
69 FR 19897, 19900 (April 14, 2000). The design and construction of the 
APVs address the potential risks to passenger safety arising from fire-
related concerns to these vehicles. The safety features present on the 
APVs provide a level of protection that is, at a minimum, equivalent to 
the vehicle safety standards so that granting the

[[Page 58382]]

company's petition would be appropriate.
    RTDI concluded by expressing the belief that the subject 
noncompliances are inconsequential as they relate to motor vehicle 
safety, and that its petition to be exempted from providing 
notification of the noncompliances, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118, and 
a remedy for the noncompliances, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120, should 
be granted.
    VI. Supplemental Information: On October 10, 2017, RTDI, per a 
request from NHTSA's Office of Chief Counsel, provided the following 
supplemental information:
    Regarding FMVSS No. 113, RTDI asserted that:
    1. From the driver's seat with the hood open in the normal 
operating position there is no obstruction to the driver's view. When 
in the ``open'' position, the hood is elevated at an angle of 
approximately 4.5 inches to 5 inches. The tip of the bow of the APV 
remains visible with the hood open or closed. There is no visual 
obstruction to the driver when the hood is in the ``open'' position.
    2. The vehicle's engine requires the hood to remain partially open 
to provide sufficient air flow to the engine. The engine's air supply 
is forced through the forward opening of the engine hood. The radiator 
has a reverse fan which draws fresh air through the radiator to keep 
the engine cool.
    3. The hood incorporates a stand which rests on a cam lever that is 
mechanically operated by a cable and handle located in the driver's 
compartment. To close the hood, the driver simply pulls a handle which 
rotates the cam and closes the hood. The driver would only need to 
close the hood in the event of a fire in the engine compartment to cut 
off the supply of oxygen.
    4. The hood itself weighs approximately 139 pounds. Given the heavy 
weight of the hood and low operating speeds of the APVs (maximum 50 
miles-per-hour (mph)), these features preclude the hood from 
unexpectedly opening due to air flow lifting the hood open and forcing 
it upward. The design of the engine hood has been in service for nearly 
30 years, without incident. During testing, as much as 69.5 pounds of 
force was needed to lift the hood assembly. RTDI's consultant completed 
an analysis of the aerodynamic loading of the unlatched hood for the 
subject vehicles and reviewed the parameters for the force of air flow 
that potentially would cause an unlatched hood to open. This analysis 
was done by determining the applied aerodynamic forces due to lift and 
drag. The resulting moments about the hood hinge were then compared to 
the moments created by the weight of the hood. The overall goal was to 
determine the air speed (combined vehicle and headwind speed) necessary 
for the moments created by aerodynamic forces to exceed that of the 
moment created by weight.
    The hood consists of a flat steel plate which is 49.5 inches long, 
53.5 inches wide, and weighs approximately 139 lbs. Calculations for 
aerodynamic forces utilized flat plate assumptions with an aspect ratio 
of 1.08. Under the worst-case scenario, RTDI's consultant estimated 
that the hood angle of attack (AoA) will not exceed +5[deg] during use; 
however, calculations were completed up to and including 10[deg] in an 
excess of caution. All calculations utilized highly conservative 
assumptions and approximations.
    Below is a bulleted summary of the RTDI consultant's findings:
     Under normal fully-loaded driving conditions, the hood 
sits at a zero or slightly negative AoA. Given these conditions, no 
lift can be generated on the flat plate. Thus, there is no critical 
speed sufficient to pivot the hood open.
     At the maximum projected AoA (5[deg]), an air speed of at 
least 100 mph would be needed to generate sufficient aerodynamic forces 
to begin to open the hood.
     Even at 10[deg] AoA, double that expected in normal use, a 
minimum air speed of 70 mph is necessary to potentially open the hood. 
This speed is still beyond the maximum combined (vehicle and headwind) 
air speed that would be seen by these vehicles in normal operation.
    Regarding FMVSS No. 302, RTDI asserted that:
    1. It had not certified each of the individual components and 
materials listed in FMVSS No. 302, S4.2 to the burn rate requirements 
of S4.3. However, all of the materials used in the occupant compartment 
of the APVs do follow the guidance provided by the U.S. Coast Guard in 
NVIC 1-01: Guidelines For The Certification Of DUKW Amphibious 
Vehicles. The NVIC recommends that:
    Operators should consider highway requirements and land use when 
selecting the type of fire extinguishing system. Pre-engineered 
automatic systems may be required to shut down the engine when 
activated. This could pose a safety hazard if the DUKW is equipped with 
power steering and or brakes and the shutdown occurs in traffic.
    The fire protection system, as well as other safety devices of the 
RTDI APVs, are designed to take into consideration the various hazards 
the vehicle may encounter in different operating zones (i.e., system 
approach).
    2. The risk of fire associated with APVs stems primarily from 
mechanical and electrical faults serving as mechanisms for ignition. 
The risk of fire above deck is mitigated through constant visual 
monitoring by the onboard crew of the passenger compartment, as well as 
enforcement of a ``No Smoking'' policy. To satisfy U.S. Coast Guard 
requirements for commercial operations on water, RTDI APVs are 
outfitted with a robust fire protection system not normally found on 
land based vehicles, including the presence of fire extinguishers on 
board each vehicle. In addition, the construction of the APVs takes 
into account the particular risks associated with a vehicle that 
operates both on road and in the water. For example, traditional 
automotive wire is not allowed. Instead, marine electrical wire is 
required to be used, which is specifically designed for harsh 
environments: it is flexible yet heavily coated, resistant to corrosion 
and less likely to chafe and cause fires.
    Below is a list of U.S. Coast Guard fire protection standards which 
the RTDI APVs meet. Although these standards are promulgated by the 
U.S. Coast Guard, they are all aimed at fire prevention and mitigation 
and would prevent a fire from occurring on the road as well as in the 
water.

 46 CFR 185.504 Emergency Instructions List Posted
 46 CFR 176.810 (a) and (7)/181.450 Fire and Smoke Detection 
System
 46 CFR 176.810/176.810 (b) and (1) Portable Fire Extinguishers
 46 CFR 181.500 Date Cylinder Hydro Tested
 46 CFR 181.520 Proper Location
 46 CFR 176.810 (a) and (b) Fixed Fire Extinguishing System
 46 CFR 181.400 Annual Service
 46 CFR 182.465 (h) Engine Power/Ventilation Shut Down
 46 CFR 182.425 Exhaust Systems
 46 CFR 176.804 Fuel System
 46 CFR 182.460 Tank Space Properly Vented
 46 CFR 182.450 (e) Fuel Tank Vent
 46 CFR 182.15-35 Vent Opening
 46 CFR 182.440 (b/4) Independent Fuel Tank Ground
 46 CFR 182.455 (b/4) Shut Off Valve (Tank/Engine)
 46 CFR 182.20-40 (b/5) Fuel Tank Hose
 46 CFR 182.20.30 (d) Flexible Hoses (SAE J-1942)

[[Page 58383]]

 46 CFR 182.470 Ventilation of Machinery Spaces
 46 CFR 182.470/182.460 (e)
 46 CFR 182.15-45 Closure Devices for Spaces w/Fixed 
CO2
 46 CFR 182.710/182.40-1 Vital Systems Piping
 46 CFR 182.720/182.40 Non-Metallic Piping
 46 CFR 183.310 Primary Power and Lighting System
 46 CFR 183.376 Grounding
 46 CFR 176.806/183.310/183.350/183.354 Batteries/Alternators
 46 CFR 183.330/183.05-15/183.10-15 Switchboards and 
Distribution Panels
 46 CFR 183.340/183.05-45/183.05-50/183.10-20 Cable/Wiring
 46 CFR 176.810 (b) (2) Fixed CO2 Certificate

    3. The fire protection features satisfying the list of requirements 
cited above are also relevant to the prevention or suppression of fire 
during on road use of the APVs and all RTDI operators are trained in 
the use of these systems for both land and water operation. The design 
and construction of the APVs is consistent with the requirements set 
out above. Further, RTDI APV operators hold both commercial driver's 
licenses and U.S. Coast Guard certified vessel captain licenses. As the 
purpose of FMVSS No. 302 is to ``reduce deaths caused by vehicle fires, 
especially those originating in the interior of the vehicle from 
sources such as matches or cigarettes,'' the measures taken to mitigate 
against the outbreak of fires in the APVs per U.S. Coast Guard 
regulations also mitigate against the risk of fire contemplated by the 
FMVSS.
    4. The APVs meet all U.S. Coast Guard requirements related to fire 
prevention and emergency response, which provides an equivalent level 
of protection from the risks contemplated by FMVSS No. 302.
    5. In recall 17V-193, RTDI determined that the amphibious vehicles 
it manufactured between 1996 and 2014 do not meet the requirements of 
FMVSS No. 302. To view NTHSA's information request to RTDI and RTDI's 
full response including pictures and further vehicle information please 
refer to the docket.
    VII. NHTSA's Analysis: The agency has reviewed RTDI's petition and 
provides the following analysis:
    The burden of establishing the inconsequentiality of a failure to 
comply with a performance requirement in a standard--as opposed to a 
labeling requirement--is more substantial and difficult to meet. 
Accordingly, the agency has not found many such noncompliances 
inconsequential.\4\ Potential performance failures of safety-critical 
equipment, like seat belts or air bags, are rarely deemed 
inconsequential.
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    \4\ Cf. Gen. Motors Corporation; Ruling on Petition for 
Determination of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 69 FR 19897, 19899 
(Apr. 14, 2004) (citing prior cases where noncompliance was expected 
to be imperceptible, or nearly so, to vehicle occupants or 
approaching drivers).
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    An important issue to consider in determining inconsequentiality 
based upon NHTSA's prior decisions on noncompliance issues was the 
safety risk to individuals who experience the type of event against 
which the recall would otherwise protect.\5\ NHTSA also does not 
consider the absence of complaints or injuries to show that the issue 
is inconsequential to safety. ``Most importantly, the absence of a 
complaint does not mean there have not been any safety issues, nor does 
it mean that there will not be safety issues in the future.'' \6\ 
``[T]he fact that in past reported cases good luck and swift reaction 
have prevented many serious injuries does not mean that good luck will 
continue to work.'' \7\
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    \5\ See Gen. Motors, LLC; Grant of Petition for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance, 78 FR 35355 (June 12, 2013) (finding 
noncompliance had no effect on occupant safety because it had no 
effect on the proper operation of the occupant classification system 
and the correct deployment of an air bag); Osram Sylvania Prods. 
Inc.; Grant of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential 
Noncompliance, 78 FR 46000 (July 30, 2013) (finding occupant using 
noncompliant light source would not be exposed to significantly 
greater risk than occupant using similar compliant light source).
    \6\ Morgan 3 Wheeler Limited; Denial of Petition for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance, 81 FR 21663, 21666 (Apr. 12, 2016).
    \7\ United States v. Gen. Motors Corp., 565 F.2d 754, 759 (D.C. 
Cir. 1977) (finding defect poses an unreasonable risk when it 
``results in hazards as potentially dangerous as sudden engine fire, 
and where there is no dispute that at least some such hazards, in 
this case fires, can definitely be expected to occur in the 
future'').
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    Arguments that only a small number of vehicles or items of motor 
vehicle equipment are affected have also not justified granting an 
inconsequentiality petition.\8\ Similarly, NHTSA has rejected petitions 
based on the assertion that only a small percentage of vehicles or 
items of equipment are likely to actually exhibit a noncompliance. The 
percentage of potential occupants that could be adversely affected by a 
noncompliance does not determine the question of inconsequentiality. 
Rather, the issue to consider is the consequence to an occupant who is 
exposed to the consequence of that noncompliance.\9\
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    \8\ See Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., L.L.C.; Denial of Application for 
Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 66 FR 38342 (July 23, 
2001) (rejecting argument that noncompliance was inconsequential 
because of the small number of vehicles affected); Aston Martin 
Lagonda Ltd.; Denial of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential 
Noncompliance, 81 FR 41370 (June 24, 2016) (noting that situations 
involving individuals trapped in motor vehicles--while infrequent--
are consequential to safety); Morgan 3 Wheeler Ltd.; Denial of 
Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 81 FR 21663, 
21664 (Apr. 12, 2016) (rejecting argument that petition should be 
granted because the vehicle was produced in very low numbers and 
likely to be operated on a limited basis).
    \9\ See Gen. Motors Corp.; Ruling on Petition for Determination 
of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 69 FR 19897, 19900 (Apr. 14, 
2004); Cosco Inc.; Denial of Application for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance, 64 FR 29408, 29409 (June 1, 1999).
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    RTDI has not met its burden of demonstrating that the noncompliance 
with FMVSS No. 113 is inconsequential. In regards to FMVSS No. 113, 
RTDI says that as a practical matter, the hood on these vehicles is 
heavier than hoods on traditional vehicles and because of the weight it 
is highly unlikely that the force of the wind against the vehicle could 
move the hood. As the agency understands the hood design, the hood 
simply rests in the down position due to its weight and the effects of 
gravity. RTDI explained that ``the hood incorporates a stand which 
rests on a cam lever that is mechanically operated by a cable and 
handle located in the driver's compartment. To close the hood, the 
driver simply pulls a handle which rotates the cam and closes the 
hood.'' RTDI also explained that the hood on these vehicles must remain 
in an elevated open position at all times while operating (i.e., while 
on public roads and on waterways) in order to provide the engine with 
sufficient air flow. The agency is concerned, regardless of hood 
position (i.e., fully closed or normally elevated), that any 
irregularities in the roadway (i.e., humps, bumps, debris or pot holes) 
could cause the hood to bounce up and down from its resting place. In 
its normal partially opened position, and with no hood latching system, 
there is an increased risk that the hood on these vehicles could 
inadvertently fly open when encountering the right combination of 
vehicle loading, road geometry, road debris, vehicle speed, and wind 
speed.
    RTDI had a consultant conduct an aerodynamic loading analysis to 
look at the possibility of the hood lifting, due to vehicle and wind 
speeds, and hood angle of incline. The actual analysis was not provided 
to the agency, but a summary of the results was provided by RTDI. The 
analysis concluded that under ``normal fully-loaded driving 
conditions'' and a wind speed in the range of 70-100 mph, based on 
different hood elevation levels, the hood could begin to open. The 
agency is unable to

[[Page 58384]]

fully assess whether the consultant's analysis supports RTDI's claims 
because the underlying data, calculations, and supporting assumptions 
were not provided to the agency in a manner sufficient to accept the 
consultant's analysis. Even if the agency were to accept the 
consultant's analysis, the agency would remain concerned about the 
safety risk. For example, a vehicle traveling at or near the 50 mph 
maximum speed that encounters a strong wind gust could foreseeably 
experience total wind speed at or above the wind speed range of 70-100 
mph, causing the hood to open and obstructing the driver's view.
    RTDI stated that in 30 years it has never received a report or 
allegation involving the opening of the hood while operating on the 
public roads or in public waterways. From a safety perspective, the 
agency believes that the absence of prior reports or allegations of the 
hood opening under operation is not sufficient justification to ensure 
it will not happen in the future.
    RTDI also stated that the presence of a secondary hood latch system 
is unnecessary because operating these vehicles with the hood slightly 
elevated diminishes the potential for a fire to occur in these 
vehicles. FMVSS No. 302 and FMVSS No. 113 are separate safety standards 
addressing separate safety needs. FMVSS No. 302 specifies burn 
resistance requirements for materials used in the occupant compartments 
of motor vehicles and FMVSS No. 113 establishes the requirement for 
providing a hood latch system or hood latch systems to reduce the risk 
of the hood opening and obstructing the driver's view. Reducing the 
probability of a vehicle fire is not an appropriate justification for 
not meeting the safety requirements of FMVSS No. 113.
    RTDI also has not met its burden of demonstrating that the 
noncompliance with FMVSS No. 302 is inconsequential to safety, 
particularly without having provided information on the burn rates of 
the materials in the occupant compartment. The purpose of FMVSS No. 302 
is to establish a burn rate for materials to reduce severity and 
frequency of burn injuries, allow the driver time to stop the vehicle, 
and increase occupant evacuation time.
    FMVSS No. 302 differs from U.S. Coast Guard standards in that FMVSS 
No. 302 has a burn rate requirement for interior materials while U.S. 
Coast Guard standards focus on containment of fires originating in the 
engine and fire suppression. In response to an inquiry by the agency, 
RTDI stated that each of the individual components and materials within 
the boundaries of the occupant compartment of the subject APVs has not 
been certified to the burn rate requirements of paragraph S4.3 of FMVSS 
No. 302; however, it meets the standards and follows the guidelines 
provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. RTDI stated that the APVs are 
equipped with fire suppression systems and that the operators of the 
subject APVs hold both commercial driver's licenses and U.S. Coast 
Guard certified vessel captain licenses and are trained to identify and 
suppress a fire, should one occur.
    While U.S. Coast Guard regulations are intended to mitigate some of 
the same fire risks as FMVSS No. 302, there are other potential sources 
of fire that the U.S. Coast Guard regulations do not address. In 
addition to fires originating in the engine compartment, NHTSA is 
concerned about other sources of fire, such as a fire originating from 
a vehicle crash, that may occur when the vehicle is operating on a 
roadway. Having trained personnel on board the subject APVs does not 
necessarily mitigate the need for compliance with FMVSS No. 302. 
Without information on the actual burn rates of the materials used in 
the vehicles' occupant compartment, NHTSA cannot evaluate whether the 
factors cited by RTDI mitigate the noncompliance to the point that it 
is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. For instance, if the 
materials used in the occupant compartment are highly flammable, 
trained personnel may not have sufficient time to use a fire 
extinguisher in the event of a fire, or activate the fire suppression 
systems.
    Lastly, RTDI also stated that it has a strict ``No Smoking'' policy 
and that the operators and crew monitor the passengers accordingly. 
Having a ``No Smoking'' policy does not necessarily appropriately 
mitigate safety risk in the subject APVs. A ``No Smoking'' policy would 
not prevent fires from other sources, even assuming that such a policy 
is always followed. Further, NHTSA cannot rely on RTDI's policies as a 
means to mitigate safety risks because later operations/owners may not 
implement on the same policies.
    VIII. NHTSA's Decision: In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA 
finds that RTDI has not met its burden of persuasion that the 
noncompliances with FMVSS No. 113 and 302 in the subject vehicles are 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
    Accordingly, RTDI's petition is hereby denied and RTDI is 
consequently obligated to provide notification of, and a free remedy 
for, the noncompliances under 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120.

(Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 49 
CFR 1.95 and 501.8)

Joseph Kolly,
Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2021-22975 Filed 10-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P


