[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52614-52616]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18417]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2022-0065; Notice 1]

Columbus Trading-Partners USA, Inc., Receipt of Petition for
Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

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

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: Columbus Trading-Partners USA, Inc., (CTP), has determined
that certain Cybex child restraint systems distributed by CTP do not
fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.
213, Child Restraint Systems. CTP filed an original noncompliance
report dated June 30, 2022. CTP petitioned NHTSA on July 5, 2022, and
amended the petition on August 4, 2022, for a decision that the subject
noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.
This document announces receipt of CTP's petition.

DATES: Send comments on or before September 26, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written data,
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the
docket and notice number cited in the title of this notice and may be
submitted by any of the following methods:
     Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver comments by hand to the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
except for Federal Holidays.
     Electronically: Submit comments electronically by logging
onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
     Comments may also be faxed to<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Comments must be written in the English language, and be no greater
than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to the length of
necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are submitted in
hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are provided. If you wish
to receive confirmation that comments you have submitted by mail were
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
    All comments and supporting materials received before the close of
business on the closing date indicated above will be filed in the
docket and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be
considered to the fullest extent possible.
    When the petition is granted or denied, notice of the decision will
also be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated at the end of this notice.
    All comments, background documentation, and supporting materials
submitted to the docket may be viewed by anyone at the address and
times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov by following the online instructions for
accessing the dockets. The docket ID number for this petition is shown
in the heading of this notice.
    DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement is available for review in a
Federal Register notice published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelley Adams-Campos, Safety Compliance
Engineer, NHTSA, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance,
[email protected],<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Overview: CTP has determined that certain child restraint
systems manufactured under the brand name CYBEX and distributed by CTP
do not fully comply with paragraph S<IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1) of FMVSS No. 213,
Child Restraint Systems (49 CFR 571.213). CTP filed an original
noncompliance report dated June 30, 2022, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573,
Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports. CTP petitioned
NHTSA on July 5, 2022, and amended the petition on August 4, 2022, for
an exemption from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C.
chapter 301 on the basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential as
it relates to motor vehicle safety, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h) and 49 CFR part 556, Exemption for Inconsequential Defect or
Noncompliance.
    This notice of receipt of CTP's petition is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the petition.
    II. Child Restraint Systems Involved: Approximately 31,080 Aton M,
Aton 2, Aton, Aton Q, and Cloud Q model child restraint systems
manufactured by CYBEX approximately between June 6, 2017,\1\ and
November 1, 2020, are potentially involved.
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    \1\ In its June 30, 2022, Part 573 submission, CTP reported
production dates between March 7, 2017 and November 1, 2020.
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    III. Rule Requirements: Paragraphs S<IP_ADDRESS>(a) and S<IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1)
of FMVSS No. 213 include the requirements relevant to this petition.
The webbing of belts provided with a child restraint system which are
used to restrain the child within the system shall, after being
subjected to abrasion as specified in S5.1(d) or S5.3(c) of FMVSS No.
209 (Sec.  571.209), have a breaking strength of

not less than 75 percent of the new webbing strength when tested in
accordance with S5.1(b) of FMVSS No. 209. ``New webbing'' means webbing
that has not been exposed to abrasion, light, or micro-organisms as
specified elsewhere in FMVSS No. 213.
    IV. Noncompliance: After being subjected to abrasion, the breaking
strength of the adjuster webbing on the subject child restraint systems
was less than 75 percent of the new webbing strength as required by
S<IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1) of FMVSS No. 213.
    V. Summary of CTP's Petition: CTP explains that the adjuster
webbing retained only 56.9 percent of the new webbing strength
following the hex bar abrasion test \2\ as specified in S5.1(d) of
FMVSS No. 209.\3\ CTP also acknowledges the noncompliance based on the
``through-adjuster'' \4\ test methodology it employed towards
satisfying S5.3(c) of FMVSS No. 209. The views and arguments provided
by CTP are presented in this section, ``V. Summary of CTP's Petition.''
They have not been evaluated by the Agency and do not reflect the views
of the Agency. CTP describes the subject noncompliance and contends
that the noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor
vehicle safety.
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    \2\ OVSC compliance test report available at https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/ctr/9999/TRTR-647389-2020-001.pdf.
    \3\ In its petition, CTP mistakenly referred to FMVSS No. 209 as
FMVSS No. 213.
    \4\ In its petition, CTP refers to S5.3(c) of FMVSS No. 209
Resistance to buckle abrasion as through-adjuster test.
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    After receiving a July 2021 Information Request from NHTSA relating
to this noncompliance, CTP, together with its supplier Holmbergs, took
certain investigative actions, including reviewing prior test results.
CTP learned that Holmbergs did not have any historical test data for
the hex bar or its through-adjuster abrasion testing pursuant to FMVSS
No. 213 S<IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1).\5\ CTP retained webbing samples from 2018
central adjuster webbing production that would have been used on the
(US) Aton M child restraint systems and conducted testing on them,
``pursuant to FMVSS 213, Sec.  <IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1).'' The results from this
testing were that the webbing abraded using the hex bar test subceeded
the required 75 percent of the new webbing breaking strength, averaging
64 percent, and the webbing abraded using CTP's through-adjuster test
exceeded the required 75 percent of the new webbing breaking strength.
CTP shared the results with NHTSA, submitting that FMVSS No. 213
S<IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1) provides two alternative abrasion test compliance
options. The first, as provided in FMVSS No. 209 S5.1(d), (hex bar
test) and the second, as provided in FMVSS No. 209 S5.3(c), (through-
adjuster test). CTP explains that in its investigation, NHTSA concluded
that CTP's through-adjuster test methods were not an appropriate
interpretation of FMVSS No. 209 S5.3(c). CTP acknowledges the
noncompliances with S5.1(d) and S5.3(c) of FMVSS No. 209, and outlines
its rationale for why ``any noncompliance'' is inconsequential to child
safety.
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    \5\ In section 2 of its petition, CTP mistakenly referred to
S<IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1) of FMVSS No. 213 as S<IP_ADDRESS>(b)(1).
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    CTP believes that the subject noncompliance with the hex bar test
is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety based on results from
overload dynamic crash tests it conducted on CYBEX Aton M child
restraints assembled using abraded adjuster webbing from the samples
averaging 64 percent retained breaking strength. CTP asserts that
because the adjuster webbing loads in the dynamic tests were only a
small fraction (11 percent) of the abraded webbing's retained strength,
a significant safety margin is built into the central adjuster webbing
making it ``sufficient for this application,'' (Aton M and similar).
This difference, CTP explains, shows that significantly more
degradation (of webbing strength) could be tolerated. According to
internal crash test data collected from tests varying in configuration,
ATDs, attachment methods and crash severities, CTP states that the peak
central adjuster strap load recorded was 4745 N. CTP also states that
the dynamic crash tests of the child restraints with the hex bar
abraded webbing showed that structural integrity of the child restraint
was maintained and that the occupant was retained.
    CTP notes that NHTSA's laboratory test procedure for FMVSS No. 209
Seat Belt Assemblies \6\ ``specifies that for webbing resistance to
abrasion tests performed pursuant to FMVSS Sec.  4.2(d), 5.1(d), and
5.3(c) the assembly ``shall be subjected to the buckle abrasion test''
if the ``assembly contain [sic] a manual adjusting device'' with the
emphasis applied, and explains its methodology for the through-adjuster
testing it employed. FMVSS No. 209 S5.3(c) Resistance to buckle
abrasion, requires, CTP states in part, that ``[t]he webbing shall be
pulled back and forth through the buckle or manual adjusting device as
shown schematically in Figure 7 . . .'' and ``[t]he webbing shall pass
through the buckle. . .'' with the emphases applied. CTP contends that
the referenced schematic in Figure 7 of Standard No. 209 ``should only
be viewed as a general visual aid,'' and that the schematic
``contradict[s] the plain language of the FMVSS.'' CTP states that
although the schematic (in Figure 7 of Standard No. 209) does not
appear to show the buckle or adjusting device opening and closing,
``that action certainly must occur to meet the plain language and clear
intent of the regulation.'' When CTP performed its through-adjuster
testing on the 2018 production retained webbing samples, the webbing
was cycled through the central adjuster containing a cam lock. CTP
states that the cam lock ``must be opened during the lengthening
stroke'' otherwise the adjuster will ``not allow webbing to move,''
i.e., pass through it. CTP investigated a variety of test conditions
related to FMVSS No. 209 S5.3(c) ``varying the amount and timing of the
central adjuster cam opening'' in each. CTP believes the through-
adjuster abrasion test it used accurately exposes the webbing to the
abrading environment that exists in the real-world application.
Nonetheless, CTP acknowledges the noncompliance of the central adjuster
webbing using its test methodology, submitting it too is
inconsequential ``as the language of the regulation, as well as the
stated purpose of the regulation, should control the test methodology
employed.''
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    \6\ Dated December 7, 2007.
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    Holmbergs provided to CTP evidence of its internal procedures and
control plans designed to ensure all regulatory requirements are
satisfied. CTP's Quality Management System (QMS) requires review and
acceptance of Holmbergs' Control Plan prior to supplying the subject
webbing to CTP. CTP explains it ``relies on its suppliers to self-
certify compliance to certain standards and requirements'' and that
Holmbergs ``was following the Aton M US Control Plan'' based on CTP's
On-going Quality Control (OQC) reports. CTP provided the Control Plan,
OQC and other documents in its April 14, 2022, supplemental response to
NHTSA.
    CTP claims it has implemented replacement central adjuster webbing
on new child restraints manufactured beginning October 27, 2021, and
that this webbing complies with all retained tensile strength
requirements after having been subject to both hex bar and through-
adjuster testing. Additionally, CTP states it has clarified to its
webbing supplier that the supplied webbing must comply with both
available abrasion tests in its specificiations. Finally, CTP states
that since 2017 no central adjuster webbing or central adjuster
assembly issues have been observed.

    Details of CTP's investigation and testing can be found in its
amended petition at https://www.regulations.gov/document/NHTSA-2022-0065-0001.
    CTP concludes by stating its belief that the subject noncompliance
is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety and its
petition to be exempted from providing notification of the
noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the
noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120, should be granted.
    NHTSA notes that the statutory provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to file petitions for a
determination of inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers
only from the duties found in sections 30118 and 30120, respectively,
to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a defect or noncompliance
and to remedy the defect or noncompliance. Therefore, any decision on
this petition only applies to the subject child restraints that CTP no
longer controlled at the time it determined that the noncompliance
existed. However, any decision on this petition does not relieve child
restraint distributors and dealers of the prohibitions on the sale,
offer for sale, or introduction or delivery for introduction into
interstate commerce of the noncompliant child restraints under their
control after CTP notified them that the subject noncompliance existed.

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

Otto G. Matheke III,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2022-18417 Filed 8-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P