Fuel Tank Harmony

Specifically, the proposal will: (1) Remove a conflict between the fuel tank fill rate requirements of the FMCSA and those of the Environmental Protection Agency for gasoline and methanol-fueled vehicles up to 14,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and (2) to make permanent the terms of the exemptions previously granted to motor carriers operating certain gasoline-fueled commercial motor vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company and General Motors. These light duty trucks, because of their fuel tank configurations, have fill rates not in compliance with regulations but were given exemptions.

Comments are due on or before January 12, 2004. The rule was published in yesterday’s Federal Register and can be found at http://dms.dot.gov/ . The docket is FMCSA-2002-13589