S.Amdt. 1470

1. Adds SEC. 7__. MOTOR VEHICLE TIRES SUPPORTING MAXIMUM FUEL EFFICIENCY at the end of subtitle B of title VII

   Adds a section

   In S. 14 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (3) The term "long-duration idling" means the operation of a main drive engine, for a period greater than 30 consecutive minutes, where the main drive engine is not engaged in gear. Such term does not apply to routine stoppages associated with traffic movement or congestion.

   Inserted: SEC. 7__. MOTOR VEHICLE TIRES SUPPORTING MAXIMUM FUEL EFFICIENCY.

   Inserted: (a) Standards for Tires Manufactured for Interstate Commerce.--Section 30123 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in subsection (b), by inserting after the first sentence the following: "The grading system shall include standards for rating the fuel efficiency of tires designed for use on passenger cars and light trucks."; and

   Inserted: (2) by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(d) National Tire Fuel Efficiency Program.--(1) The Secretary shall develop and carry out a national tire fuel efficiency program for tires designed for use on passenger cars and light trucks.

   Inserted: "(2) The program shall include the following:

   Inserted: "(A) Policies and procedures for testing and labeling tires for fuel economy to enable tire buyers to make informed purchasing decisions about the fuel economy of tires.

   Inserted: "(B) Policies and procedures to promote the purchase of energy-efficient replacement tires, including purchase incentives, website listings on the Internet, printed fuel economy guide booklets, and mandatory requirements for tire retailers to provide tire buyers with fuel-efficiency information on tires.

   Inserted: "(C) Minimum fuel economy standards for tires, promulgated by the Secretary.

   Inserted: "(3) The minimum fuel economy standards for tires shall--

   Inserted: "(A) ensure that the fuel economy of replacement tires is equal to or better than the average fuel economy of tires sold as original equipment;

   Inserted: "(B) secure the maximum technically feasible and cost-effective fuel savings;

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   Inserted: "(C) not adversely affect tire safety;

   Inserted: "(D) not adversely affect the average tire life of replacement tires;

   Inserted: "(E) incorporate the results from--

   Inserted: "(i) laboratory testing; and

   Inserted: "(ii) to the extent appropriate and available, on-road fleet testing programs conducted by the manufacturers; and

   Inserted: "(F) not adversely affect efforts to manage scrap tires.

   Inserted: "(4) The policies, procedures, and standards developed under paragraph (2) shall apply to all types and models of tires that are covered by the uniform tire quality grading standards under section 575.104 of title 49, Code 16 of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

   Inserted: "(5) Not less often than every three years, the Secretary shall review the minimum fuel economy standards in effect for tires under this subsection and revise the standards as necessary to ensure compliance with requirements under paragraph (3). The Secretary may not, however, reduce the average fuel economy standards applicable to replacement tires.

   Inserted: "(6) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preempt any provision of State law relating to higher fuel economy standards applicable to replacement tires designed for use on passenger cars and light trucks.

   Inserted: "(7) Nothing in this chapter shall apply to--

   Inserted: "(A) a tire or group of tires with the same SKU, plant, and year, for which the volume of tires produced or imported is less than 15,000 annually;

   Inserted: "(B) a deep tread, winter-type snow tire, spacesaver tire, or temporary use spare tire;

   Inserted: "(C) a tire with a normal rim diameter of 12 inches or less;

   Inserted: "(D) a motorcycle tire; or

   Inserted: "(E) a tire manufactured specifically for use in an off-road motorized recreational vehicle.

   Inserted: "(8) In this subsection, the term 'fuel economy', with respect to tires, means the extent to which the tires contribute to the fuel economy of the motor vehicles on which the tires are mounted.

   Inserted: (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 30103(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended in paragraph (1) by striking "When" and inserting "Except as provided in section 30123(d) of this title, when".

   Inserted: (c) Time for Implementation.--The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that the national tire fuel efficiency program required under subsection (d) of section 30123 of title 49, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)(2)), is administered so as to apply the policies, procedures, and standards developed under paragraph (2) of such subsection (d) beginning not later than March 31, 2006.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle B of Title VII, add the following:

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As printed