Interpretation ID: aiam2438
Executive Vice President
National Association of Independent Insurers
2600 River Road
Des Plaines
IL 60018;
Dear Mr. Mertz: This is in response to your letter of September 23, 1976, concernin petitions for reconsideration of 49 CFR Part 581, *Bumper Standard* (41 FR 9346, March 4, 1976).; Your letter indicated opposition to any agency action on petitions fo reconsideration of Part 581 that would reopen the issue of the standard's content. You stated that should a decision be made by the agency to reconsider Part 581, additional public hearings would be in order before any final action was taken on the standard.; I assure you that no substantive revision of Part 581, based upo petitions for reconsideration, would be made without first proposing the change and providing opportunity for interested persons to comment. I cannot project at this time whether a public meeting would be the best forum in which to receive comments should the agency decide to propose an amendment to Part 581. However, you may be confident that the agency would seek and thoroughly consider comments by your organization and all interested persons before taking final action.; Sincerely, John W. Snow, Administrator