Interpretation ID: nht92-6.40

DATE: May 22, 1992

FROM: Jerry Ralph Curry -- Administrator, NHTSA

TO: Dan Glickman -- House of Representatives

COPYEE: Washington Office

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 4/29/92 from Dan Glickman to Andrew Card, Secretary, U.S. DOT (OCC 7273)

TEXT:

Thank you for your letter to the Department of Transportation on behalf of your constituent, Mr. David Lourana. Secretary Card has asked me to explain our regulations about motor vehicle fuel tanks to you. Specifically, Mr. Lourana asked for information about requirements pertaining to the accuracy of gasoline tank capacity. He was concerned that, absent such regulations, a consumer would not know whether he or she is receiving the proper amount of gasoline. I am pleased to have this opportunity to respond to you.

By way of background, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is authorized to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that apply to the manufacture of new motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment. One such standard, Standard No. 301, Fuel System Integrity, applies to motor vehicle fuel tanks. This standard specifies requirements for the integrity of motor vehicle fuel systems. The purpose of Standard No. 301 is to reduce deaths and injuries occurring from fires that result from fuel spillage during and after motor vehicle crashes. However, neither Standard No. 301, nor any other of our standards, regulate the accuracy of the gasoline tank capacity.

Even though our Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards do not address measuring a fuel tank's accuracy, Mr. Lourana may wish to contact the State government in Kansas. Some States make sure that service station fuel pumps are accurate.

We hope that this information is helpful.