Feds To Push Highway Rules Through Without Public Comment

The US Department of Transportation is looking to fast track adoption of rules, bypassing the public comment process. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week proposed to give itself "direct final rulemaking" authority which would allow the agency to declare a regulatory proposal, which carries the force of law, to be non-controversial and rush it into effect.

"NHTSA is proposing to use the direct final rulemaking process when the action to be taken is not anticipated to generate adverse comment, and therefore, providing notice and opportunity for comment would not be necessary," the agency's proposed rule states. "NHTSA believes this procedural option would expedite the issuance of, and thereby save time and agency resources on, rules that are not controversial."

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