[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 10, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 10CFR490.308]

[Page 524-525]
 
                            TITLE 10--ENERGY
 
                    CHAPTER II--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 
PART 490_ALTERNATIVE FUEL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart D_Alternative Fuel Provider Vehicle Acquisition Mandate
 
Sec. 490.308  Process for granting exemptions.

    (a) To obtain an exemption from the vehicle acquisition mandate in 
this subpart, a covered person, or its affiliate, division, or business 
unit which is subject to section 490.302 of this part,

[[Page 525]]

shall submit a written request for exemption to the Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, EE-33, 1000 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585, or such other address as 
DOE may publish in the Federal Register, along with the supporting 
documentation required by this section.
    (b) A covered person requesting an exemption must demonstrate that--
    (1) Alternative fuels that meet the normal requirements and 
practices of the principal business of the covered person are not 
available from fueling sites that would permit central fueling of that 
person's vehicles in the area in which the vehicles are to be operated; 
or
    (2) Alternative fueled vehicles that meet the normal requirements 
and practices of the principal business of the covered person are not 
available for purchase or lease commercially on reasonable terms and 
conditions in any State included in a MSA/CMSA that the vehicles are 
operated in.
    (c) Documentation. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (c) (2) of 
this section, if a covered person is seeking an exemption under 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the types of documentation that are to 
accompany the request include, but are not limited to, maps of vehicle 
operation zones and maps of locations providing alternative fuel.
    (2) If a covered person seeking an exemption under paragraph (b)(1) 
of this section operates light duty vehicles outside of the areas listed 
in Appendix A of subpart A, and central fueling of those vehicles does 
not meet the normal requirements and practices of that person's 
business, then that covered person shall only be required to justify in 
a written request why central fueling is incompatible with its business.
    (3) If a covered person is seeking an exemption under paragraph 
(b)(2) of this section, the types of documentation that are to accompany 
the request include, but are not limited to, alternative fueled vehicle 
purchase or lease requests, a listing of vehicles that meet the normal 
practices and requirements of the covered person and any other 
documentation that exhibits good faith efforts to acquire alternative 
fueled vehicles.
    (d) Exemptions are granted for one model year only and may be 
renewed annually, if supporting documentation is provided.
    (e) Exemptions may be granted in whole or in part. When granting an 
exemption in part, DOE may, depending upon the circumstances, completely 
relieve a covered person from complying with a portion of the vehicle 
acquisition requirements for a model year, or it may require a covered 
person to acquire all or some of the exempted vehicles in future model 
years.
    (f) The Assistant Secretary shall provide to the covered person 
within 45 days after receipt of a request that complies with this 
section, a written determination as to whether the State's request has 
been granted or denied.
    (g) If a covered person is denied an exemption, that covered person 
may file an appeal within 30 days of the date of determination, pursuant 
to 10 CFR part 1003, subpart C, with the Office of Hearings and Appeals, 
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 
20585. The Assistant Secretary's determination shall be stayed during 
the pendency of an appeal under this paragraph.