Implementing the Whistleblower Provisions of the Vehicle Safety Act (Final rule), 89 FR 101952

Federal Register final rule 89 FR 101952 (17 Dec 2024, 42 pp.) creating 49 CFR Part 513, effective 16 Jan 2025: background and discussion of the 14 comments received on the 2023 proposal; definitions (covered action, original information, whistleblower); submission procedure and forms WB-INFO, WB-RELEASE, WB-AWARD (anonymous filing through a legal representative); confidentiality; ineligibility; Notice of Covered Action and 90-day claim window; award determination factors; award range 10-30 percent of collected sanctions over $1,000,000; 30-day appeal; regulatory analyses with Paperwork Reduction Act estimates (about 300 submissions since 2015 already recorded; projected about 50 WB-INFO filers, 45 WB-RELEASE forms, 1-2 Notices and about 2 WB-AWARD forms a year; burden hours and costs, out of scope); text of the forms. Last page holds the start of an unrelated NOAA rule. Added the three projections, four rules (10/30 percent, $1 million threshold, 30-day appeal). The count of comments (14) and form burden figures are out of scope.