49 C.F.R. § 501.8 – Delegations.

(a) Deputy Administrator. The Deputy Administrator is delegated authority to act for the Administrator, except where specifically limited by law, order, regulation, or instructions of the Administrator. The Deputy Administrator is delegated authority to assist the Administrator in providing executive direction to all organizational elements of NHTSA.
(b) Executive Director. The Executive Director is delegated line authority for executive direction over the Associate Administrators, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Information Officer.
(c) Director, Office of Civil Rights. The Director, Office of Civil Rights is delegated authority to:
1. (1) Serve as the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity.
2. (2) Serve as the compliance coordinator for:
  1. (i) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), as amended, and related regulations;
  2. (ii) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
  3. (iii) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and
  4. (iv) Other nondiscrimination statutes, regulations, Executive Orders, and policies.
3. (3) Investigate complaints of civil rights discrimination, conduct compliance reviews, and provide technical assistance to recipients of NHTSA financial assistance and stakeholders.
4. (4) Review and evaluate the civil rights programs of State Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety Offices to ensure that recipients of NHTSA financial assistance meet applicable Federal civil rights requirements.
(d) Chief Counsel. The Chief Counsel is delegated authority to:
1. (1) Exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Administrator with respect to:
  1. (i) Issuing odometer regulations authorized under 49 U.S.C. chapter 327.
  2. (ii) Providing technical assistance and granting extensions of time to the states under 49 U.S.C. 32705.
  3. (iii) Granting or denying petitions for approval of alternate motor vehicle mileage disclosure requirements under 49 U.S.C. 32705.
2. (2) Establish the legal sufficiency of all investigations and enforcement actions conducted under the authority of 49 U.S.C. chapters 301, 303, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329 and 331; to make an initial penalty demand based on a violations of any of these chapters; and to compromise:
  1. (i) Any civil penalty imposed under 49 U.S.C. 30165 in an amount of $1,000,000 or less.
  2. (ii) Any civil penalty or monetary settlement other than those imposed under 49 U.S.C. 30165 in an amount of $100,000 or less.
3. (3) Exercise the powers of the Administrator under 49 U.S.C. 30166(c), (g), (h), (i), and (k).
4. (4) Issue subpoenas, after notice to the Administrator, for the attendance of witnesses and production of documents pursuant to 49 U.S.C. chapters 301, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329 and 331.
5. (5) Issue authoritative interpretations of the statutes administered by NHTSA and the regulations issued by the agency.
6. (6) Administer 5 U.S.C. 552 (FOIA) and 49 CFR part 7 (Public Availability of Information) in connection with the records of NHTSA.
7. (7) Administer the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and 49 CFR part 10 (Maintenance of and Access to Records Pertaining to Individuals) in connection with the records of NHTSA.
8. (8) Carry out the functions and exercise the authority vested in the Secretary for 23 U.S.C. 313 (Buy America), with respect to matters within the primary responsibility of NHTSA.
(e) Associate Administrator for Administration. The Associate Administrator for Administration is delegated authority to administer and conduct NHTSA's personnel management activities; conduct administrative and management services in support of NHTSA missions and programs; and administer an executive correspondence program.
(f) Associate Administrator for Communications and Consumer Information. The Associate Administrator for Communications and Consumer Information is delegated authority to manage and coordinate market research, planning coordination, development, and promotion of public education campaigns for both paid media and unpaid public services to support program efforts; develop overall agency messaging and communications strategies in support of program initiatives; and develop agency policies on messaging and communications procedures and processes.
(g) Associate Administrator for Enforcement. The Associate Administrator for Enforcement is delegated authority to administer the NHTSA enforcement program for all laws, standards, and regulations pertinent to vehicle safety, fuel economy, theft prevention, damageability, consumer information, and odometers, authorized under 49 U.S.C. chapters 301, 323, 325, 327, 329, and 331; conduct testing, inspection, and investigation necessary for the identification and correction of safety-related defects in motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment and noncompliances with Federal motor vehicle safety standards; make initial decisions concerning alleged safety-related defects and noncompliances with Federal motor vehicle safety standards; grant or deny a manufacturer's petition for decision of inconsequential defect or noncompliance and exemption from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. chapter 301 in connection with a defect or noncompliance; issue regulations relating to the importation of motor vehicles under 49 U.S.C. 30141-30147; and grant and deny petitions for import eligibility determinations submitted to NHTSA by motor vehicle manufacturers and registered importers under 49 U.S.C. 30141.
(h) Associate Administrator for National Center for Statistics and Analysis. The Associate Administrator for National Center for Statistics and Analysis is delegated authority to provide the data, analysis, and evaluation and create and maintain information systems necessary to support the purposes of 49 U.S.C. chapters 301, 303, 323, 325, 327, 329, and 331, 23 U.S.C. chapter 4, any uncodified provisions of law related to such issues, and any cross-cutting safety initiatives; to develop, maintain, and operate the National Driver Register and a nationwide clearinghouse of problem drivers; and to support State integrated highway and traffic records safety information systems.
(i) Associate Administrator for Regional Operations and Program Delivery. The Associate Administrator for Regional Operations and Program Delivery is delegated authority, except for authority reserved to the Administrator, to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Administrator with respect to grants to States for highway safety programs or other State programs under 23 U.S.C. chapter 4 (except section 403) and uncodified provisions of law, including approval and disapproval of State highway safety plans and vouchers, in accordance with the procedural requirements of the Administration. The Associate Administrator for Regional Operations and Program Delivery is also delegated authority over programs with respect to the authority vested by section 210(2) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7544(2)); the authority vested by 49 U.S.C. 20134(a) with respect to laws administered by NHTSA pertaining to highway, traffic, and motor vehicle safety, in coordination with the Associate Administrator for Research and Program Development; the authority vested by 23 U.S.C. 153, 154, 158, 161, 163, and 164, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administrator as appropriate; and the authority vested by 23 U.S.C. 404, in coordination with the Associate Administrator for Communications and Consumer Information.
(j) Associate Administrator for Research and Program Development. The Associate Administrator for Research and Program Development is delegated authority to develop and conduct research and development programs and projects necessary to support the purposes of 23 U.S.C. chapter 4, any uncodified provisions of law related to that chapter, and cross-cutting safety initiatives; conduct research and development activities described or specifically enumerated in 23 U.S.C. 403; carry out the functions and exercise the authority vested in the Secretary and Administrator under section 10202 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59 [42 U.S.C. 300d-4], as amended by section 31108 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, relating to emergency medical services, except for authority reserved to the Secretary under § 1.21 or the Administrator under § 501.7; and exercise the authority vested by 49 U.S.C. 20134(a) with respect to laws administered by NHTSA pertaining to highway, traffic, and motor vehicle safety, in coordination with the Associate Administrator for Regional Operations and Program Delivery.
(k) Associate Administrator for Rulemaking. The Associate Administrator for Rulemaking is delegated authority, except for authority reserved to the Administrator or delegated to the Chief Counsel, to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Administrator with respect to the setting of motor vehicle safety and theft prevention standards, fuel economy standards, procedural regulations, the National Driver Register, and the development of consumer information and odometer regulations authorized under 49 U.S.C. chapters 301, 303, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, and 331, and any uncodified provisions of law related to such issues. The Associate Administrator for rulemaking is also delegated authority to perform activities that support the development of these regulations and standards; extend comment periods (both self-initiated and in response to a petition or request for extension of time) for noncontroversial rulemakings; make technical amendments or corrections to a final rule; extend the effective date of a noncontroversial final rule; and develop and conduct the New Car Assessment Program.
(l) Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety Research. The Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety Research is delegated authority to develop and conduct research, development, test, and evaluation programs and projects necessary to support the purposes of 49 U.S.C. chapters 301, 323, 325, 327, 329, and 331, any uncodified provisions of law related to such issues, and any cross-cutting safety initiatives.
(m) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer is delegated authority to direct the NHTSA planning and evaluation system in conjunction with Departmental requirements and planning goals; coordinate the development of the Administrator's plans, budgets, and programs, and analyses of their expected impact; exercise procurement authority with respect to NHTSA requirements; administer NHTSA financial management programs, including systems of funds control and accounts of all financial transactions; and enter into inter- and intra-departmental reimbursable agreements other than with the head of another Department or agency, provided that this authority to enter into such agreements may be redelegated only to Office Directors and Contracting Officers.
(n) Chief Information Officer. The Chief Information Officer is delegated authority to formulate IT policy, guidance, procedures, security, and best practices; implement an IT capital planning program, an integrated Enterprise Architecture program, and a mission information protection program that ensures privacy, security, and critical infrastructure protection for NHTSA systems and data; and provide for other NHTSA IT functions to support the agency's mission, performance goals, and objectives.