[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22944-22946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08957]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0031, Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Vehicles Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.
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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
nonconforming 1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger
Vehicles that were not originally manufactured to comply with all
applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), are eligible
for importation into the United States because they are substantially
similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the
United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as
complying with the safety standards (1991 Volkswagen Vanagon Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles) and they are capable of being readily
altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 17, 2013.
[[Page 22945]]
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001
Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 202-493-2251
Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
How To Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in
the Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit
late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search
the Docket for new material.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS shall be
refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that
the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United
States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of the same model year as
the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and is capable of being
readily altered to conform to all applicable FMVSS.
Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to
49 CFR part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in
the Federal Register.
Autostadt West of West Sacramento, California (Registered Importer
06-346) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming European
Market 1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which
Autostadt West believes are substantially similar are 1991 Volkswagen
Vanagon Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles that were manufactured for
import into, and sale in the United States and certified by their
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified 1991
Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles to their U.S.-
certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially
similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
Autostadt West submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles, as originally manufactured, conform to many
FMVSS in the same manner as their U.S. certified counterparts, or are
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1991
Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are identical
to their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with
Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock,
and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and
Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105
Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting
Surfaces, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for
Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems,
201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204
Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door
Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 210 Seat Belt
Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheels Disks, and Hub Caps, 212
Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush
Resistance, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior
Materials.
The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: replacement of the brake
failure lamp lens, installation of a seat belt warning lamp, and
recalibration of the speedometer/odometer to show speed in miles per
hour and distance in miles.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: replacement of the headlamps, side marker reflectors, turn
signals, and stop lamps with U.S.-model components.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the passenger
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the
required warning statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention:
installation of a U.S.-model micro switch in the steering lock assembly
and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection for Vehicles Other Than Passenger
Vehicles: installation of an information placard containing
manufacturer specifications for seating capacity and loading, and tire
specifications.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
U.S.-model push button seat belt buckle with a warning contact switch;
(b) installation of a seat belt warning light in the instrument cluster
and associated wiring.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: installation of a U.S.-model
push button seat belt buckle with a warning contact switch.
[[Page 22946]]
The petitioner states that the VIN plate must also be installed on
the left front corner of the dashboard to meet the requirements of 49
CFR part 565.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for
examination in the docket at the above addresses both before and after
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.
Issued on: April 11, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-08957 Filed 4-16-13; 8:45 am]
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