[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63599-63600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31439]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-97-3156]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') Multi-Purpose Passenger
Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') multi-purpose passenger
vehicles (MPVs) are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1973-
1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs that were not originally
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards are eligible for importation into the United States because
(1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and
that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety
standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform
to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 31,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets,
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours
are from 10 am to 5 pm).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
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 Federal motor
vehicle safety standards 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. Sec. 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 Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
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
[[Page 63600]]
publishes this decision in the Federal Register.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which
Wallace believes are substantially similar are 1973-1975 Volkswagen
Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs that were manufactured for importation
into, and sale in, the United States and certified by their
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs to their U.S.
certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially
similar with respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181
(``The Thing'') MPVs, as originally manufactured, conform to many
Federal motor vehicle safety standards 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 1973-
1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs are identical to their
U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard
Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . ., 104 Windshield
Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems,
116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than
Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 205 Glazing Materials,
206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 210
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, and 302
Flammability of Interior Materials.
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: inscription of appropriate
words or symbols to identify the controls for the hazard warning
signal, the windshield defrosting and defogging system, the lights. The
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with an odometer that is
labeled at the factory as being calibrated in kilometers, precluding
the need for any alteration to comply with the standard.
Standard No. 103 Defrosting and Defogging System: replacement with
a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlights; (b) installation
of U.S.-model front turn signal lamps; (c) installation of U.S.-model
taillight assemblies.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: installation of a passenger side
rearview mirror.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Replacement of the
seat belts in the front seating positions with U.S.-model components;
(b) installation of U.S.-model seat belts in the rear seating
positions.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: replacement of all seat belt
assemblies supplied with the vehicle.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR
part 565.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,
Washington, DC 20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies
be submitted.
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 address 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) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: November 24, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-31439 Filed 11-28-97; 8:45 am]
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