[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18960-18961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9543]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5500]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1990-1998 Yamaha Virago Motorcycles Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990-1998 Yamaha Virago motorcycles are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
1990-1998 Yamaha Virago motorcycles 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.
DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 17, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9 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. 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 publishes this decision in
the Federal Register.
Champagne Imports of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
non-U.S. certified 1990-1998 Yamaha Virago motorcycles are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicles which Champagne
believes are substantially similar are 1990-1998 Yamaha Virago
motorcycles 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
1990-1998 Yamaha Virago motorcycles 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.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1990-1998 Yamaha Virago
motorcycles, 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 1990-
1998 Yamaha Virago motorcycles are identical to their U.S. certified
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 106 Brake
Hoses, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires
for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, and 122 Motorcycle Brake
Systems.
Petitioner additionally contends that the vehicles are capable of
being readily altered to meet the following standard, in the manner
indicated:
[[Page 18961]]
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model head lamp assemblies; (b)
installation of U.S.-model reflectors on vehicles that are not already
so equipped.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than
Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information label.
Standard No. 123 Motorcycle Controls and Displays: installation of
a U.S.-model speedometer calibrated in miles per hour.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate will be affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR
part 565.
Comments should refer to the docket number and be submitted to:
Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 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: April 12, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-9543 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P