[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56564-56566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27316]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6350]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1978-1980 Toyota Land Cruiser 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
1978-1980 Toyota Land Cruiser 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 1978-
1980 Toyota
[[Page 56565]]
Land Cruiser 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.
DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is November 19,
1999.
ADDRESS: 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, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1978-1980 Toyota Land Cruisers that were not originally manufactured to
comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which
Champagne believes are substantially similar are 1978-1980 Toyota Land
Cruisers that were manufactured for importation into, and sale in the
United States and certified by their manufacturer, Toyota Motor
Corporation, as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1978-1980 Toyota Land Cruisers 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 the non-U.S. certified 1978-1980 Toyota Land Cruisers,
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 the non-U.S. certified
1978-1980 Toyota Land Cruisers are identical to their U.S. certified
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . ., 103 Defrosting and Defogging
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake
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, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior
Impact, 203 Impact Protection for the Driver from the Steering Control
System, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Locking Components, 207 Seating
Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages,
212 Windshield Retention, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 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: (a) Substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp
that displays the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration of the
speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies that
incorporate headlamps with DOT markings; (b) installation of U.S.-model
front and rear sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of
U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window
system on vehicles that are so equipped so that the window transport is
inoperative when the ignition is switched off.
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) Installation of a
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt webbing-
actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; (b)
installation of an ignition switch-actuated seat belt warning lamp and
buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with
combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an
automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button at
both front designated seating positions, with combination lap and
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button at
both rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a lap belt in
the rear center designated seating position.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the
evaporative emissions collection canister.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicles 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. [Docket hours are from 10 am to 5 pm]. 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
[[Page 56566]]
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: October 13, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-27316 Filed 10-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P