[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 208 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58126-58127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28100]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6384]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1994 Eagle Vision Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1994 Eagle Vision passenger cars 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 a 1994
Eagle Vision that was not originally manufactured to comply with all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for
importation into the United States because (1) It is substantially
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for sale in the
United States and that was certified by its manufacturer as complying
with the safety standards, and (2) It is capable of being readily
altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is November 29,
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
[[Page 58127]]
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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1994 Eagle Vision passenger cars originally manufactured
in the United States for export to foreign markets are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes
is substantially similar is the 1994 Eagle Vision that was manufactured
for sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer,
Chrysler Corporation, as conforming to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1994 Eagle Vision to its U.S. certified counterpart, and
found the two 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 the non-U.S. certified 1994 Eagle Vision, as
originally manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety
standards in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1994 Eagle Vision is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirror, 113 Hood Latch
Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window
Systems, 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, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat
Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion,
and 301 Fuel System Integrity, 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-US certified 1994
Eagle Vision complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part
581.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Replacement of the
odometer/speedometer with units calibrated in miles/miles per hour on
vehicles that are not already so equipped; (b) Inscription of the word
``brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp lens.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: replacement of the headlights, taillights, and front and
rear sidemarker assemblies with components that conform to the
standard.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of
driver's and passenger's side airbags and knee bolsters. The petitioner
states that the vehicle is equipped with Type 2 seat belts in front and
rear outboard seating positions, and with a lap belt in the rear center
designated seating position.
The petitioner states that a vehicle identification number plate
that meets the requirements of 49 CFR part 565 will be affixed to the
vehicle if it is not already so equipped.
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 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.]. 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: October 22, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-28100 Filed 10-27-99; 8:45 am]
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