[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45104-45105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12846]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-25516]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1998 Bentley Azure (Left-Hand and Right-Hand Drive) Passenger Cars Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1998 Bentley Azure (left-hand and right-hand drive) passenger cars are 
eligible for importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
1998 Bentley Azure (left-hand and right-hand drive) passenger cars 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 September 7, 
2006.

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]. 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 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

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 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.
    J.K. Technologies, LLC, of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') 
(Registered Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 1998 Bentley Azure (left-hand and right-hand drive) 
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially similar are 1998 Bentley 
Azure (left-hand drive) passenger cars 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 
1998 Bentley Azure (left-hand and right-hand drive) passenger cars 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.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1998 Bentley Azure (left-hand and 
right-hand drive) passenger cars, as originally manufactured, conform 
to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the same manner as 
their U.S. certified right-hand drive counterparts, or are capable of 
being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1998 
Bentley Azure (left-hand and right-hand drive) passenger cars are 
identical to their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to 
compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence,

[[Page 45105]]

Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield 
Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch 
System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control 
Systems, 135 Passenger Car Brake Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in 
Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door 
Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 210 Seat Belt 
Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
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 
instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component and reprogramming of the 
replacement unit to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model front sidemarker lamps; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model headlamps; and (c) installation of U.S.-
model taillamp assemblies that incorporate rear sidemarker lamps.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: installation of a U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of that mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of U.S. version 
software to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: installation of U.S. version software to meet the requirements 
of the standard.
    Standard No. 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement: 
installation of a U.S.-model steering shaft support mount.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any non U.S.-model seat belts, air bag 
control units, air bags, sensors, and knee bolsters with U.S.-model 
components on vehicles that are not already so equipped, and (b) 
reprogramming the vehicle computer to the U.S.-mode to ensure 
compliance with the standard.
    The petitioner states that the occupant restraints used in these 
vehicles consist of dual front airbags and combination lap and shoulder 
belts at the front and rear outboard seating positions. The seat belt 
systems are self-tensioning and are released by means of a single red 
push-button.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: replacement of rear 
seatbelts with U.S.-model components.
    The petitioner also states that the bumpers must be modified to 
meet the requirements of the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post 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 9 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 
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:August 2, 2006.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle, Safety Compliance.
 [FR Doc. E6-12846 Filed 8-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P