[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 3299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-890]
[[Page 3299]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-002; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming
1972 Volkswagen Van-Type Wagons Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1972 Volkswagen Van-Type Wagons 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 1972
Volkswagen Van-Type Wagon 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
importation into and 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 February 13,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section Room 5109, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC
20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I)
of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Act)), 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 (formerly section 114 of the Act), 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.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1972 Volkswagen Van-Type Wagons are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicle which G&K believes is substantially similar
is the 1972 Volkswagen Van-Type Wagon that was manufactured for
importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by its
manufacturer, Volkswagenwerke A.G., as conforming to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1972 Volkswagen Van-Type Wagon 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.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1972 Volkswagen Van-Type Wagon, 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
1972 Volkswagen Van-Type Wagon is identical to its U.S. certified
counterpart with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Deferring and Defogging
Systems, 104 Windshield, Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses,
107 Reflecting Surfaces, 111 Rearview Mirror, 205 Glazing Materials,
209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, and 211
Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps.
Petitoner 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: inscription of the
appropriate symbol on the controls for the lights, hazard warning
signal, windshield wiper, and windshield washer.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model sealed beam headlamps and
front sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp lenses and
rear sidemarkers.
Standard No. 116 Brake Fluid: Installation of a label with the
required information on or near the brake fluid cap.
Standard No. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components:
Installation of U.S.-model rear door locks.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a seat
belt warning system with a lighted symbol.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 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: January 6, 1995.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 95-890 Filed 1-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
