[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4829-4830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2371]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-005; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1991-1996 Ducati 900SS Motorcycles Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1991-1996 Ducati 900SS motorcycles 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 1991-
1996 Ducati 900SS 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 March 3, 1997.
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: 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.
J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1991-1996 Ducati 900SS
motorcycles are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicles that J.K. believes are substantially similar are 1991-1996
Ducati 900SS 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
1991-1996 Ducati 900SS 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.
J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1991-1996 Ducati 900SS 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 1991-
1996 Ducati 900SS 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,
120 Tire Selection and Rims, 122 Motorcycle Brake Systems, 123
Motorcycle Controls and Displays, and 205 Glazing Materials.
Additionally, petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1991-1996
Ducati 900SS motorcycles are equipped with a VIN plate that meets the
requirements of 49 CFR part 565, Vehicle Identification Number.
The Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standard, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front
sidemarker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies
which incorporate rear sidemarker lamp and side reflectors.
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, SW., Washington, DC
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
[[Page 4830]]
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 27, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-2371 Filed 1-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
