[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 366-368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-106]
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[[Page 367]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-99; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1994 Alfa Romeo 164 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
Alfa Romeo 164 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 5,
1996.
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) (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.
Liphardt & Associates of Ronkonkoma, New York (``Liphardt'')
(Registered Importer 90-004) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1994 Alfa Romeo 164 passenger cars are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicle which Liphardt believes is substantially
similar is the 1994 Alfa Romeo 164 that was manufactured for
importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by its
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1994 Alfa Romeo 164 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.
Liphardt submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1994 Alfa Romeo 164, 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 Alfa Romeo 164 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, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview
Mirrors; 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window
Systems; 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in
Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the
Driver From the Steering Control System, 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, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212
Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified
1994 Alfa Romeo 164 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) substitution of
appropriate symbols on the brake failure, parking brake, and seat belt
warning lamps; (b) installation of a U.S.-model speedometer.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies which
incorporate sealed beam headlamps and front sidemarkers; (b)
installation of U.S.-model taillamps; (c) installation of a high
mounted stop lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
in the steering lock electrical circuit.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped
with an air bag and knee bolster that have identical part numbers to
those found on its U.S.-certified counterpart.
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.
[[Page 368]]
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: December 29, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-106 Filed 1-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
