[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54726-54727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26149]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6269; Notice 1]
IMPCO Technologies; Receipt of Application for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
IMPCO Technologies (IMPCO), of Irvine, California, has determined
that a number of 1997 and 1998 bi-fueled compressed natural gas (CNG)
Chevrolet/GMC C2500 and Sierra model pickup trucks do not meet the
requirements of S5.3 and S5.4 of 49 CFR 571.303, Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed
Natural Gas Vehicles,'' and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to
49 CFR Part 573, ``Defects and Noncompliance Reports.'' IMPCO has also
applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of
49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--``Motor Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the
noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or
other exercise of judgement concerning the merits of the application.
FMVSS No. 303, S5.3 requires that CNG vehicles shall be permanently
labeled, near the vehicle refueling connection, with the information
specified in S5.3.1 and S5.3.2 of this section. The information shall
be visible to a person standing next to the vehicle during refueling,
in English, and in letters and numbers that are not less than 4.76 mm
\3/16\ inch) high. S5.3.1 requires the statement: ``Service pressure
kPa (________psig),'' and S5.3.2 requires the statement ``See
instructions on fuel container for inspection and service life.''
S5.4 requires that, when a motor vehicle is delivered to the first
purchaser for purposes other than resale, the manufacturer shall
provide the purchaser with a written statement of the information in
S5.3.1 and S5.3.2 in the owner's manual, or, if there is no owner's
manual, on a one-page document. The information shall be in English and
in not less than 10 point type.
IMPCO has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration that in model years 1997 and 1998, it altered 400, 1997
and 285, 1998 Chevrolet/GMC C2500 and Sierra model pickup trucks that
did not fully comply with the labeling requirements specified in 49 CFR
571.303. IMPCO stated that the noncompliance consists of deviations
from the wording required on the CNG vehicle label and in the owner's
manual.
IMPCO supported its application for inconsequential noncompliance
by stating that an out-of-date version of FMVSS No. 303, which did not
contain specific requirements, was used by the supplier that prepared
the label and owner's manual supplement. As a result the CNG vehicle
label applied near the refueling connection, and the owner's manual for
the subject vehicles, did not contain the exact statements required by
FMVSS No. 303, S5.3 and S5.4.
IMPCO stated that the refueling valve label clearly states the
operating pressure and refers the user to the owner's manual for
information about tank service life. IMPCO also placed an additional
label under the hood, on the fan shroud, that would be visible during
more frequent routine service, such as fluid check and oil changes.
This additional label again specifies the service pressure and the tank
expiration date. IMPCO further stated that the owner's manual indicates
the service life, inspection information, and also provides a form to
record the expiration date. IMPCO believes that the labels and owner's
manual supplement provided with these vehicles are responsive to and
consistent with the rationale and intent of the requirements, even
though the exact words required by the standard are not used.
The required words and actual words are shown as follows:
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1997 and 1998 Bi-fuel truck label
FMVSS paragraph Required label wording wording
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S5.3............................... 1SERVICE PRESSURE 24820 kPa (3600 3600 PSI SYSTEM OPERATING PRESSURES.
psig).
5.3.2.............................. SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON FUEL CONTAINER SEE CNG OWNERS MANUAL SUPPLEMENT FOR
FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE. FUEL TANK SERVICE LIFE.
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[[Page 54727]]
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1997 1998
FMVSS paragraph Required owner's manual wording CNG truck owner's manual wording Manual Manual
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S5.4.................................... SERVICE PRESSURE 24820 kPa (3600 psig).... This system operates at pressures up to X X
3600 PSI (24.8 MPa). (p. iv).
The CNG fuel system is designed to use a .......... X
fill pressure of 3,600 psi (24.8 Mpa).at
70 deg. F (21 deg.C) (P. 6-3).
13.2 gallons (equivalent) (50 L) at 3600
psi (24.8 Mpa) and 70 deg.F (21 deg.C)
(page 6-6).
13 GGE (Gasoline Gallon Equivalent) (49 L) X ..........
at 3600 psi (24.8 Mpa) and 70 deg. F (21
deg.C). (page 6-6).
3600 PSI SYSTEM PRESSURE (page 7-7)....... X X
XS5.4................................... SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON FUEL CONTAINER FOR A trained technician must remove the tank X X
INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE. cover and perfrom a CNG fuel tank and
mounting bracket inspection every three
years or 36,000 miles (60,000 km)
whichever comes first. (Page 7-6).
The CNG fuel tank has a service life of 15 X X
years. After the tank expiration date,
the tank must be replaced by an
authorized GM dealer. (Page 7-7).
This (expiration) date is listed on the X ..........
fuel tank and the fuel tank cover label.
(Page 7-7).
This (expiration) date is listed on the .......... X
fuel tank and the fuel tank, the fuel
fill door label and the underhood bi-fuel
information label. (Page 7-7).
CNG Fuel Tank Inspection Record (page 7-8) X X
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IMPCO stated the following:
IMPCO believes that the labels and owner's manual supplement
information provided with these vehicles are responsive and
consistent with the rationale and intent of the requirements, even
though the exact words required by the standard are not used. The
actual labels and the owner's manual supplement provide equivalent
information required by FMVSS 303, S5.3 and S5.4. The CNG refueling
valve label clearly states the operating pressure and refers the
user to the owner's manual for information about tank service life.
Both the refueling valve and the underhood labels include the
service expiration date and the owners manual indicates the service
life, inspection information, and provide a form to record the
expiration date.
Virtually all CNG refueling stations incorporate an overfill
protection system. Granted, a few CNG fill stations exist that are
capable of providing a fill greater than 3,000 psi, however, the
vehicle fill valve is designed to be incompatible with fill stations
that have a fill pressure greater than the vehicle's rated service
pressure. For example, a vehicle with a fill valve rated at 3,600
psi would be capable of filling at a 3,600, 3,000 or 2,400 psi fill
station. However, it would be incapable of filling at a 5,000 psi
fill station.
Also, the subject vehicles are equipped with a CNG container
validated up to 200 percent of the service pressure without leakage
as required by FMVSS 304, S7.2.2 for such containers. Thus, even in
the unlikely event of an overfill, the CNG containers are designed
to provide adequate protection. IMPCO has not received any reports
of injuries or property damage associated with overfilling of these
vehicles and believes it is extremely remote that these deviations
from FMVSS 303 label and owner's manual requirements could
contribute to an injury or property damage incident.
For all of these reasons, IMPCO believes that this noncompliance
is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. Accordingly, IMPCO
petitions that it be exempted from the remedy and recall provisions
of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act in this case.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments on the application of described above. Comments should refer
to the docket number and be submitted to: U.S. Department of
Transportation Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20590. It is requested, but not required, that two
copies be submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the
application is granted or denied, notice will be published in the
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
Comment closing date: November 8, 1999.
(49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50
and 501.8)
Issued on: October 4, 1999.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-26149 Filed 10-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
