[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57479-57480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28158]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-90; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1992 Lincoln Mark VII Passenger Cars are Eligible for Importation
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AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1992 Lincoln Mark VII 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 1992
Lincoln Mark VII 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 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 December 15,
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:
George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-
5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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. Sec. 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.
Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1992 Lincoln Mark VII passenger cars are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is
substantially similar is the 1992 Lincoln Mark VII that was
manufactured in the United States and certified by its manufacturer,
Ford Motor Company, as conforming to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1992 Lincoln Mark VII 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.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1992 Lincoln Mark VII, 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.
[[Page 57480]]
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1992 Lincoln Mark VII 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, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices,
and Associated Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch
Systems, 110 Tire Selection and Rims 111 Rearview Mirrors, 114 Theft
Protection, 115 Vehicle Identification Number, 116 Brake Fluid, 118
Power Window Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems 201 Occupant
Protection in Interior Impact 202 Head Restraints, 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
1992 Lincoln Mark VII 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 Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection, in
the following manner: (a) Replacement of the driver's side air bag with
a U.S.-model component and (b) installation of a U.S.-model knee
bolster. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped at each
front designated seating position with a combination lap and shoulder
restraint that adjusts by means of an automatic retractor and releases
by means of a single push button. The petitioner further states that
the vehicle is equipped at the rear outboard designated seating
positions with a lap and shoulder restraint that releases by means of a
single push button.
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.
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: November 9, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-28158 Filed 11-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
