98-31900. Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL Motorcycles Are Eligible for Importation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 66230-66231]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-31900]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    [Docket No. NHTSA-98-4805]
    
    
    Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
    1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL Motorcycles Are Eligible for 
    Importation
    
    AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
    1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL motorcycles are eligible for 
    importation.
    
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    SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
    Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
    1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL 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 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.
    
    DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 31, 
    1998.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
    number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 
    Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 am to 
    5 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.
        Champagne Imports of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
    (Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
    non-U.S. certified 1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL motorcycles are 
    eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
    Champagne believes are substantially similar are 1999 Harley Davidson 
    FX, FL, and XL motorcycles that were manufactured for 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 
    1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL 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.
        Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
    demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL 
    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 1999 
    Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL 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 for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, and 122 
    Motorcycle Brake Systems.
        Petitioner additionally 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 head lamp assemblies; and (b) 
    Installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies and front and rear side 
    reflectors if the vehicles are not already so equipped.
        Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than 
    Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information label.
        Standard No. 123 Motorcycle Controls and Displays: Installation of 
    a U.S.-model speedometer/odometer calibrated in miles per hour.
        The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number 
    plate will be affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR 
    Part 565.
        Comments should refer to the docket number and be submitted to: 
    Docket Management, Room PL-401, 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
    
    [[Page 66231]]
    
    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 24, 1998.
    Marilynne Jacobs,
    Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
    [FR Doc. 98-31900 Filed 11-30-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/01/1998
Department:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 1999 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL motorcycles are eligible for importation.
Document Number:
98-31900
Dates:
The closing date for comments on the petition is December 31, 1998.
Pages:
66230-66231 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. NHTSA-98-4805
PDF File:
98-31900.pdf