[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6164]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 17, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-16; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Determination That
Nonconforming 1978 Through 1981 Bristol VRT Buses Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Request for comments on petition for determination that
nonconforming 1978 through 1981 Bristol VRT buses are eligible for
importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice requests comments on a petition submitted to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a
determination that 1978 through 1981 Bristol VRT buses that were not
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United
States because they have safety features that comply with, or are
capable of being modified to comply with, all such standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 18, 1994.
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: Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety
Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) of the National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397 (c)(3)(A)(i)(I), 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 on and after January 31, 1990, unless
NHTSA has determined that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to
a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale
in the United States, certified under 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 modified to conform to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Where there is no substantially
similar U.S.-certified motor vehicle, section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(II) of
the Act, 15 U.S.C. 1397 (c)(3)(A)(i)(II), permits a nonconforming motor
vehicle to be admitted into the United States if its safety features
comply with, or are capable of being modified to comply with, all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards based on destructive
test data or such other evidence as NHTSA determines to be adequate.
Petitions for eligibility determinations 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 determines, 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 determination
in the Federal Register.
Double Decker Bus Company of Denver, Colorado (Registered Importer
No. R-93-015) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1978 through
1981 Bristol VRT buses are eligible for importation into the United
States. The petitioner contends that these vehicles are eligible for
importation under section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Act, 15 US.C.
1397(c)(3)(A)(i)(II), because they have safety features that comply
with, or are capable of being modified to comply with, all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that 1978 through 1981 Bristol
VRT buses have safety features that comply with Standard Nos. 102
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . . (based on schematic diagram
indicating starter interlock protection and photograph showing shift
lever positions), 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems (based on
schematic diagram indicative starter interlock protection and
photograph showing shift lever positions), 103 Defrosting and Defogging
Systems (based on statement and photograph indicating that system
incorporates electrically heated elements and heated air blowers), 104
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems (based on statement and
photographs indicating that system is pneumatically driven and offers
full coverage of windshield at two set speeds and intermittently), 107
Reflecting Surfaces (based on statement and photographs indicating that
reflective glare is kept to a minimum in the driver's cab through the
use of matt black paint on the windshield wipers, the rearview mirror
frame, the dash, and the cab walls), 120 Tire Selection and Rims for
Motor Vehicles other than Passenger cars (based on statement and
photographs showing certification markings on tires supplied by vehicle
purchaser and rims selected by petitioner, and describing contents of
tire information placard), 121 Air Brake Systems (based on statement,
photographs, and specifications indicating that vehicles are equipped
with an air compressors and associated equipment that provides greater
cut-in pressure than 85 p.s.i.), 124 Accelerator Control Systems (based
on statement and photographs indicating that throttle return is
provided by pneumatic valve, supplemented by a spring loaded foot pedal
and photographs showing pneumatic accelerator resetting is less than
one second), 205 Glazing Materials (based on statement and photographs
showing that glazing materials bear DOT certification markings), 207
Seating Systems, (based on statement and photographs indicating that
seats are securely mounted to vehicle floor and photographs showing
forces applied to driver's seat), 217 Bus Window Retention and Release
(based on statement describing window retention test results,
calculations indicating size and distribution of emergency exits, and
photographs showing emergency exit markings), and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials (based on statements and photographs indicating
composition of upholstery, and test results).
The petitioner also contends that 1978 through 1981 Bristol VRT
buses are capable of being modified to comply with the following
standards, in the manner indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Installation of a
potentiometer wired in series to provide variation in panel lighting;
(b) installation of dash-mounted high beam telltale; (c) installation
of U.S.-model license plate lamp.
Standard No. 106 Brake Hoses: replacement of flexible brake hoses
on front wheels with U.S.-model parts.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated
Equipment: installation of the following equipment bearing DOT
certification markings: (a) Two sealed beam headlamps, three amber
identification lamp clusters, two amber clearance lamps, and two amber
length and height markers at the front end of the vehicle; (b) two tail
lamp assemblies, three red identification lamp clusters, two red
clearance lamps, two red length and height markers, two red side
marker/reflectors, and one license plate illumination lamp at the rear
end of the vehicle; (c) two amber reflectors at the midsection of the
vehicle's right side; (d) two amber reflectors at the midsection of the
vehicle's left side.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the rearview
mirrors with U.S.-model parts.
Standard No. 125 Warning Devices: procurement of three U.S.-model
reflective warning triangles to be carried on vehicle.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a U.S.-
model Type 2 seat belt at the driver's position.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: installation of a U.S.-model
Type 2 seat belt at the driver's position.
Standard No. 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: use of 16-20UNF-2A
hardened bolts, flat washers, lock washers, and nuts as anchorage
hardware.
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 will be published
in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3) (A)(i)(II) and (C)(iii); 49 CFR
593.8; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on March 10, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-6164 Filed 3-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
