97-10006. Decision That Nonconforming 1989 Alfa Romeo 164 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19165-19166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10006]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-125; Notice 2]


Decision That Nonconforming 1989 Alfa Romeo 164 Passenger Cars 
Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1989 Alfa Romeo 
164 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision by NHTSA that 1989 Alfa 
Romeo 164 passenger cars not originally manufactured to comply with all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for 
importation into the United States because they are substantially 
similar to a vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and 
sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer as 
complying with the safety standards (the 1989 Alfa Romeo Milano), and 
they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATE: The decision is effective April 18, 1997.

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, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (Registered 
Importer R-90-009) petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1989 Alfa Romeo 
164 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. 
NHTSA published notice of the petition on December 18, 1996 (61 FR 
66742) to afford an opportunity for public comment. (A second notice 
concerning this matter was inadvertently published on March 26, 1997 at 
62 FR 14500. This notice should

[[Page 19166]]

be disregarded because it was published with incomplete text.) The 
reader is referred to the December 18 notice for a thorough description 
of the petition. No comments were received in response to the notice. 
Based on its review of the information submitted by the petitioner, 
NHTSA has decided to grant the petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles

    The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must 
indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle 
eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry. 
VSP 196 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles 
admissible under this notice of final decision.

Final Decision

    Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides 
that a 1989 Alfa Romeo 164 is substantially similar to a 1989 Alfa 
Romeo Milano originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and is capable 
of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards.

    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: April 9, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-10006 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P