[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19167-19168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10024]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-25; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1993 Land Rover Defender 110 Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are
Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1993 Land Rover Defender 110 multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs)
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 1993
Land Rover Defender 110 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 importation
into and 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 May 19, 1997.
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. 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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 MPVs are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes
is substantially similar is the 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 that was
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and
certified by its manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 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.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Land Rover Defender 110,
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.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1993 Land Rover Defender 110 is identical to its U.S.
[[Page 19168]]
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, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116
Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger
Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in
Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the
Driver From the Steering Control System, 204 Steering Control Rearward
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention
Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 211
Windshield Mounting, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact
Protection, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: replacement of the
speedometer/odometer with one calibrated in miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) replacement of the headlight and taillight assemblies
with conforming parts; (b) installation of turnsignal lens assemblies
and sidemarkers.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: inscription of the required
warning statement on the passenger-side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning
buzzer in the ignition switch.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than
Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
seat belt warning system; (b) installation of lap belts adjustable by
means of an emergency locking retractor in the rear side mount seats.
The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped at each front and
rear outboard seating position with Type 2 lap and shoulder belts that
are adjustable by means of an emergency locking retractor.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with a
Type 1 lap belt in the rear center designated seating position.
Standard No. 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: installation of
seat belt anchorages at the rear side mount seating positions.
Standard No. 216 Roof Crush Resistance: installation of an
internal and external roll cage assembly identical to the one found on
the vehicle's U.S.-certified counterpart.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rear
bumper assembly with supports attached to the frame to provide
protection to the fuel tank.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the rear bumper on the
non-U.S. certified 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 must be replaced with a
component identical to the one found on the vehicle's U.S.-certified
counterpart.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR
Part 565.
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, 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 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: April 9, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-10024 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 4910-59-P
