[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28648-28649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13425]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-46; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Determination that
Nonconforming 1972 through 1976 Bristol VRT Buses Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Request for comments on petition for determination that
nonconforming 1972 through 1976 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 1972 through 1976 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 July 3, 1995.
ADDRESS: 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) (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. 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. Where there is no
substantially similar U.S.-certified motor vehicle, 49 U.S.C.
30141(a)(1)(B) (formerly 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 altered to comply with, all applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety standards based on destructive test data or such
other evidence as NHTSA decides 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 1972 through
1976 Bristol VRT buses are eligible for importation into the United
States. The petitioner contends that these vehicles are eligible for
importation under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B) 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 1972 through 1976 Bristol
VRT buses have safety features that comply with Standard Nos. 102
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . (based on documentation
illustrating transmission braking effect, schematic diagram indicating
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 coolant 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 statements and photographs showing
certification markings on tires and rims, 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
ample room exists for passengers to move in and out of their seats and
that seats are securely mounted to vehicle floor) 217 Bus Window
Retention and Release (based on statement describing window retention
test procedures and results, and calculations indicating size and
distribution of emergency exits), and 302 Flammability of Interior
Materials (based on photographs and statements indicating composition
of upholstery, and describing test procedures and results).
The petitioner also contends that 1972 through 1976 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) [[Page 28649]] 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) 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 providing unity magnification in excess
of 50 square inches of reflective surface and affording the driver a
clear and unobstructed view of the area around both sides of the
vehicle.
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, 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 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: May 26 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-13425 Filed 5-31-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
