[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 38876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19250]
[[Page 38876]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4073]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1995-1996 Ford Bronco 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
1995-1996 Ford Bronco 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 1995-
1996 Ford Broncos manufactured for sale in Venezuela 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 August 19,
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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1995-1996 Ford Broncos manufactured for sale in
Venezuela are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicles which Wallace believes are substantially similar are 1995-1996
Ford Broncos that were manufactured for sale in the United States and
certified by their manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, as conforming to
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1995-1996 Ford Broncos 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.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1995-1996 Ford Broncos, 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 the non-U.S. certified
1995-1996 Ford Broncos are identical to their U.S. certified
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 101
Controls and Displays, 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence. * * *,
103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing
Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps,
Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 111 Rearview Mirror, 113
Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 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, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages,
212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified
1995-1996 Ford Broncos comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR
Part 581.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a U.S.
model air bag at the driver's seating position. The petitioner states
that the vehicles are equipped with Type II seat belts at both front
and both rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a Type I
seat belt at the rear center designated seating position.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicles 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 Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 am to 5 pm]. 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: July 15, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-19250 Filed 7-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
