[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39507-39508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19071]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-077; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1993 Bentley Brooklands Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1993 Bentley Brooklands passenger cars 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
Bentley Brooklands 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 August 28,
1996.
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 a.m. to 4 p.m.]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
[[Page 39508]]
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.
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 Bentley Brooklands passenger cars are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes
is substantially similar is the 1993 Bentley Brooklands that was
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and
certified by its manufacturer, Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd., as conforming
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1993 Bentley Brooklands 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 Bentley Brooklands, 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 Bentley Brooklands is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart
with respect to compliance with Standard 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, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109
New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 115 Vehicle Identification
Number, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 124 Accelerator
Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head
Restraints, 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,
211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 214
Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone
Intrusion, and 301 Fuel System Integrity, 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. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlight assemblies; (b)
installation of U.S.-model turn signal lenses.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required
warning statement in the passenger side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: reprogramming of the DIPP unit
for proper functioning of the warning buzzer, which is already
installed in the vehicle, together with a microswitch in the ignition
circuit.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
seat belt warning system, including the replacement of the driver's
seat belt latch with a U.S.-model component and reprogramming of the
DIPP; (b) installation of a driver's side air bag that is identical to
the one found on the vehicle's U.S. certified counterpart. The
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with Type 2 seat belt
assemblies in all front and rear outboard seating positions, and with a
Type 1 seat belt in the rear center seating position.
Additionally, the petitioner states that U.S.-model bumper shock
absorbers and associated hardware must be installed on the non-U.S.
certified 1993 Bentley Brooklands to comply with the Bumper Standard
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
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 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 22, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-19071 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
