[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40070-40071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19362]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-89; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 Trucks Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks 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 1990-
1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks 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.
DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is July 31, 1996.
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 a.m. to 4 p.m.]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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. Sec. 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.
Baja Truck Center of San Diego, California (``Baja'') (Registered
Importer 96-118) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1990-1996 Ken-
Mex T800 trucks are eligible for importation into the United States.
The vehicles which Baja believes are substantially similar are 1990-
1996 Kenworth T800 trucks that were manufactured for sale in the United
States and certified by their manufacturer, PACCAR, Inc., as conforming
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks 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.
Baja submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks, 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 non-U.S. certified 1990-
1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks are identical to their U.S. certified
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *., 103 Defrosting and Defogging
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 107 Reflecting
Surfaces, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 111
Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 115 Vehicle Identification
Number, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars,
121 Air Brake Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 205 Glazing
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 208 Occupant
Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages, 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: (a) Placement of a label
with the words ``Brake Air'' on the brake air pressure position
telltale; (b) inscription of the word ``Brake'' on the brake system
warning light.
Standard No. 106 Brake Hoses: replacement of brake line hoses and
connections lacking DOT markings with U.S. model components.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than
Passenger Cars: (a) Installation of a tire
[[Page 40071]]
information placard; (b) replacement of tire rims lacking required
markings with appropriately marked components.
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 25, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-19362 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
