[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42096-42097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21070]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4165]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1991-1998 Ford Explorer 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
1991-1998 Ford Explorer 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 1991-
1998 Ford Explorers 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 September 8,
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.
Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1991-1998 Ford Explorers that were not originally manufactured to
comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which
Champagne believes are substantially similar are 1991-1998 Ford
Explorers 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 1991-1998 Ford Explorers 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.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1991-1998 Ford Explorers, 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
1991-1998 Ford Explorers are identical to their U.S. certified
counterparts 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 (with respect to 1991 through 1995 model
year vehicles; remaining model years are exempt), 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, 216 Roof
Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability
of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified
1991-1998 Ford Explorers comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49
CFR part 581 and with the Theft Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR
part 541.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a
[[Page 42097]]
noncomplying symbol on the brake failure indicator lamp; (b)
installation of a seat belt warning lamp that displays the appropriate
symbol; (c) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers
to miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies that
incorporate headlamps with DOT markings; (b) installation of U.S.-model
front and rear sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of
U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: Rewiring of the power window
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is
switched off.
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:
(a) Installation of a U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's
position, or a belt webbing-actuated microswitch inside the driver's
seat belt retractor; (b) installation of an ignition switch-actuated
seat belt warning lamp and buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's side
air bag and knee bolster with U.S. model components on 1996 model year
vehicles that are not so equipped and replacement of both the driver's
and passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters with U.S.-model
components on 1997 and 1998 model year vehicles that are not so
equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with
combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an
automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button at
both front designated seating positions, with combination lap and
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button at
both rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a lap belt in
the rear center designated seating position.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the
evaporative emissions collection canister.
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: August 3, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-21070 Filed 8-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
