[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50371-50372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24515]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-099; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban Multipurpose 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 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban multipurpose 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 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban MPVs 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 was 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 October 25,
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).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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. Sec. 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.
LPC of New York Inc. of Ronkonkoma, New York (``LPC'') (Registered
Importer 96-100) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1995-1996 GMC
and Chevrolet Suburban MPVs are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicles which LPC believes are substantially
similar are 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban MPVs that were
manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their
manufacturer, General Motors Corporation, as conforming to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans to their U.S. certified
counterparts, and found those vehicles to be substantially similar with
respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
LPC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans, 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 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans are identical to their U.S.
certified counterparts 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, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems,
116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power-Operated Window Systems, 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel
Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans 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. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: installation of a high mounted stop lamp.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning
buzzer microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock electrical
circuit.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
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
[[Page 50372]]
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: September 19, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-24515 Filed 9-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
