[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6164]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-16; Notice 1]

 

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Determination That 
Nonconforming 1978 Through 1981 Bristol VRT Buses Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments on petition for determination that 
nonconforming 1978 through 1981 Bristol VRT buses are eligible for 
importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice requests comments on a petition submitted to the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a 
determination that 1978 through 1981 Bristol VRT buses that were not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United 
States because they have safety features that comply with, or are 
capable of being modified to comply with, all such standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 18, 1994.

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 am to 4 pm.]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety 
Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) of the National Traffic and Motor 
Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397 (c)(3)(A)(i)(I), 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 on and after January 31, 1990, unless 
NHTSA has determined that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to 
a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale 
in the United States, certified under 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 modified to conform to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Where there is no substantially 
similar U.S.-certified motor vehicle, section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(II) of 
the Act, 15 U.S.C. 1397 (c)(3)(A)(i)(II), permits a nonconforming motor 
vehicle to be admitted into the United States if its safety features 
comply with, or are capable of being modified to comply with, all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards based on destructive 
test data or such other evidence as NHTSA determines to be adequate.
    Petitions for eligibility determinations 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 determines, 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 determination 
in the Federal Register.
    Double Decker Bus Company of Denver, Colorado (Registered Importer 
No. R-93-015) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1978 through 
1981 Bristol VRT buses are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The petitioner contends that these vehicles are eligible for 
importation under section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Act, 15 US.C. 
1397(c)(3)(A)(i)(II), because they have safety features that comply 
with, or are capable of being modified to comply with, all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that 1978 through 1981 Bristol 
VRT buses have safety features that comply with Standard Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . . (based on schematic diagram 
indicating starter interlock protection and photograph showing shift 
lever positions), 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems (based on 
schematic diagram indicative starter interlock protection and 
photograph showing shift lever positions), 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems (based on statement and photograph indicating that system 
incorporates electrically heated elements and heated air blowers), 104 
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems (based on statement and 
photographs indicating that system is pneumatically driven and offers 
full coverage of windshield at two set speeds and intermittently), 107 
Reflecting Surfaces (based on statement and photographs indicating that 
reflective glare is kept to a minimum in the driver's cab through the 
use of matt black paint on the windshield wipers, the rearview mirror 
frame, the dash, and the cab walls), 120 Tire Selection and Rims for 
Motor Vehicles other than Passenger cars (based on statement and 
photographs showing certification markings on tires supplied by vehicle 
purchaser and rims selected by petitioner, and describing contents of 
tire information placard), 121 Air Brake Systems (based on statement, 
photographs, and specifications indicating that vehicles are equipped 
with an air compressors and associated equipment that provides greater 
cut-in pressure than 85 p.s.i.), 124 Accelerator Control Systems (based 
on statement and photographs indicating that throttle return is 
provided by pneumatic valve, supplemented by a spring loaded foot pedal 
and photographs showing pneumatic accelerator resetting is less than 
one second), 205 Glazing Materials (based on statement and photographs 
showing that glazing materials bear DOT certification markings), 207 
Seating Systems, (based on statement and photographs indicating that 
seats are securely mounted to vehicle floor and photographs showing 
forces applied to driver's seat), 217 Bus Window Retention and Release 
(based on statement describing window retention test results, 
calculations indicating size and distribution of emergency exits, and 
photographs showing emergency exit markings), and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials (based on statements and photographs indicating 
composition of upholstery, and test results).
    The petitioner also contends that 1978 through 1981 Bristol VRT 
buses are capable of being modified to comply with the following 
standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Installation of a 
potentiometer wired in series to provide variation in panel lighting; 
(b) installation of dash-mounted high beam telltale; (c) installation 
of U.S.-model license plate lamp.
    Standard No. 106 Brake Hoses: replacement of flexible brake hoses 
on front wheels with U.S.-model parts.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated 
Equipment: installation of the following equipment bearing DOT 
certification markings: (a) Two sealed beam headlamps, three amber 
identification lamp clusters, two amber clearance lamps, and two amber 
length and height markers at the front end of the vehicle; (b) two tail 
lamp assemblies, three red identification lamp clusters, two red 
clearance lamps, two red length and height markers, two red side 
marker/reflectors, and one license plate illumination lamp at the rear 
end of the vehicle; (c) two amber reflectors at the midsection of the 
vehicle's right side; (d) two amber reflectors at the midsection of the 
vehicle's left side.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the rearview 
mirrors with U.S.-model parts.
    Standard No. 125 Warning Devices: procurement of three U.S.-model 
reflective warning triangles to be carried on vehicle.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a U.S.-
model Type 2 seat belt at the driver's position.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: installation of a U.S.-model 
Type 2 seat belt at the driver's position.
    Standard No. 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: use of 16-20UNF-2A 
hardened bolts, flat washers, lock washers, and nuts as anchorage 
hardware.
    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 will be published 
in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3) (A)(i)(II) and (C)(iii); 49 CFR 
593.8; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on March 10, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-6164 Filed 3-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M