[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17846-17847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8551]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-23; Notice 1]


Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1992 Kenworth 
T800 Trucks Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1992 Kenworth 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 a 1992 
Kenworth T800 truck 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.

DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 8, 1995.

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 am to 4 pm.]

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

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.
    G&K Automative Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'') 
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1992 Kenworth T800 trucks manufactured by Kenworth Mexicana, SA of 
Mexicali, Mexico, are eligible for importation into the United States. 
The vehicle which G&K believes is substantially similar is the 1992 
Kenworth T800 that was manufactured for sale in the United States and 
certified by its manufacturer, PACCAR of Bellevue, Washington (the 
corporate parent of Kenworth Mexicana), as conforming to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1992 Kenworth T800 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.
    G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that the non-U.S. certified 1992 Kenworth T800, 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 
1992 Kenworth T800 is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 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, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and 
Associated Equipment, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 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: Inscription of the word 
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp.
    Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: Installation of the 
required certification label.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    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 [[Page 17847]] 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: April 3, 1995.
Harry Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-8551 Filed 4-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M