[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28648-28649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13425]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-46; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Determination that 
Nonconforming 1972 through 1976 Bristol VRT Buses Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments on petition for determination that 
nonconforming 1972 through 1976 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 1972 through 1976 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 July 3, 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:
George Entwistle, 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. Where there is no 
substantially similar U.S.-certified motor vehicle, 49 U.S.C. 
30141(a)(1)(B) (formerly 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 altered to comply with, all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards based on destructive test data or such 
other evidence as NHTSA decides 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 1972 through 
1976 Bristol VRT buses are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The petitioner contends that these vehicles are eligible for 
importation under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B) 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 1972 through 1976 Bristol 
VRT buses have safety features that comply with Standard Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . (based on documentation 
illustrating transmission braking effect, schematic diagram indicating 
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 coolant 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 statements and photographs showing 
certification markings on tires and rims, 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 
ample room exists for passengers to move in and out of their seats and 
that seats are securely mounted to vehicle floor) 217 Bus Window 
Retention and Release (based on statement describing window retention 
test procedures and results, and calculations indicating size and 
distribution of emergency exits), and 302 Flammability of Interior 
Materials (based on photographs and statements indicating composition 
of upholstery, and describing test procedures and results).
    The petitioner also contends that 1972 through 1976 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) [[Page 28649]] 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) 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 providing unity magnification in excess 
of 50 square inches of reflective surface and affording the driver a 
clear and unobstructed view of the area around both sides of the 
vehicle.
    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, S.W., 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: May 26 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-13425 Filed 5-31-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M