[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 156 (Monday, August 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41907-41908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20022]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-70; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1992, 1993, and 1994 General Motors Suburban 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 
1992, 1993, and 1994 General Motors Suburban multi-purpose passenger 

[[Page 41908]]
vehicles (MPVs) manufactured in Mexico are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTS) of a petition for a decision that 1992, 
1993, and 1994 General Motors Suburban MPVs manufactured in Mexico 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 13, 
1995.

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:
George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-
5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 40 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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1992, 1993, and 1994 General Motors Suburban MPVs are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles that 
Wallace believes are substantially similar are the 1992, 1993, and 1994 
General Motors Suburban MPVs that were manufactured for sale in the 
United States and certified as conforming to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1992, 1993, and 1994 General Motors Suburban MPVs 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.
    Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1992, 1993, and 1994 General Motors 
Suburban MPVs, 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 non-U.S. certified 1992, 
1993, and 1994 General Motors Suburban MPVs 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 Windshiled Wiping and 
Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 
Reflecting Surfaces, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirror, 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 115 Vehicle Identification Number, 116 
Brake Fluid, 118 Power 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, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel 
Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.

    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1992, 
1993, and 1994 General Motors Suburban MPVs 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. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.

    Standards No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of Type 2 
lap and shoulder belts at each outboard seating position and a Type 1 
lap belt at the center seating position on the rear passenger seat. The 
petitioner stated that the vehicles are equipped with Type 2 lap and 
shoulder belts at each outboard seating position on the front and 
middle passenger seats, and with a Type 1 lap belt in the center 
seating position on the middle passenger seat.

    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 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 9, 1995.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 95-20022 Filed 8-11-95; 8:45 am]

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