[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44377-44378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21145]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-67; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
1994 and 1995 Dodge Ram Pickup Trucks are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1994 and 1995 Dodge Ram pickup trucks manufactured in Mexico 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 1994 
and 1995 Dodge Ram pickup trucks 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.

DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is September 25, 
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 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 

[[Page 44378]]
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 1994 and 1995 Dodge Ram pickup trucks manufactured in 
Mexico are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles that Wallace believes are substantially similar are 1994 and 
1995 Dodge Ram pickup trucks 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 
1994 and 1995 Dodge Ram pickup trucks 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 1994 and 1995 Dodge Ram pickup 
trucks, 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 1994 
and 1995 Dodge Ram pickup trucks 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, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 108 Lamps, 
Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 
111 Rearview Mirror, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 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, 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 1994 
and 1995 Dodge Ram pickup trucks 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. 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems: Inscription of the word 
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator light.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
to be activated when the driver's door is opened with the key left in 
the ignition.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a 
driver's side air bag and knee bolster. The petitioner stated that the 
vehicles are equipped with Type 2 lap and shoulder belts at each 
outboard seating position and a Type 1 lap belt at each center seating 
position.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Replacement of the Type 2 
lap and shoulder belts at each outboard seating position with U.S.-
model components that bear the required markings.
    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 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 21, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-21145 Filed 8-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P