[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6685-6686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3825]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-13; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1972 Ford Mustang Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1972 Ford Mustang passenger cars manufactured for the Mexican market 
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 1972 
Ford Mustang manufactured for the Mexican market 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 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.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is March 22, 1996.

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 a.m. to 4 p.m.]

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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 

[[Page 6686]]
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. Sec. 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 1972 Ford Mustang passenger cars manufactured for the 
Mexican market are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicle which Wallace believes is substantially similar is the 1972 
Ford Mustang that was manufactured for sale in the United States and 
certified by its manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, as conforming to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1972 Ford Mustang 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.
    Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1972 Ford Mustang, 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 
1972 Fort Mustang is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with 
respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 101 Controls and Displays, 
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, 109 
New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirror,  113 Hood Latch Systems, 115 
Vehicle Identification Number, 116 Brake Fluid, 210 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 Gazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention 
Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belts Assemblies, 210 Seat 
Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212 
Windshield Retention, 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. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of a white license plate lamp.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch in the ignition switch a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation in 
both from outboard seating positions of lap and upper torso restraints 
adjustable by means of an automatic-locking retractor, and with a latch 
mechanism capable of releasing both belts simultaneously; (b) 
installation Type 1 lap belts in both rear outboard seating positions.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
evaporative emissions collection canister.
    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: February 14, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-3825 Filed 2-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M