[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39507-39508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19071]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-077; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993 Bentley Brooklands Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993 Bentley Brooklands passenger cars 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 1993 
Bentley Brooklands 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.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 28, 
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).

[[Page 39508]]

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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1993 Bentley Brooklands passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes 
is substantially similar is the 1993 Bentley Brooklands that was 
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and 
certified by its manufacturer, Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd., as conforming 
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1993 Bentley Brooklands 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 1993 Bentley Brooklands, 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 
1993 Bentley Brooklands is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 
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, 105 
Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 
New Pneumatic Tires, 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, 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, and 301 Fuel System Integrity, 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: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlight assemblies; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model turn signal lenses.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required 
warning statement in the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: reprogramming of the DIPP unit 
for proper functioning of the warning buzzer, which is already 
installed in the vehicle, together with a microswitch in the ignition 
circuit.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
seat belt warning system, including the replacement of the driver's 
seat belt latch with a U.S.-model component and reprogramming of the 
DIPP; (b) installation of a driver's side air bag that is identical to 
the one found on the vehicle's U.S. certified counterpart. The 
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with Type 2 seat belt 
assemblies in all front and rear outboard seating positions, and with a 
Type 1 seat belt in the rear center seating position.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that U.S.-model bumper shock 
absorbers and associated hardware must be installed on the non-U.S. 
certified 1993 Bentley Brooklands to comply with the Bumper Standard 
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    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: July 22, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-19071 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P