[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40070-40071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19362]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-89; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 Trucks Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks 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 1990-
1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks 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 July 31, 1996.

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 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 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.
    Baja Truck Center of San Diego, California (``Baja'') (Registered 
Importer 96-118) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1990-1996 Ken-
Mex T800 trucks are eligible for importation into the United States. 
The vehicles which Baja believes are substantially similar are 1990-
1996 Kenworth T800 trucks that were manufactured for sale in the United 
States and certified by their manufacturer, PACCAR, Inc., as conforming 
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 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.
    Baja submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1990-1996 Ken-Mex T800 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 1990-
1996 Ken-Mex T800 trucks are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *., 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 107 Reflecting 
Surfaces, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 111 
Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 115 Vehicle Identification 
Number, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 
121 Air Brake Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 205 Glazing 
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 208 Occupant 
Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 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. 101  Controls and Displays: (a) Placement of a label 
with the words ``Brake Air'' on the brake air pressure position 
telltale; (b) inscription of the word ``Brake'' on the brake system 
warning light.
    Standard No. 106  Brake Hoses: replacement of brake line hoses and 
connections lacking DOT markings with U.S. model components.
    Standard No. 120  Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars: (a) Installation of a tire

[[Page 40071]]

information placard; (b) replacement of tire rims lacking required 
markings with appropriately marked components.
    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 25, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-19362 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P