[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40071-40072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19365]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-90; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1991-1996 Freightliner FTLD112064SD Trucks Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1991-1996 Freightliner FTLD112064SD trucks are eligible for 
importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1991-
1996 Freightliner FTLD112064SD 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 August 30, 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 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. 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 1991-1996 
Freightliner FTLD112064SD trucks are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which Baja believes are substantially 
similar are 1991-1996 Freightliner FTLD112064SD trucks that were 
manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their 
manufacturer, Freightliner Corporation, as conforming to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1991-1996 Freightliner FTLD112064SD 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 1991-1996 Freightliner FTLD112064SD 
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 1991-
1996 Freightliner FTLD112064SD 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, 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. 119  New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars: replacement of tires lacking DOT markings with 
appropriately marked tires.
    Standard No. 120  Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars: (a) installation of a tire 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, S.W., Washington, DC 
20590. It is requested

[[Page 40072]]

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. 96-19365 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P