[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]
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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.
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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