[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50371-50372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24515]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-099; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles 
Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban multipurpose passenger vehicles 
(MPVs) 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 1995-
1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban MPVs 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 was 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.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is October 25, 
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), 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, 
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.
    LPC of New York Inc. of Ronkonkoma, New York (``LPC'') (Registered 
Importer 96-100) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1995-1996 GMC 
and Chevrolet Suburban MPVs are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which LPC believes are substantially 
similar are 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburban MPVs that were 
manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their 
manufacturer, General Motors Corporation, as conforming to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans to their U.S. certified 
counterparts, and found those vehicles to be substantially similar with 
respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    LPC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that the non-U.S. certified 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans, 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 the non-U.S. certified 
1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans are identical to their U.S. 
certified counterparts 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, 111  Rearview Mirrors, 113  Hood Latch Systems, 
116  Brake Fluid, 118  Power-Operated Window Systems, 124  Accelerator 
Control Systems, 201  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  
Glazing Materials, 206  Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207  
Seating Systems, 208  Occupant Crash Protection, 209  Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210  Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211  Wheel Nuts, Wheel 
Discs and Hubcaps, 212  Windshield Retention, 216  Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219  Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301  Fuel System Integrity, 
and 302  Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1995-1996 GMC and Chevrolet Suburbans comply with the 
Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are 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 high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 114  Theft Protection: installation of a warning 
buzzer microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock electrical 
circuit.
    Standard No. 115  Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a 
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and 
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the 
driver.
    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

[[Page 50372]]

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: September 19, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-24515 Filed 9-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P