[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51741-51742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25361]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-103; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993 Pontiac Trans Sport Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible 
for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993 Pontiac Trans Sport multi-purpose 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 a 1993 
Pontiac Trans Sport manufactured for the German market 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 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 November 4, 
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. 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. 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.

[[Page 51742]]

    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether a 
1993 Pontiac Trans Sport MPV manufactured for the German market is 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle which 
Champagne believes is substantially similar is the 1993 Pontiac Trans 
Sport that was manufactured for sale in the United States and certified 
by its manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1993 Pontiac Trans Sport 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.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Pontiac Trans Sport, 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 Pontiac Trans Sport is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 
with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift 
Lever Sequence . . ., 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 
Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood 
Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power-
Operated 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, 208 Occupant Crash 
Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 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 1993 Pontiac Trans Sport comply with the Bumper Standard 
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    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) substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure 
indicator lamp; (b) labeling of the odometer to reflect its calibration 
in kilometers per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/
reflector assemblies.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    The petitioner also states that a certification label must be 
affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565.
    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 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. If NHTSA decides that non-U.S. certified 1993 Pontiac 
Trans Sport MPVs are eligible for importation into the United States, 
that decision will be made with respect to all such vehicles, and not 
be limited to those manufactured for the German market.

    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 30, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-25361 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
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