[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1143-1144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-387]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-126; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1986 Mazda RX-7 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1986 Mazda RX-7 passenger cars 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 1986
Mazda RX-7 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 importation
into and 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 February 7,
1997.
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 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. 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. 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.
[[Page 1144]]
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 1986 Mazda RX-7
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicle which LPC believes is substantially similar is the 1986 Mazda
RX-7 that was manufactured for importation into, and 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 1986 Mazda RX-7 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.
LPC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1986 Mazda RX-7, 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
1986 Mazda RX-7 is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with
respect to compliance with Standards 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, 112 Headlamp
Concealment Devices, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 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, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat
Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Petitioner states that the vehicle also complies 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) inscription of the word
``Brake'' on the lens of the brake failure indicator lamp; (b)
replacement of the speedometer/odometer with a U.S.- model component.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.- model sealed headlight assemblies;
(b) installation of U.S.- model rear sidemarker lights.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a U.S.- model
warning buzzer relay and a warning buzzer in the steering lock
electrical circuit.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is
switched off.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer. Petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped
with U.S.-model seat belt assemblies identical to those found on its
U.S.-certified counterpart.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the
evaporative emissions collection canister.
Additionally, the petitioner states that a VIN plate will be
installed in the vehicle so that it can be read from outside the left
windshield pillar, and a VIN reference label will be installed on the
edge of the door or latch post nearest the driver 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 Mazda 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: January 3, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-387 Filed 1-7-97; 8:45 am]
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