[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6612-6613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3448]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 97-011; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1972 Through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL Series Motorcycles Are
Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1972
through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series motorcycles
manufactured for the European and other Foreign markets 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 importation into and 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 March 14, 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), 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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1972 through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series
motorcycles manufactured for the European and other foreign markets are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles that
Wallace believes are substantially similar are the versions of the 1972
through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series motorcycles that
were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States
and certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1972 through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series
motorcycles 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.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1972 through 1997 Harley
Davidson FX, FL, and XL series motorcycles, 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 1972 through 1997
Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series motorcycles are identical to
their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with
Standard Nos. 106 Brake Hoses, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 116 Brake
Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars,
120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars,
122 Motorcycle Brake Systems, and 205 Glazing Materials.
[[Page 6613]]
Additionally, Petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 1972
through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series motorcycles comply
with the vehicle identification number requirements of 49 CFR part 565,
and the tire identification and recordkeeping requirements of 49 CFR
574.
Petitioner also contends that the non-U.S. certified 1972 through
1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series motorcycles 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 U.S.-model headlamp assembly, taillight
assembly, and reflectors.
Standard No. 123 Motorcycle Controls and Displays: installation of
a U.S. model speedometer calibrated in miles per hour.
Petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number plate
will be affixed to the vehicles to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part
565.
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.
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 February 6, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-3448 Filed 2-11-97; 8:45 am]
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