[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10617-10618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5720]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 97-014; Notice 1]


Accuride Corporation; Receipt of Application for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Accuride Corporation (Accuride) has determined that certain one-
piece, tubeless aluminum dual wheels fail to conform to the 
requirements of 49 CFR 571.120, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
(FMVSS) No. 120, ``Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other 
Than Passenger Cars,'' and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 
49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.'' Accuride has 
also applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 ``Motor Vehicle Safety'' on the 
basis that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle 
safety.
    This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 CFR 
Part 556 and does not represent any agency decision or other exercise 
of judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    FMVSS No. 120, Paragraph 5.2, Rim Marking, states that ``On or 
after August 1, 1977, each rim or, at the option of the manufacturer in 
the case of a singlepiece wheel, wheel disc shall be marked with the 
information listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this paragraph, in 
lettering not less than 3 millimeters high, impressed to a depth or, at 
the option of the manufacturer, embossed to a height of not less than 
0.125 millimeters. The information listed in paragraphs (a) through (c) 
of this paragraph shall appear on the weather side. In the case of rims 
of multipiece construction, the information listed in paragraphs (a) 
through (e) of this paragraph shall appear on the rim base and the 
information listed in paragraphs (b) and (d) of this paragraph shall 
also appear on each other part of the rim.''
    Accuride's description of the noncompliance follows:

[[Page 10618]]

    The motor vehicle equipment in issue are Accu-Forge 22.5 & 
24.5 x 8.25 inch 15 deg. Drop Center, One-piece, Tubeless Aluminum Dual 
Wheels, produced by Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation at its 
Erie, Pennsylvania, forging plant and machined at Ultra Forge, Inc. at 
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, were misstamped on the marking of the rim. The 
symbol ``DOT'' and the designation which indicates the source of the 
rim's published nominal dimensions, in this case ``T'' were not 
included. All other stampings specified by FMVSS 120 and by Accuride, 
including the part number and the loading rating, were correctly 
stamped on the product.
    Accuride provides the following information in support of its 
petition:

    ``1. Accuride Corporation is a Delaware corporation and is a 
subsidiary of Phelps Dodge Corporation. Accuride is headquartered in 
Henderson, Kentucky and is a major manufacturer of truck rims and 
wheels.
    ``2. The motor vehicle equipment in question are a small number 
of Accu-Forge 22.5 & 24.5 x 8.25 inch, 15 deg. drop center, one-
piece tubeless dual wheels produced by Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical 
Corporation at its Erie, Pennsylvania forging plant and machined at 
Ultra Forge, Inc. in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In issue are an estimated 
478 of the total 1,256 wheels of this size produced between January 
6, 1997 and January 10, 1997. Six wheels manufactured December 23, 
1996 were also stamped during this time frame. The non-compliance 
relates to the mis-stamping of the marking of the rim. The symbol 
``DOT'' and the designation which indicates the source of the rim's 
published nominal dimensions, in this case ``T'', were not included. 
All other stampings and markings required by FMVSS 120 and Accuride, 
including the part number and load rating, are correctly identified 
on each of the components in questions.
    ``3. The rim marking is for information only and there is no 
safety-related issue potentially arising from the exclusion of these 
symbols on the wheels.''

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application of Accuride, 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, D.C., 20590. It is requested but not required 
that six copies be submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also 
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the 
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below. Comment 
closing date: April 7, 1997.

(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 
501.8)

    Issued on: March 3, 1997.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 97-5720 Filed 3-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P