[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51177-51178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25901]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-064; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1990-1993 BMW K1 Motorcycles Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990-1993 BMW K1 motorcycles are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
1990-1993 BMW K1 motorcycles 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 October 30,
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 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.
[[Page 51178]]
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.
Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1990-1993 BMW K1 motorcycles are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially
similar are 1990-1993 BMW K1 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 non-U.S. certified
1990-1993 BMW K1 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.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1990-1993 BMW K1 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 non-U.S. certified 1990-
1993 BMW K1 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, and 122 Motorcycle Brake
Systems.
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 U.S.--model headlamp assemblies.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than
Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
Standard No. 123 Motorcycle Controls and Displays: installation of
a U.S. model speedometer calibrated in miles per hour.
The petitioner also states that vehicle identification number
plates meeting the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565 will be affixed to
non-U.S. certified 1990-1993 BMW K1 motorcycles.
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: September 24, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance
[FR Doc. 97-25901 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
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