[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63599-63600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31439]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-97-3156]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') 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 
1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') 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 1973-
1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs 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 December 31, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, 
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours 
are from 10 am to 5 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. 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.
    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

[[Page 63600]]

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 1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
Wallace believes are substantially similar are 1973-1975 Volkswagen 
Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs 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 
1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs 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 non-U.S. certified 1973-1975 Volkswagen Type 181 
(``The Thing'') MPVs, 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 1973-
1975 Volkswagen Type 181 (``The Thing'') MPVs are identical to their 
U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard 
Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . ., 104 Windshield 
Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 
116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 205 Glazing Materials, 
206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 210 
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, and 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: inscription of appropriate 
words or symbols to identify the controls for the hazard warning 
signal, the windshield defrosting and defogging system, the lights. The 
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with an odometer that is 
labeled at the factory as being calibrated in kilometers, precluding 
the need for any alteration to comply with the standard.
    Standard No. 103 Defrosting and Defogging System: replacement with 
a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlights; (b) installation 
of U.S.-model front turn signal lamps; (c) installation of U.S.-model 
taillight assemblies.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: installation of a passenger side 
rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Replacement of the 
seat belts in the front seating positions with U.S.-model components; 
(b) installation of U.S.-model seat belts in the rear seating 
positions.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: replacement of all seat belt 
assemblies supplied with the vehicle.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number 
plate 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 Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW, 
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: November 24, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-31439 Filed 11-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P