[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 39358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19481]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4026]


Decision That Nonconforming 1989-1991 Chevrolet Suburban Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1989-1991 
Chevrolet Suburban multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible 
for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision by NHTSA that 1989-1991 
Chevrolet Suburban MPVs not originally manufactured to comply with all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for 
importation into the United States because they are substantially 
similar to vehicles originally manufactured for sale in the United 
States and certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety 
standards (U.S.-certified 1989-1991 Chevrolet Suburban MPVs), and they 
are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATE: This decision is effective July 22, 1998.

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.
    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 (Registered 
Importer R-90-009) petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1989-1991 
Chevrolet Suburban MPVs are eligible for importation into the United 
States. NHTSA published notice of the petition on February 18, 1998 (62 
FR 8251) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader is 
referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petition. No 
comments were received in response to the notice. Based on its review 
of the information submitted by the petitioner, NHTSA has decided to 
grant the petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles

    The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must 
indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle 
eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry. 
VSP-242 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles 
admissible under this decision.

Final Decision

    Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides 
that 1989-1991 Chevrolet Suburban MPVs not originally manufactured to 
comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are 
substantially similar to 1989-1991 Chevrolet Suburban MPVs originally 
manufactured for sale in the United States and certified under 49 
U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and are capable of being readily altered to conform 
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

    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: July 16, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-19481 Filed 7-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P