[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42096-42097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21070]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4165]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1991-1998 Ford Explorer 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 
1991-1998 Ford Explorer 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 1991-
1998 Ford Explorers manufactured for sale in Venezuela 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 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 September 8, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, 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. 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 (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1991-1998 Ford Explorers that were not originally manufactured to 
comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
Champagne believes are substantially similar are 1991-1998 Ford 
Explorers that were manufactured for sale in the United States and 
certified by their manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, as conforming to 
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1991-1998 Ford Explorers 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 the non-U.S. certified 1991-1998 Ford Explorers, 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 non-U.S. certified 
1991-1998 Ford Explorers are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake 
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, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior 
Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the Driver from 
the Steering Control System (with respect to 1991 through 1995 model 
year vehicles; remaining model years are exempt), 204 Steering Control 
Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door 
Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 
210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof 
Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability 
of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1991-1998 Ford Explorers comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 
CFR part 581 and with the Theft Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR 
part 541.
    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: (a) Substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a

[[Page 42097]]

noncomplying symbol on the brake failure indicator lamp; (b) 
installation of a seat belt warning lamp that displays the appropriate 
symbol; (c) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers 
to miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies that 
incorporate headlamps with DOT markings; (b) installation of U.S.-model 
front and rear sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of 
U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: Rewiring of the power window 
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
switched off.
    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) Installation of a U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's 
position, or a belt webbing-actuated microswitch inside the driver's 
seat belt retractor; (b) installation of an ignition switch-actuated 
seat belt warning lamp and buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's side 
air bag and knee bolster with U.S. model components on 1996 model year 
vehicles that are not so equipped and replacement of both the driver's 
and passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters with U.S.-model 
components on 1997 and 1998 model year vehicles that are not so 
equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with 
combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an 
automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button at 
both front designated seating positions, with combination lap and 
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button at 
both rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a lap belt in 
the rear center designated seating position.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
evaporative emissions collection canister.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles 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. (Docket hours are from 10 am to 5 pm). 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: August 3, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-21070 Filed 8-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P