[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13247-13248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6474]



[[Page 13247]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5197]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993-1996 Lexus GS300 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993-1996 Lexus GS300 passenger cars 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 1993-
1996 Lexus GS300 passenger cars 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 April 16, 1999.

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 9 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. 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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'')(Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1993-1996 Lexus GS300 passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which Wallace believes 
are substantially similar are 1993-1996 Lexus GS300 passenger cars that 
were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States 
and certified by their manufacturer, Toyota Motor Corporation, as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1993-1996 Lexus GS300 passenger cars 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 1993-1996 Lexus GS300 passenger 
cars, 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 1993-
1996 Lexus GS300 passenger care 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 124 Accelerator 
Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head 
Restraints, 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, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1993-
1996 Lexus GS300 passenger cars comply with the Bumper Standard found 
in 49 CFR Part 581.
    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: substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure 
indicator lamp. Petitioner claims that the odometer is labeled as 
reading in kilometers.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of nonconforming headlight and sidemarker 
assemblies.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a 
safety belt warning system through replacement of the driver's seat 
belt latch and the addition of a seat belt warning buzzer; (b) 
replacement of the driver's side (on 1993 models) and the driver's and 
passenger's side (on 1994 through 1996 models) air bags and knee 
bolsters with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not already so 
equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with 
Type II seat belts at both front and 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.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that all vehicles will be 
inspected prior to importation to assure compliance with the Theft 
Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR Part 541.
    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

[[Page 13248]]

to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 
20590. [Docket hours are from 9 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: March 11, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-6474 Filed 3-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P