[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18962-18963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9545]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5498]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1997 Chevrolet Astro Vans Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1997 Chevrolet Astro Vans 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 
1997 Chevrolet Astro Vans manufactured for sale in the Middle East 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 May 17, 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. 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 a 1997 Chevrolet Astro Van manufactured for sale in the 
Middle East is eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicle which Wallace believes is substantially similar is the 1997 
Chevrolet Astro Van that was manufactured for sale in the United States 
and certified by its manufacturer, General Motors Corporation, as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1997

[[Page 18963]]

Chevrolet Astro Van to its U.S. certified counterpart, and found the 
two 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 the non-U.S. certified 1997 Chevrolet Astro Van, as 
originally manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1997 Chevrolet Astro Van is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 
with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 101 Controls and 
Displays, 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, 118 Power Operated Window Systems, 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, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing 
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating 
Systems, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side 
Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone 
Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior 
Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1997 Chevrolet Astro Van complies 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. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of the tail light assemblies with U.S.-model 
components that incorporate rear sidemarkers.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required 
warning statement in the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning device 
that activates when the key is left in the ignition and the driver's 
door is opened.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
    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 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: April 12, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-9545 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P