[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36741-36742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17166]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5912]


Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1991-1997 
Honda VFR 750 and 1998-1999 Honda VFR 800 Motorcycles are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1991-1997 Honda VFR 750 and 1998-1999 Honda VFR 800 motorcycles 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 
1991-1997 Honda VFR 750 and 1998-1999 Honda VFR 800 motorcycles 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 August 6, 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. 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 of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
non-U.S. certified 1991-1997 Honda VFR 750 and 1998-1999 Honda VFR 800 
motorcycles are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially similar are 1991-
1997 Honda VFR 750 and 1998-1999 Honda VFR 800 motorcycles 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 
1991-1997 Honda VFR 750 and 1998-1999 Honda VFR 800 motorcycles 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 non-U.S. certified 1991-1997 Honda VFR 750 and 1998-
1999 Honda VFR 800 motorcycles, 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 1991-
1997 Honda VFR 750 and 1998-1999 Honda VFR 800 motorcycles are 
identical to their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to 
compliance with Standard Nos. 106 Brake Hoses, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 
116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars, and 122 Motorcycle Brake Systems.
    Petitioner additionally contends that the vehicles are capable of 
being readily altered to meet the following standard, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of U.S.-model head lamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information label.
    Standard No. 123 Motorcycle Controls and Displays: Installation of 
a U.S.-model speedometer/odometer calibrated in miles per hour.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number 
plate will be affixed to the vehicles to meet the requirements of 49 
CFR part 565.
    Comments should refer to the docket number and be submitted to: 
Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.

[[Page 36742]]

    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: July 1, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-17166 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P