[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 54726-54727] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-26149] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA-99-6269; Notice 1] IMPCO Technologies; Receipt of Application for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance IMPCO Technologies (IMPCO), of Irvine, California, has determined that a number of 1997 and 1998 bi-fueled compressed natural gas (CNG) Chevrolet/GMC C2500 and Sierra model pickup trucks do not meet the requirements of S5.3 and S5.4 of 49 CFR 571.303, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles,'' and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defects and Noncompliance Reports.'' IMPCO has also applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--``Motor Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or other exercise of judgement concerning the merits of the application. FMVSS No. 303, S5.3 requires that CNG vehicles shall be permanently labeled, near the vehicle refueling connection, with the information specified in S5.3.1 and S5.3.2 of this section. The information shall be visible to a person standing next to the vehicle during refueling, in English, and in letters and numbers that are not less than 4.76 mm \3/16\ inch) high. S5.3.1 requires the statement: ``Service pressure kPa (________psig),'' and S5.3.2 requires the statement ``See instructions on fuel container for inspection and service life.'' S5.4 requires that, when a motor vehicle is delivered to the first purchaser for purposes other than resale, the manufacturer shall provide the purchaser with a written statement of the information in S5.3.1 and S5.3.2 in the owner's manual, or, if there is no owner's manual, on a one-page document. The information shall be in English and in not less than 10 point type. IMPCO has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that in model years 1997 and 1998, it altered 400, 1997 and 285, 1998 Chevrolet/GMC C2500 and Sierra model pickup trucks that did not fully comply with the labeling requirements specified in 49 CFR 571.303. IMPCO stated that the noncompliance consists of deviations from the wording required on the CNG vehicle label and in the owner's manual. IMPCO supported its application for inconsequential noncompliance by stating that an out-of-date version of FMVSS No. 303, which did not contain specific requirements, was used by the supplier that prepared the label and owner's manual supplement. As a result the CNG vehicle label applied near the refueling connection, and the owner's manual for the subject vehicles, did not contain the exact statements required by FMVSS No. 303, S5.3 and S5.4. IMPCO stated that the refueling valve label clearly states the operating pressure and refers the user to the owner's manual for information about tank service life. IMPCO also placed an additional label under the hood, on the fan shroud, that would be visible during more frequent routine service, such as fluid check and oil changes. This additional label again specifies the service pressure and the tank expiration date. IMPCO further stated that the owner's manual indicates the service life, inspection information, and also provides a form to record the expiration date. IMPCO believes that the labels and owner's manual supplement provided with these vehicles are responsive to and consistent with the rationale and intent of the requirements, even though the exact words required by the standard are not used. The required words and actual words are shown as follows: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 and 1998 Bi-fuel truck label FMVSS paragraph Required label wording wording ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S5.3............................... 1SERVICE PRESSURE 24820 kPa (3600 3600 PSI SYSTEM OPERATING PRESSURES. psig). 5.3.2.............................. SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON FUEL CONTAINER SEE CNG OWNERS MANUAL SUPPLEMENT FOR FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE. FUEL TANK SERVICE LIFE. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 54727]] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 1998 FMVSS paragraph Required owner's manual wording CNG truck owner's manual wording Manual Manual -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S5.4.................................... SERVICE PRESSURE 24820 kPa (3600 psig).... This system operates at pressures up to X X 3600 PSI (24.8 MPa). (p. iv). The CNG fuel system is designed to use a .......... X fill pressure of 3,600 psi (24.8 Mpa).at 70 deg. F (21 deg.C) (P. 6-3). 13.2 gallons (equivalent) (50 L) at 3600 psi (24.8 Mpa) and 70 deg.F (21 deg.C) (page 6-6). 13 GGE (Gasoline Gallon Equivalent) (49 L) X .......... at 3600 psi (24.8 Mpa) and 70 deg. F (21 deg.C). (page 6-6). 3600 PSI SYSTEM PRESSURE (page 7-7)....... X X XS5.4................................... SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON FUEL CONTAINER FOR A trained technician must remove the tank X X INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE. cover and perfrom a CNG fuel tank and mounting bracket inspection every three years or 36,000 miles (60,000 km) whichever comes first. (Page 7-6). The CNG fuel tank has a service life of 15 X X years. After the tank expiration date, the tank must be replaced by an authorized GM dealer. (Page 7-7). This (expiration) date is listed on the X .......... fuel tank and the fuel tank cover label. (Page 7-7). This (expiration) date is listed on the .......... X fuel tank and the fuel tank, the fuel fill door label and the underhood bi-fuel information label. (Page 7-7). CNG Fuel Tank Inspection Record (page 7-8) X X -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPCO stated the following: IMPCO believes that the labels and owner's manual supplement information provided with these vehicles are responsive and consistent with the rationale and intent of the requirements, even though the exact words required by the standard are not used. The actual labels and the owner's manual supplement provide equivalent information required by FMVSS 303, S5.3 and S5.4. The CNG refueling valve label clearly states the operating pressure and refers the user to the owner's manual for information about tank service life. Both the refueling valve and the underhood labels include the service expiration date and the owners manual indicates the service life, inspection information, and provide a form to record the expiration date. Virtually all CNG refueling stations incorporate an overfill protection system. Granted, a few CNG fill stations exist that are capable of providing a fill greater than 3,000 psi, however, the vehicle fill valve is designed to be incompatible with fill stations that have a fill pressure greater than the vehicle's rated service pressure. For example, a vehicle with a fill valve rated at 3,600 psi would be capable of filling at a 3,600, 3,000 or 2,400 psi fill station. However, it would be incapable of filling at a 5,000 psi fill station. Also, the subject vehicles are equipped with a CNG container validated up to 200 percent of the service pressure without leakage as required by FMVSS 304, S7.2.2 for such containers. Thus, even in the unlikely event of an overfill, the CNG containers are designed to provide adequate protection. IMPCO has not received any reports of injuries or property damage associated with overfilling of these vehicles and believes it is extremely remote that these deviations from FMVSS 303 label and owner's manual requirements could contribute to an injury or property damage incident. For all of these reasons, IMPCO believes that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. Accordingly, IMPCO petitions that it be exempted from the remedy and recall provisions of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act in this case. Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments on the application of described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be submitted to: U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. It is requested, but not required, that two copies be submitted. All comments received before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the application is granted or denied, notice will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below. Comment closing date: November 8, 1999. (49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8) Issued on: October 4, 1999. Stephen R. Kratzke, Acting Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards. [FR Doc. 99-26149 Filed 10-6-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-P