[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77690-77691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31638]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2000-8242]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
1994-2000 Honda VFR 400 and RVF 400 Motorcycles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1994-2000 Honda VFR 400 and RVF 400 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 
1994-2000 Honda VFR 400 and RVF 400 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 January 11, 
2001.

ADDRESSESES: 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

[[Page 77691]]

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.
    Northern California Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc. of Napa, 
California (``NCDL'') (Registered Importer 92-011) has petitioned NHTSA 
to decide whether non-U.S. certified 1994-2000 Honda VFR 400 and RVF 
400 motorcycles are eligible for importation into the United States. 
The vehicles which NCDL believes are substantially similar are 1994-
2000 Honda CBR 600 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 1994-2000 Honda 
VFR 400 and RVF 400 motorcycles to 1994-2000 Honda CBR 600 motorcycles, 
and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    NCDL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that 1994-2000 Honda VFR 400 and RVF 400 motorcycles, as 
originally manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards in the same manner as 1994-2000 Honda CBR 600 motorcycles, or 
are capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that 1994-2000 Honda VFR 400 
and RVF 400 motorcycles are identical to 1994-2000 Honda CBR 600 
motorcycles 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.
    The petitioner also states that vehicle identification number 
plates that meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565 are already 
affixed to 1994-2000 Honda VFR 400 and RVF 400 motorcycles.
    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: (a) replacement of the headlamp system with a U.S.-model 
component; (b) installation of a red reflector on each side of vehicle 
at its rear end; (c) installation of an amber reflector on each side of 
the vehicle at its front end. The petitioner states that the vehicle is 
equipped with a tail lamp system, a stop lamp system, a license plate 
lamp, a red rear reflector, and turn signals that are in conformity 
with the standard.
    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. The petitioner states that all other controls 
and displays on the vehicle, including the supplemental engine stop 
control, conform to the standard.
    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.
    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: December 5, 2000.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety, Compliance
[FR Doc. 00-31638 Filed 12-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P