[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31748-31749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14727]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2000-9739]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1998-2001 BMW R1100 Motorcycles Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1998-2001 BMW R1100 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 
1998-2001 BMW R1100 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 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 July 12, 2001.

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 a.m. to 
5 p.m.]

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.
    DC Imports of Coral Springs, Florida (``DCI'')(Registered Importer 
R-00-242) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether non-U.S. certified 
1998-2001 BMW R1100 motorcycles are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles were manufactured for sale in European 
markets and DCI believes that they are substantially similar to the 
1998-2001 BMW R1100 motorcycles that were manufactured for 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 
1998-2001 BMW R1100 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.
    DCI submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 1998-2001 BMW R1100 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 1998-
2001 BMW R1100 motorcycles are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 106 Brake 
Hoses, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 116

[[Page 31749]]

Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger 
Cars, and 122 Motorcycle Brake Systems.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated below:
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S. model headlamp assemblies which 
incorporate headlamps that are certified to meet the standard; (b) 
replacement of all reflectors with reflectors that are certified to 
meet 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 calibrated in miles per hour and a U.S. model 
odometer that measures distance traveled in miles.
    The petitioner also states that vehicle identification number 
plates that meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565 must be affixed.
    Comments should refer to the docket number and be submitted to: 
Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 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: June 6, 2001.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety, Compliance.
[FR Doc. 01-14727 Filed 6-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P