[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50499-50500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24725]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2001-10696; Notice 1]


Volkswagen of America, Inc.; Receipt of Application for Decision 
of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen), has determined that 
approximately 225,000 vehicles produced from 1977 to August 6, 2001, do 
not meet the labeling requirements of paragraph S5.3(b) of Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 120 ``Tire Selection and Rims 
for Motor Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars''. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 
30118(d) and 30120(h), Volkswagen has petitioned for a determination 
that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and 
has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR 573, ``Defect and 
Noncompliance Reports.''
    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 judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    The noncompliant vehicles were produced by Volkswagen AG and were 
imported by Volkswagen. The noncompliance relates to multipurpose 
passenger vehicles produced and imported under the Vanagon and Eurovan 
model designations. In these vehicles, Volkswagen did not include

[[Page 50500]]

tire size, rim designation and recommended cold inflation pressure on 
the certification label specified by 49 CFR Section 567.4, but rather 
utilized the option in S5.3(b) of FMVSS 120 and provided a separate 
label attached to the driver side B-pillar. The separate tire 
information label did not list the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) 
and gross axle weight rating (GAWR) of the vehicle because those 
weights were identified on the Section 567.4 certification label which 
is also affixed to the driver side B-pillar.
    Volkswagen believes that the failure of the tire information label 
on the driver's side B-pillar to include the vehicle weight values is 
at a minimum inconsequential for motor vehicle safety because the 
weights are included on the certification label which is also mounted 
on the driver side B-pillar of the vehicle. Any consumer who is 
interested in the vehicle weights would be able to find those values on 
the certification label where they are included pursuant to the 
requirements of Section 567.4.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments on the application 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 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, the notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: November 2, 2001.

(49 U.S.C. 301118, 301120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 
and 501.8)

    Issued on: September 27, 2001.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-24725 Filed 10-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P