[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 48992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20924]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2003-15690; Notice 1]


General Motors North America, Inc., Receipt of Application for 
Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    General Motors North America Inc. (GM), has determined that certain 
2001-2003 Oldsmobile Silhouettes and 2003 Pontiac Azteks did not meet 
requirement S5.2 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 120--
``Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger 
Cars.''
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), GM has petitioned for 
a determination that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor 
vehicle safety and has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR 
part 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.
    GM produced 55,825 model year 2001-2003 Oldsmobile Silhouettes and 
15,343 model year 2003 Pontiac Azteks, totaling 71,168 vehicles. These 
vehicles are classified as multipurpose vehicles (MPVs). According to 
GM, the rims fitted to the MPVs were originally released for use on 
passenger cars, and meet all the requirements of FMVSS 110, ``Tire 
Selection and Rims--Passenger Cars''. FMVSS 110 does not require 
marking the rims with either the designation of the source of the rims' 
dimensions or the symbol DOT. When the rims were subsequently released 
for use on the subject MPVs, they were evaluated for the alternative 
usage with respect to performance requirements, but they inadvertently 
were not reviewed with respect to the marking requirements of FMVSS 
120. These rims meet all rim requirements of FMVSS 120, except the 
marking requirements of S5.2(a) and S5.2(c), which require the 
designation of the source of the rims' dimensions, and use of the 
symbol DOT, respectively.
    GM argues that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor 
vehicle safety for the following reason: Apart from S5.2 (a) and 
S5.2(c), the subject rims meet all requirements of FMVSS 120. The tire 
and rim of the affected vehicles are properly matched, and are 
appropriate for the load-carrying characteristics of these vehicles. 
The missing markings have no effect on safety or the performance of the 
tire/rim combination.
    Also, the rim markings and vehicle placard, which are used to 
identify the correct replacement rim, both contain the correct and 
complete size of rims installed on the Silhouette and Aztek MPVs.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written views, arguments, 
and data on the application described above. Comments must refer to the 
docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be 
submitted by any of the following methods: Mail: Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-001. Hand Delivery: 
Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh 
Street SW., Washington, DC. It is requested, but not required, that two 
copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open on 
weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal Holidays. Comments may 
be submitted electronically by logging onto the Docket Management 
System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help'' to obtain 
instructions for filing the document electronically. Comments may be 
faxed to 1-202-493-2251, or may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    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 considered to the extent possible. When the application is 
granted or denied, the notice is published in the Federal Register 
pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: September 15, 2003.

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

    Issued on: August 7, 2003.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 03-20924 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P