[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 56376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24743]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2003-16066; Notice 1]


Subaru of America, Inc., Receipt of Application for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has determined that approximately 
2,531 model year 2004 Subaru Impreza STi vehicles do meet the labeling 
requirements mandated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 
No. 108, S7.7(e) on ``headlamp ballast.''
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Subaru 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.'' A copy of the petition 
may be found in this docket.
    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 affected vehicles were produced during the period of February 
4, 2003 through July 9, 2003 at Ichikoh Industries, Ltd (Ichikoh), the 
HID headlamp assembly supplier. The affected headlamps are equipped 
with a ballast that is currently registered in docket No. NHTSA-98-
3397. However, ballast units without all of the label information 
required in FMVSS No. 108, S7. 7 (e) were used by Ichikoh to assemble a 
complete headlamp assembly.
    Subaru believes that this noncompliance on ballast marking is 
inconsequential for motor vehicle safety for the following reasons: (1) 
The ballast (part no.: NZMIC111LAC1000) and ignition module (part no.: 
NZMIC211LAC1000) used in these headlamp assemblies are the same ones as 
registered by Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. according to part 564 
except they are missing the information label. For this reason, Subaru 
believes that this noncompliance will not affect the luminous intensity 
distribution, mechanical performance or any other headlamp performance 
characteristic required by FMVSS No. 108. (2) The ballast is designed 
to have high durability during the vehicle's lifetime and Subaru 
believes that the ballast, as well as the headlamp assembly, will not 
need to be replaced from a lack of durability. (3) A properly affixed 
ballast information label, which is on the bottom surface of the 
ballast, is not visible unless the headlamp assembly is removed from 
the vehicle.
    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. Fax: 1-202-493-2251, or submit to Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    It is requested, but not required, that two copies of the comments 
be provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm 
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.
    The application and supporting materials and all comments received 
before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will 
be considered. 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: October 30, 2003.

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

    Issued on: September 25, 2003.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 03-24743 Filed 9-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P