[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60147-60148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26508]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2003-14826; Notice 1]


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

    Nissan North America (Nissan) has determined that the side marker 
lamps in approximately 302,000 model year 2002 and 2003 Nissan Altima 
vehicles do not meet certain requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, ``Lamps, Reflective Devices and 
Associated Equipment.

[[Page 60148]]

    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Nissan 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 this petition 
can 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.
    FMVSS 108 S5.1.1 specifies that each vehicle shall be equipped with 
certain lamps and reflective devices. Nissan stated that extensive 
testing demonstrates that the subject side marker lamps consistently 
meet the light intensity requirements at the required test points. 
However, Nissan determined that the front side marker lamps may not 
meet the requirement to sustain the light intensity when measured 
between two of the nine test points in a scan test. Nissan believes 
that the noncompliance of the side lamps does not affect its primary 
purpose, which is to be sufficiently visible to identify the front edge 
of the vehicle at night. Nissan stated that the reported noncompliance 
is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.
    Its petition may be read by visiting the above mentioned docket 
using the Docket Management System described below.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application described above. Comments must refer to 
the docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and 
be submitted to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Management, 
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590. 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. 
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.
    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 20, 2003.

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

    Issued on: October 14, 2003.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 03-26508 Filed 10-20-03; 8:45 am]
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