[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71221-71222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31420]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16719]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1979-1980 Volkswagen Transporter Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1979-1980 Volkswagen Transporter multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 
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 
1979-1980 Volkswagen Transporter MPVs 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 importation into and 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 January 21, 
2004.

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 am to 5 
pm]. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the

[[Page 71222]]

comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA, 202-366-3151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. Sec.  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 of the same model year that was originally 
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and 
certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec.  30115, and that the vehicle 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.
    Eurotech Imports of South Burlington, Vermont (``Eurotech'') 
(Registered Importer 02-313) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1979-1980 Volkswagen Transporter MPVs are eligible for importation into 
the United States. The vehicles that Eurotech believes are 
substantially similar are 1979-1980 Volkswagen Vanagon MPVs that were 
manufactured for importation into, and 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 
1979-1980 Volkswagen Transporter MPVs 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.
    Eurotech submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1979-1980 Volkswagen Transporter 
MPVs, 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 1979-
1980 Volkswagen Transporter MPVs are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic and 
Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 
Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other Than Passenger 
Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in 
Interior Impact, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 
Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 
Seating Systems, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Substitution of the 
word ``Brake'' for the ECE warning symbol as a marking for the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp 
that displays the appropriate seat belt symbol; (c) recalibration of 
the speedometer/odometer to show speed in miles per hour and distance 
traveled in miles.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies that 
incorporate headlamps certified to DOT requirements; (b) installation 
of U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) 
installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: Rewiring of the power window 
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
switched off.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles Other Than 
Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line.
    Petitioner states that a vehicle identification number (VIN) plate 
must be affixed to the vehicles so that it is readable from outside the 
driver's windshield pillar, and a reference and certification label 
must be affixed to the edge of the driver's side door or to the latch 
post nearest the driver to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be 
submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9 am to 5 pm]. 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: December 17, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-31420 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P