[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8735-8736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4056]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-17142]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2000 Volvo C70 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2000 Volvo C70 passenger cars 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 
2000 Volvo C70 passenger cars 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 March 26, 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 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.]. 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 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. 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 originally manufactured for importation into 
and sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of 
the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, 
and 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.
    Barry W. Taylor Enterprises, Inc. of Richmond, California (``BTE'') 
(Registered Importer 01-280) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
2000 Volvo C70 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which BTE believes are substantially 
similar are 2000 Volvo C70 passenger cars 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 
2000 Volvo C70 passenger cars 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.
    BTE submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2000 Volvo C70 passenger cars, 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 2000 
Volvo C70 passenger cars 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 Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 110 Tire Selection 
and Rims, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake 
Fluid, 124

[[Page 8736]]

Accelerator Control Systems, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection 
for the Driver from the Steering Control System, 204 Steering Control 
Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door 
Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 
Windshield Zone Intrusion, 302 Flammability of Interior Materials, and 
401 Interior Trunk Release.
    Petitioner states that the vehicles also comply with the Bumper 
Standard found at 49 CFR part 581.
    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: replacement or conversion 
of the speedometer to read in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlight assemblies; (b) 
installation of amber sidemarker lights.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window Systems: inspection of all 
vehicles and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with the 
standard. The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle does in 
fact comply with the standard.
    Standard No. 135 Passenger Car Brake Systems: inspection of all 
vehicles and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with the 
standard. The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle does in 
fact comply with the standard.
    Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact: inspection 
of all vehicles and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance 
with the standard. The petitioner expressed the belief that all the 
components on the vehicle that could affect compliance with the 
standard are identical to those found on the vehicle's U.S.-certified 
counterpart.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all 
vehicles and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with the 
standard. The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle's crash 
protection system is identical to that found on the vehicle's U.S.-
certified counterpart.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: inspection of all vehicles 
and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with the standard. 
The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle is equipped with 
compliant seat belt assemblies.
    Standard No. 213 Child Restraint Systems: inspection of all 
vehicles and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with the 
standard. The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle does in 
fact comply with the standard.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: inspection of all vehicles 
and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with the standard. 
The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle is equipped with 
door beams identical to those found on the vehicle's U.S.-certified 
counterpart.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: inspection of 
all vehicles and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with 
the standard. The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle does 
in fact comply with the standard.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve to achieve compliance with the standard.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected to ensure 
compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR part 541, and 
that anti-theft marking must be added to vehicles that are not already 
so marked.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicles to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565, 
and that a certification label must be affixed to the driver's door 
pillar to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 567.
    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 a.m. to 5 p.m.]. 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: February 19, 2004.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 04-4056 Filed 2-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P