[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8736-8737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4057]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-17141]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1999 Chevrolet Camaro Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1999 Chevrolet Camaro 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 
1999 Chevrolet Camaro 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 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:

[[Page 8737]]

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.
    Eurosport Motorcars, Inc. of Cape Coral, Florida (``EMI'') 
(Registered Importer 01-291) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1999 Chevrolet Camaro passenger cars originally manufactured for sale 
in foreign markets are eligible for importation into the United States. 
The vehicles which EMI believes are substantially similar are 1999 
Chevrolet Camaro passenger cars that were manufactured for 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 
1999 Chevrolet Camaro 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.
    EMI submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 1999 Chevrolet Camaro 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 1999 
Chevrolet Camaro passenger cars are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 101 Controls 
and Displays, 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, 103 Defrosting and 
Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 
Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices 
and Associated Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 
Passenger Car Brake Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior 
Impact, 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 
Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
Mounting, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 
Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the 
required warning statement on the mirror's face.
    Standard No. 116 Brake Fluid: replacement of the vehicle's brake 
fluid with brake fluid that is certified to meet the standard.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: inspection of all vehicles 
and rewiring of the power window system, if needed, so that the window 
transport will not operate with the ignition switched off.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: inspection of all vehicles 
to ensure that they are equipped with door beams identical to those in 
the U.S. certified model and installation of those components on 
vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected for 
compliance with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581, and that 
reinforcement must be added to the bumpers of all vehicles that are not 
in compliance with the standard. The petitioner states that engineering 
specifications will be furnished at the conformity stage to establish 
the compliance of the vehicle with those components installed.
    The petitioner also states that all vehicles must be inspected for 
compliance with the parts marking requirements of the Theft Prevention 
Standard found in 49 CFR 541, and that required markings must be added 
to the engine and transmission of vehicles that are not so marked. The 
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft 
system that locks the steering wheel when the ignition is switched off.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post and a 
reference and certification label must be affixed in the area of the 
left front door post to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565. The 
petitioner further states that a certification label must be affixed to 
the driver's doorjamb 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. 04-4057 Filed 2-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P