[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54342-54344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20259]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-18945]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2000 Cadillac Deville Passenger Cars, Manufactured From August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2000 Cadillac Deville passenger cars, manufactured from August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, 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 Cadillac Deville passenger cars, manufactured from August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, 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

[[Page 54343]]

capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is October 8, 
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 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.
    Automobile Concepts, Inc. (``AMC''), of Miami, Florida (Registered 
Importer 01-278), has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
2000 Cadillac Deville passenger cars, manufactured from August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicles which AMC believes are substantially similar are 
2000 Cadillac Deville passenger cars, manufactured from August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, 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 
2000 Cadillac Deville passenger cars, manufactured from August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, 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.
    AMC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2000 Cadillac Deville passenger cars, 
manufactured from August 1, 1999, through December 31, 2000, 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 
Cadillac Deville passenger cars, manufactured from August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 101 Controls 
and Displays, 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, 
and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and 
Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 
Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, 
Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 
113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake 
Fluids, 118 Power Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 
124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior 
Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward 
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention 
Components, 207 Seating Systems, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side 
Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone 
Intrusion, 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System 
Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 2000 
Cadillac Deville passenger cars, manufactured from August 1, 1999, 
through December 31, 2000, comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 
CFR part 581.
    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: a tire placard must be 
installed to ensure compliance with the standard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: installation of U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of non U.S. model components with U.S.-model 
components to ensure compliance with the standard.
    The petitioner states that the automatic restraint system installed 
in these vehicles consists of dual front airbags and knee bolsters.
    The petitioner also states that the vehicles have combination lap 
and shoulder belts at the outboard front and rear seating positions. 
These seat belt systems are self-tensioning and are released by means 
of a single red push-button.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: inspection of all vehicles 
and replacement of non U.S. model seat belt assemblies with U.S.-model 
components.
    Standard No. 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of non U.S. model seat belt anchorage 
assemblies with U.S.-model components.
    The petitioner also states that all vehicles will be inspected 
prior to importation to assure compliance with the Theft Prevention 
Standard at 49 CFR part 541 and that U.S.-model antitheft components 
will be installed, if necessary, to achieve compliance with that 
standard.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post 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 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

[[Page 54344]]

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.

Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 04-20259 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P