[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67208-67209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25421]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-19549]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2001 Chevrolet Blazer Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2001 Chevrolet Blazer multipurpose passenger vehicles 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 
2001 Chevrolet Blazer multipurpose passenger vehicles 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 December 16, 
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

[[Page 67209]]

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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. (WETL) of Houston, 
TX (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 2001 Chevrolet Blazer multipurpose passenger vehicles are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
WETL believes are substantially similar are 2001 Chevrolet Blazer 
multipurpose passenger vehicles 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 
2001 Chevrolet Blazer multipurpose passenger vehicles to their U.S.-
certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially 
similar with respect to compliance with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards.
    WETL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2001 Chevrolet Blazer multipurpose 
passenger vehicles, 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 2001 
Chevrolet Blazer multipurpose passenger vehicles are identical to their 
U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard 
Nos. 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, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood 
Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 
Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 119 New 
Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars, 120 Tire 
Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars, 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 
Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 
Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 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: Substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies that 
incorporate front side marker lamps.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Inspection of 
all vehicles manufactured on or after 9-1-2000, and installation of 
U.S.-model child seat tether anchorages if the vehicle is not already 
so equipped.
    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 antitheft devices will be 
installed, if necessary, to comply 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 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. 04-25421 Filed 11-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P