[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14751-14752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5762]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2005-20686]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1989 Volkswagen Golf Rallye Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
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 
1989 Volkswagen Golf Rallye 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 April 22, 2005.

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.
    US SPECS of Aberdeen, Maryland (Registered Importer 03-321) has 
petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 1989 Volkswagen Golf 
Rallye passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicles which US SPECS believes are substantially similar 
are 1989 Volkswagen Golf 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 
1989 Volkswagen Golf Rallye 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.
    US SPECS submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1989 Volkswagen Golf Rallye 
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 1989 
Volkswagen Golf Rallye passenger cars 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 Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic 
Tires, 112 HeadLamp Concealment Devices, 113 Hood Latch System, 116 
Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 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, 211 Wheel 
Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hub Caps, 212 Windshield Mounting, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 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. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Installation of an 
indicator lamp lens cover inscribed with the word ``brake'' in the 
instrument cluster in place of the one inscribed with the international 
ECE warning symbol; and (b) replacement or conversion of the 
speedometer to read in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Inspection of all vehicles and installation, on vehicles 
that are not already so equipped, of U.S.-model: (a) Headlamp 
assemblies; (b) front side marker lamps; (c) taillamp assemblies that 
incorporate rear side marker lamps; (d) rear high mounted stop lamp; 
and (e) front and rear side reflex reflectors.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of that mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation a supplemental 
warning buzzer to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification: Installation of a vehicle 
identification plate near the left

[[Page 14752]]

windshield post to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: Inspection of all vehicles and rewiring the vehicle's systems, 
as required, to ensure compliance with the requirements of the 
standard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation, on 
vehicles that are not already so equipped, of: (a) Seat belt warning 
buzzer and warning light systems wired to the seat belt latch; (b) 
U.S.-model knee bolsters; and (c) U.S.-model door-anchored automatic 
shoulder belts at front outboard seating positions on vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 1989.
    The petitioner also states that the vehicles are equipped with 
combination lap and shoulder belts at the outboard front and seating 
positions. These seat belts are self-tensioning and capable of being 
released by means of a single red push button.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles 
and installation of U.S.-model seat belt assemblies on vehicles that 
are not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: Inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any non-U.S.-model seat belt anchorages 
with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not already so 
equipped.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Inspection of all vehicles 
and installation of U.S.-model door reinforcements on vehicles that are 
not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Inspection of all vehicles 
and installation of U.S.-model fuel system components on vehicles that 
are not already so equipped.
    In addition, inspection of all vehicles and installation of U.S.-
model bumper and bumper support structure components, on vehicles that 
are not already so equipped, to ensure compliance with the requirements 
of the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    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. 05-5762 Filed 3-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P