[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 150 (Friday, August 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45485-45487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15479]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2005-22019]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1997 Ford Mustang Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1997 Ford Mustang 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 
1997 Ford Mustang passenger cars that were not originally manufactured 
to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards 
(FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because (1) 
they are substantially

[[Page 45486]]

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.

DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is September 6, 
2005.

ADDRESS: 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 FMVSS 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 FMVSS.
    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.
    Sunshine Car Import (``SCI'') of Ft. Myers, Florida, (Registered 
Importer 01-289) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
1997 Ford Mustang passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which SCI believes are substantially 
similar are 1997 Ford Mustang passenger cars that were manufactured for 
sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as 
conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1997 Ford Mustang passenger cars to their U.S.-certified counterparts, 
and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most FMVSS.
    SCI submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 1997 Ford Mustang passenger cars, as originally 
manufactured, conform to many FMVSS 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 1997 
Ford Mustang 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, 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, 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, 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. 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 lamps, reflective 
devices and associated equipment.
    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. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any non-U.S.-model components necessary for 
conformity with this standard with U.S.-model components.
    Petitioner states that the restraint systems used in the vehicles 
include airbags and knee bolsters at the front outboard seating 
positions, and combination lap and shoulder belts at the front and rear 
outboard seating positions.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: inspection of all vehicles 
and replacement of any non-U.S.-model components necessary for 
conformity with this standard with U.S.-model components.
    The petitioner also states that all vehicles will be inspected for 
conformity with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581 and that 
any non-U.S.-model components necessary for conformity with this 
standard will be replaced with U.S.-model components.
    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.
    The petitioner furthermore states that a certification label must 
be affixed to the motorcycle to comply with 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.


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    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. 05-15479 Filed 8-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P