[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 104 (Thursday, May 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30424-30425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10481]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2007-28261]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1986 and 1987 Volkswagen Transporter Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles 
Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1986 and 1987 Volkswagen Transporter 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 
1986 and 1987 Volkswagen Transporter multipurpose passenger vehicles 
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 
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 July 2, 2007.

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 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 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.
    Autostadt West (Autostadt) of Rancho Cordova, CA (Registered 
Importer 06-346) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
1986 and 1987 Volkswagen Transporter multipurpose passenger vehicles 
are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
Autostadt believes are substantially similar are 1986 and 1987 
Volkswagen Vanagon multipurpose passenger vehicles 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 
1986 and 1987 Volkswagen Transporter multipurpose passenger vehicles to 
their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be 
substantially similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    Autostadt submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1986 and 1987 Volkswagen 
Transporter multipurpose passenger vehicles, 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 1986 
and 1987 Volkswagen Transporter 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 Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting 
Surfaces, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for 
Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control 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, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel 
Discs and Hub Caps, 212 Windshield Mounting, 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. 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; (b) installation of seat belt warning telltale; and 
(c) replacement or conversion of the speedometer to read in miles per 
hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model: (a) Headlamp assemblies; (b) 
taillamp assemblies; (c) turn signal lamp assemblies; and (d) front and 
rear side-mounted reflex reflectors.
    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.

[[Page 30425]]

    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a supplemental 
warning buzzer system that includes a steering lock mounted micro-
switch to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification: Installation of a vehicle 
identification plate near the left windshield post to meet the 
requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other 
than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a 
supplemental seat belt warning buzzer and warning light system that 
includes a micro-switch mounted on the driver's-side seat belt latch to 
meet the requirements of this standard.
    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: May 25, 2007.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E7-10481 Filed 5-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P