[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 225 (Friday, November 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65833-65835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22861]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2007-0036]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1992 Alfa Romeo Spyder Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1992 Alfa Romeo Spyder 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 
1992 Alfa Romeo Spyder 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 similar to vehicles that were 
originally manufactured for sale in the United

[[Page 65834]]

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 24, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and 
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to 
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are 
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are 
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: 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 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
    How to Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also see the comments on the Internet. To read the 
comments on the Internet, take the following steps:
    (1) Go to the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Web page 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) On that page, click on ``search for dockets.''
    (3) On the next page (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main), select NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 
from the drop-down menu in the Agency field, enter the Docket ID number 
and title shown at the heading of this document, and select 
``Nonrulemaking'' from the drop-down menu in the Type field and 
``Vehicle Import Eligibility'' in the drop-down menu in the Sub-Type 
field.
    (4) After entering that information, click on ``submit.''
    (5) The next page contains docket summary information for the 
docket you selected. Click on the comments you wish to see. You may 
download the comments. Although the comments are imaged documents, 
instead of the word processing documents, the ``pdf'' versions of the 
documents are word searchable. Please note that even after the comment 
closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in the 
Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit late 
comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search the 
Docket for new material.

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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. (WETL) of Houston, 
TX (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 1992 Alfa Romeo Spyder passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which WETL believes 
are substantially similar are 1992 Alfa Romeo Spyder 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 compared non-U.S.-certified 1992 Alfa 
Romeo Spyder passenger cars to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and 
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most FMVSS.
    WETL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S.-certified 1992 Alfa Romeo Spyder 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 1992 
Alfa Romeo Spyder 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, 110 Tire 
Selection and Rims, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 112 HeadLamp Concealment 
Devices, 113 Hood Latch System, 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, 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 one inscribed with the international ECE 
warning symbol; and

[[Page 65835]]

(b) 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) Headlamps; (b) taillamps; 
(c) rear side marker lamps; and (d) rear high mounted stop lamp and 
associated wiring.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a supplemental 
key warning buzzer 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. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of: (a) A 
seat belt warning buzzer; (b) U.S.-model driver's side air bag system; 
and (c) knee bolsters.
    Petitioner states that the vehicle's restraint system includes Type 
II seat belts at the front outboard designated seating positions.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of U.S.-model 
door reinforcement beams.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
evaporative emissions collection canister to comply with the 
requirements of this standard.
    The petitioner states that U.S.-model bumper support structure 
components must be installed to ensure compliance with the requirements 
of the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    The petitioner further states that all vehicles will be inspected 
for compliance with the parts marking requirements of the Theft 
Prevention Standard at 49 CFR part 541 and that U.S.-model antitheft 
devices will be installed on vehicles not already so equipped prior to 
importation.
    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 addresses 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: November 16, 2007.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E7-22861 Filed 11-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P