[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 62513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23878]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-19347; Notice 1]


Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, Receipt of 
Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (Bridgestone/
Firestone) has determined that certain tires it manufactured do not 
comply with S6.5 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 
119, ``New pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars.'' 
Bridgestone/Firestone has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 
CFR part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.''
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Bridgestone/Firestone 
has petitioned for an exemption from the notification and remedy 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the basis that this 
noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
    This notice of receipt of Bridgestone/Firestone's petition is 
published under 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any 
agency decision or other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of 
the petition.
    A total of approximately 1,083 sizes 2.75-10 and 80/90-10 
Bridgestone HOOP tires are affected. S6.5 of FMVSS No. 119 requires 
that the maximum load rating and corresponding inflation pressure of 
the tires be marked on the tire in both English and metric units. The 
noncompliant tires do not have the metric markings. The actual stamping 
is ``MAX. LOAD 355 LBS AT 36 PSI COLD.'' The correct stamping should be 
``MAX. LOAD 160kg (353 LBS) AT 50 kPa (36 PSI) COLD.''
    Bridgestone/Firestone believes that the noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and that no corrective action 
is warranted. Bridgestone/Firestone states that the actual performance 
of the tires will not be affected by the mismarking, and that the tires 
meet or exceed all performance requirements of FMVSS No. 119. Further, 
Bridgestone/Firestone states that the mismarking will have no impact on 
the operational performance or safety of vehicles on which the tires 
are mounted, and that the problem has been corrected.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the petition described above. Comments must refer to the 
docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be 
submitted by any of the following methods. Mail: Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590-0001. Hand 
Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC. It is requested, but not required, 
that two copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open 
on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal Holidays. Comments 
may be submitted electronically by logging onto the Docket Management 
System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help'' to obtain 
instructions for filing the document electronically. Comments may be 
faxed to 1-202-493-2251, or may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    The petition, supporting materials, and all comments received 
before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will 
be filed and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials 
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be 
considered to the extent possible. When the petition is granted or 
denied, notice of the decision will be published in the Federal 
Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: November 26, 2004.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 
CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: October 19, 2004.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 04-23878 Filed 10-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P