38880 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 121 / Thursday, June 22, 2000 / Notices

for importation into, and 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 1997–2000

Porsche 911 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.

Champagne submitted information

with its petition intended to

demonstrate that non-U.S. certified

1997–2000 Porsche 911 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 1997–2000 Porsche

911 passenger cars are identical to their

U.S.-certified counterparts with respect

to compliance with Standard Nos. 102

Transmission Shift Lever Sequence

* * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging

Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and

Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake

Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New

Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch

Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124

Accelerator Control Systems, 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 Retention, 216 Roof Crush

Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone

Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of

Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

non-U.S. certified 1997–2000 Porsche

911 passenger cars comply with the

Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part

581.

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) substitution of a lens

marked ‘‘Brake’’ for a lens with a

noncomplying symbol on the brake

failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of

a seat belt warning lamp that displays

the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration

of the speedometer/odometer from

kilometers to miles per hour.

Standard No. 198 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment: (a)

installation of U.S.-model headlamp

assemblies which incorporate

headlamps with DOT markings; (b)

installation of U.S.-model front and rear

sidemarket/reflector assemblies; (c)

installation of U.S.-model tail-lamp

assemblies.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and

Rims: installation of a tire information

placard.

Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror:

replacement of the passenger side

rearview mirror with a U.S.-model

component.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a warning buzzer

microswitch in the steering lock

assembly and a warning buzzer.

Standard No. 118 Power Window

Systems: rewiring of the power window

system so that the window transport

mechanism is inoperative when the

ignition is switched off.

Standard No. 201 Occupant

Protection in Interior Impact: inspection

of all Model Year 2000 vehicles to

ensure compliance with the upper

interior head impact phase-in, and

replacement of all components that are

not identical to U.S.-model components.

Petitioner states that the 1997 through

1999 Model year vehicles conform to

the standard in all respects.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash

Protection: (a) installation of a U.S.-

model seat belt in the driver’s seating

position or a belt webbing actuated

microswitch inside the driver’s seat belt

retractor; (b) installation of an ignition

switch actuated seat belt warning lamp

and buzzer; (c) replacement of the

driver’s and passenger’s side air bags

and knee bolsters with U.S.-model

components if the vehicle is not already

so equipped. The petitioner states that

the vehicles are equipped with

combination lap and shoulder restraints

which adjust by means of an automatic

retractor and release by means of a

single push button in both front

designated seating positions, and with

combination lap and shoulder restraints

which release by means of a single push

button in both rear outboard designated

seating positions.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact

Protection: installation of reinforcing

door beams.

Standard No. 301 Fuel System

Integrity: installation of a rollover valve

in the fuel tank vent line.

The petitioner also states that a

vehicle identification number plate

must be affixed to the vehicle to meet

the requirements of 49 CFR 565.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

non-U.S. certified 1997–2000 Porsche

911 passenger cars will be inspected

prior to importation to ensure that they

are equipped to comply with the Theft

Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR

Part 541 and that a U.S.-model anti-theft

device will be installed on vehicles that

are not already so equipped.

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. 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: June 19, 2000.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 00–15849 Filed 6–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA–2000–7512]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 2000

BMW 5 Series Passenger Cars Are

Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 2000 BMW

5 Series passenger cars are eligible for

importation.

SUMMARY: This document announces

receipt by the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a

petition for a decision that 2000 BMW

5 Series 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 importation into and

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.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 121 / Thursday, June 22, 2000 / Notices 38881

DATES: The closing date for comments

on the petition is July 24, 2000.

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 am to

5 pm]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle

Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–

5306).

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.

Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale,

Pennsylvania (‘‘Champagne’’)

(Registered Importer 90–009) has

petitioned NHTSA to decide whether

2000 BMW 5 Series passenger cars are

eligible for importation into the United

States. The vehicles which Champagne

believes are substantially similar are

2000 BMW 5 Series passenger cars that

were manufactured for importation into,

and sale in, the United States and

certified by their manufacturer,

Bayerische Motoren Werke, A.G., as

conforming to all applicable Federal

motor vehicle safety standards.

The petitioner claims that it carefully

compared non-U.S. certified 2000 BMW

5 Series 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.

Champagne submitted information

with its petition intended to

demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2000

BMW 5 Series 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 2000 BMW 5 Series

passenger cars are identical to their

U.S.-certified counterparts with respect

to compliance with Standard Nos. 102

Transmission Shift Lever Sequence

* * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging

Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and

Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake

Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New

Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch

Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 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 Retention,

216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219

Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302

Flammability of Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

non-U.S. certified 2000 BMW 5 Series

passenger cars comply with the Bumper

Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.

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) Substitution of a lens

marked ‘‘Brake’’ for a lens with a

noncomplying symbol on the brake

failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of

a seat belt warning lamp that displays

the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration

of the speedometer/odometer from

kilometers to miles per hour.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment: (a)

Installation of U.S.-model headlamp

assemblies which incorporate

headlamps with DOT markings; (b)

installation of U.S.-model front and rear

sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c)

installation of U.S.-model tail-lamp

assemblies.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and

Rims: installation of a tire information

placard.

Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror:

replacement of the passenger side

rearview mirror with a U.S.-model

component.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a warning buzzer

microswitch in the steering lock

assembly and a warning buzzer.

Standard No. 118 Power Window

Systems: rewiring of the power window

system so that the window transport

mechanism is inoperative when the

ignition is switched off.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash

Protection: (a) installation of a U.S.-

model seat belt in the driver’s seating

position or a belt webbing actuated

microswitch inside the driver’s seat belt

retractor; (b) installation of an ignition

switch actuated seat belt warning lamp

and buzzer; (c) replacement of the

driver’s and passenger’s side air bags

and knee bolsters with U.S.-model

components if the vehicle is not already

so equipped. The petitioner states that

the vehicles are equipped with

combination lap and shoulder restraints

which adjust by means of an automatic

retractor and release by means of a

single push button in both front

designated seating positions, with

combination lap and shoulder restraints

which release by means of a single push

button in both rear outboard designated

seating positions, and with a lap belt in

the rear center designated seating

position.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact

Protection: Installation of reinforcing

door beams.

Standard No. 301 Fuel System

Integrity: installation of a rollover valve

in the fuel tank vent line.

The petitioner also states that a

vehicle identification number plate

must be affixed to the vehicle to meet

the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

non-U.S. certified 2000 BMW 5 Series

passenger cars will be inspected prior to

importation to ensure that they are

equipped to comply with the Theft

Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR

Part 541 and that a U.S.-model anti-theft

device will be installed on vehicles that

are not already so equipped.

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. 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

38882 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 121 / Thursday, June 22, 2000 / Notices

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: June 19, 2000.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 00–15850 Filed 6–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA–2000–7436]

Decision That Certain Nonconforming

Motor Vehicles Are Eligible for

Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA

that certain nonconforming motor

vehicles are eligible for importation.

SUMMARY: This document announces

decisions by NHTSA that certain motor

vehicles not originally manufactured to

comply with all applicable Federal

motor vehicle safety standards are

eligible for importation into the United

States because they are substantially

similar to vehicles originally

manufactured for importation into and/

or sale in the United States and certified

by their manufacturers as complying

with the safety standards, and they are

capable of being readily altered to

conform to the standards.

DATES: These decisions are effective as

of June 22, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle

Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–

5306).

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.

NHTSA received petitions from

registered importers to decide whether

the vehicles listed in Annex A to this

notice are eligible for importation into

the United States. To afford an

opportunity for public comment,

NHTSA published notice of these

petitions as specified in Annex A. The

reader is referred to those notices for a

thorough description of the petitions.

No comments were received in response

to these notices. Based on its review of

the information submitted by the

petitioners, NHTSA has decided to grant

the petitions.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject

Vehicles

The importer of a vehicle admissible

under any final decision must indicate

on the form HS–7 accompanying entry

the appropriate vehicle eligibility

number indicating that the vehicle is

eligible for entry. Vehicle eligibility

numbers assigned to vehicles admissible

under this decision are specified in

Annex A.

Final Decision

Accordingly, on the basis of the

foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides that

each motor vehicle listed in Annex A to

this notice, which was not originally

manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards, is substantially similar to a

motor vehicle manufactured for

importation into and/or sale in the

United States, and certified under 49

U.S.C. 30115, as specified in Annex A,

and is capable of being readily altered

to conform to all applicable Federal

motor vehicle safety standards.

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: June 19, 2000.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety,

Compliance.

Annex A—Nonconforming Motor

Vehicles Decided To Be Eligible for

Importation

1. Docket No. NHTSA–99–6353

Nonconforming Vehicle: 1992–1999

Honda Accord

Substantially similar U.S.-certified

vehicle: 1992–1999 Honda Accord

Notice of Petition published at: 64 FR

56833 (October 21, 1999)

Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP–319

2. Docket No. NHTSA–99–6352

Nonconforming Vehicles: 1987–1995

Nissan Pathfinder

Substantially similar U.S.-certified

vehicles: 1987–1995 Nissan

Pathfinder

Notice of Petition published at: 64 FR

56832 (October 21, 1999)

Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP–316

3. Docket No. NHTSA–99–6039

Nonconforming Vehicles: 1994–1999

Mercedes-Benz C Class

Substantially similar U.S.-certified

vehicles: 1994–1999 Mercedes-Benz

C Class

Notice of Petition published at: 64 FR

42758 (August 5, 1999)

Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP–331

4. Docket No. NHTSA–99–6038

Nonconforming Vehicles: 1998–1999

Audi A6

Substantially similar U.S.-certified

vehicles: 1998–1999 Audi A6

Notice of Petition published at: 64 FR

42756 (August 5, 1999)

Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP–332

5. Docket No. NHTSA–99–6351

Nonconforming Vehicles: 1994–1999

Mercedes-Benz E320 Station

Wagons

Substantially similar U.S.-certified

vehicles: 1994–1999 Mercedes-Benz

E320 Station Wagons

Notice of Petition published at: 64 FR

56569 (October 20, 1999)

Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP–318

6. Docket No. NHTSA–99–6062

Nonconforming Vehicle: 1996 Toyota

RAV4

Substantially similar U.S.-certified

vehicle: 1996 Toyota RAV4

Notice of Petition published at: 64 FR

43812 (August 11, 1999)

Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP–328

7. Docket No. NHTSA–99–6081

Nonconforming Vehicles: 1999–2000

Ferrari Modena 360