Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 1997 / Notices 53047

a.m. and ending at approximately 12:30

p.m. Questions relating to the vehicle

regulatory program must be submitted

in writing by November 20, 1997, to the

address shown below. If sufficient time

is available, questions received after

November 20 may be answered at the

meeting. The individual, group or

company submitting a question(s) does

not have to be present for the

question(s) to be answered. A

consolidated list of the questions

submitted by November 20, 1997, and

the issues to be discussed, will be

posted on NHTSA’s web site

(www.nhtsa.dot.gov) by December 15,

1997, and will be available at the

meeting. Also, the agency will hold a

second public meeting the same day

December 17, at 1:30 p.m. devoted

exclusively to a presentation of research

and development programs. That

meeting is described more fully in a

separate announcement. The next

NHTSA vehicle regulatory program

meeting will take place on Tuesday,

March 17, 1998 at the Clarion Inn Hotel,

9191 Wickham Road, in Romulus, MI.

ADDRESSES: Questions for the December

17, NHTSA Technical Industry Meeting,

relating to the agency’s vehicle

regulatory program, should be

submitted to Delia Gage, NPS–01,

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration, Room 5401, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC

20590, Fax Number 202–366–4329. The

meeting will be held at the Clarion Inn

Hotel, 9191 Wickham Road, in

Romulus, MI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Delia Gage, (202) 366–1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA

holds a regular, quarterly meeting to

answer questions from the public and

the regulated industries regarding the

agency’s vehicle regulatory program.

Questions on aspects of the agency’s

research and development activities that

relate directly to ongoing regulatory

actions should be submitted, as in the

past, to the agency’s Safety Performance

Standards Office. The purpose of this

meeting is to focus on those phases of

NHTSA activities which are technical,

interpretative or procedural in nature.

Transcripts of these meetings will be

available for public inspection in the

NHTSA Technical Reference Section in

Washington, DC, within four weeks after

the meeting. Copies of the transcript

will then be available at ten cents a

page, (length has varied from 100 to 150

pages) upon request to NHTSA

Technical Reference Section, Room

5108, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20590. The Technical

Reference Section is open to the public

from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We would

appreciate the questions you send us to

be organized by categories to help us to

process the questions into agenda form

more efficiently. Sample format as

follows:

I. Rulemaking

A. Crash avoidance

B. Crashworthiness

C. Other Rulemakings

II. Consumer Information

III. Miscellaneous

NHTSA will provide auxiliary aids to

participants as necessary. Any person

desiring assistance of ‘‘auxiliary aids’’

(e.g., sign-language interpreter,

telecommunications devices for deaf

persons (TDDs), readers, taped texts,

brailled materials, or large print

materials and/or a magnifying device),

please contact Delia Gage on (202) 366–

1810, by COB November 20, 1997.

Issued: October 6, 1997.

L. Robert Shelton,

Associate Administrator for Safety

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 97–27008 Filed 10–9–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. 97–068; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1990–

1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SE Passenger

Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SE passenger cars

are eligible for importation.

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt

by the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) of a petition

for a decision that 1990–1991 Mercedes

Benz 420 SE 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.

DATES: The closing date for comments

on the petition is November 10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to

the docket number and notice number,

and be submitted to: Docket Section,

Room 5109, National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St.,

SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket

hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.].

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 (Registered Importer No.

R–90–009) has petitioned NHTSA to

decide whether 1990–1991 Mercedes

Benz 420 SE passenger cars are eligible

for importation into the United States.

The vehicle which Champagne believes

is substantially similar is the 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SEL. Champagne

has submitted information indicating

that Daimler Benz, A.G., the company

that manufactured the 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SEL, certified that

vehicle as conforming to all applicable

Federal motor vehicle safety standards

and offered it for sale in the United

States.

The petitioner contends that it

carefully compared the 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SE to the 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SEL, and found the

two models to be substantially similar

with respect to compliance with most
53048 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 1997 / Notices

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

Champagne submitted information

with its petition intended to

demonstrate that the 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SE, as originally

manufactured, conforms to many

Federal motor vehicle safety standards

in the same manner as the 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SEL that was offered

for sale in the United States, or is

capable of being readily altered to

conform to those standards.

Specifically, the petitioner claims that

the 1990–1991 Mercedes Benz 420 SE is

identical to the certified 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SEL 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, 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.

Petitioner also contends that the

vehicle is 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 an ECE

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; (b) installation of U.S.-

model front and rear sidemarker/

reflector assemblies; (c) installation of

U.S.-model taillamp assemblies; (d)

installation of a high mounted stop

lamp.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and

Rims: installation of a tire information

placard.

Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors:

replacement of the passenger side rear

view mirror.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a 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 is

inoperative when the ignition is

switched off.

Standard No. 206 Door Locks and

Door Retention Components:

replacement of the rear door locks and

locking buttons with U.S.-model parts.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash

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

model seat belt in the driver’s position,

or a belt webbing-actuated microswitch

inside the driver’s seat belt retractor; (b)

installation of an ignition switchactuated seat belt warning lamp and

buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver’s

side air bag and knee bolster with U.S.-

model components. The petitioner

states that the vehicles are equipped

with combination lap and shoulder

restraints that adjust by means of an

automatic retractor and release by

means of a single push button at each

front designated seating position, with

combination lap and shoulder restraints

that release by means of a single push

button at each rear outboard designated

seating position, and with a lap belt in

the rear center designated seating

position.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact

Protection: installation of reinforcing

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.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

the bumpers on the 1990–1991

Mercedes Benz 420 SE must be

reinforced, or U.S.-model bumper

components must be installed, to

comply with the Bumper Standard

found in 49 CFR part 581.

The petitioner also states that a

vehicle identification number plate

must be affixed to the vehicle to comply

with the requirements of 49 CFR part

565.

Interested persons are invited to

submit comments on the petition

described above. Comments should refer

to the docket number and be submitted

to: Docket Section, National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration, Room

5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.,

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: October 6, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97–26923 Filed 10–9–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. 97–069; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1987–

1995 BMW K75S Motorcycles Are

Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 1987–1995

BMW K75S motorcycles are eligible for

importation.

SUMMARY: This document announces

receipt by the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a

petition for a decision that 1987–1995

BMW K75S motorcycles 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.

DATES: The closing date for comments

on the petition is November 10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to

the docket number and notice number,

and be submitted to: Docket Section,

Room 5109, National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St.,

SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket

hours are from 9:30 am to 4 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