Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 29 / Wednesday, February 12, 1997 / Notices 6611

NHTSA afforded LPC an opportunity

to respond to Kia’s comments. In its

response, LPC stated that it mistakenly

identified the vehicle that is the subject

of its petition as a 1996 Kia Sportage,

and that the vehicle should properly

have been identified as a 1994 Kia

Sportage. After receiving this response,

NHTSA learned from Kia that it did not

manufacture a 1994 Kia Sportage for

importation into and sale in the United

States. As a consequence, there is no

substantially similar U.S.-certified

vehicle of the same model year to which

the 1994 Kia Sportage MPV can be

compared. Absent such a vehicle,

NHTSA cannot decide that the 1994 Kia

Sportage 1994 is eligible for importation

under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A). The

petition must therefore be denied under

49 CFR 593.7(e).

In accordance with 49 U.S.C.

30141(b)(1), NHTSA will not consider a

new import eligibility petition covering

this vehicle until at least three months

from the date of this notice.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and

(b)(1); 49 CFR 593.7; delegations of authority

at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: February 6, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97–3446 Filed 2–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

[Docket No. 97–007; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1994

Mercedes-Benz C280 Passenger Cars

Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt

by the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) of a petition

for a decision that a 1994 MercedesBenz C280 that was not originally

manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards is eligible for importation into

the United States because (1) it is

substantially similar to a vehicle that

was originally manufactured for

importation into and sale in the United

States and that was certified by its

manufacturer as complying with the

safety standards, and (2) it is capable of

being readily altered to conform to the

standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments

on the petition is March 14, 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

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

1994 Mercedes-Benz C280 passenger

cars are eligible for importation into the

United States. The vehicle which

Champagne believes is substantially

similar is the 1994 Mercedes-Benz C280

that was manufactured for importation

into, and sale in, the United States and

certified by its manufacturer, Daimler

Benz A.G., as conforming to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

The petitioner claims that it carefully

compared the non-U.S. certified 1994

Mercedes-Benz C280 to its U.S. certified

counterpart, and found the two 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 the non-U.S. certified

1994 Mercedes-Benz C280, as originally

manufactured, conforms to many

Federal motor vehicle safety standards

in the same manner as its U.S. certified

counterpart, or is capable of being

readily altered to conform to those

standards.

Specifically, the petitioner claims that

the non-U.S. certified 1994 MercedesBenz C280 is identical to its U.S.

certified counterpart with respect to

compliance with Standards 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.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

the non-U.S. certified 1994 MercedesBenz C280 complies with the Bumper

Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.

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 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; (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 Mirror:

Replacement of the passenger side

rearview mirror, which is convex.

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 is
6612 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 29 / Wednesday, February 12, 1997 / Notices

inoperative when the ignition is

switched off.

Standard No. 206 Door Locks and

Door Retention Components:

replacement of the rear door locks and

rear door lock buttons with U.S.-model

components.

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 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

such components are not already

installed on the vehicle. The petitioner

states that the vehicle is equipped with

combination lap and shoulder belts that

adjust by means of an automatic

retractor and release by means of a

single push button in each front

designated seating position, with

combination lap and shoulder belts that

release by means of a single push button

in 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.

Petitioner also states that a vehicle

identification number plate will be

affixed to the vehicle to meet 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 February 6, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97–3447 Filed 2–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

[Docket No. 97–011; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1972

Through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL,

and XL Series Motorcycles Are Eligible

for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt

by the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) of a petition

for a decision that 1972 through 1997

Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series

motorcycles manufactured for the

European and other Foreign markets

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 March 14, 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

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.

Wallace Environmental Testing

Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas

(‘‘Wallace’’) (Registered Importer 90–

005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide

whether 1972 through 1997 Harley

Davidson FX, FL, and XL series

motorcycles manufactured for the

European and other foreign markets are

eligible for importation into the United

States. The vehicles that Wallace

believes are substantially similar are the

versions of the 1972 through 1997

Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL series

motorcycles that were manufactured 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 the non-U.S. certified 1972

through 1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL,

and XL series motorcycles 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.

Wallace submitted information with

its petition intended to demonstrate that

the non-U.S. certified 1972 through

1997 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL

series motorcycles, 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

the 1972 through 1997 Harley Davidson

FX, FL, and XL series motorcycles are

identical to their U.S. certified

counterparts with respect to compliance

with Standard Nos. 106 Brake Hoses,

111 Rearview Mirrors, 116 Brake

Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for

Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 120

Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles

other than Passenger Cars, 122

Motorcycle Brake Systems, and 205

Glazing Materials.