Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 1997 / Notices 1145

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.

LPC of New York, Inc. of

Ronkonkoma, New York (‘‘LPC’’)

(Registered Importer 96–100) has

petitioned NHTSA to decide whether

1984 Nissan 300ZX passenger cars are

eligible for importation into the United

States. The vehicle which LPC believes

is substantially similar is the 1984

Nissan 300ZX that was manufactured

for importation into, and sale in, the

United States and certified by its

manufacturer as conforming to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

The petitioner claims that it carefully

compared the non- U.S. certified 1984

Nissan 300ZX 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.

G&K submitted information with its

petition intended to demonstrate that

the non-U.S. certified 1984 Nissan

300ZX, 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 1984 Nissan

300ZX 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, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 112

Headlamp Concealment Devices, 113

Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid,

124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201

Occupant Protection in Interior Impact,

202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact

Protection for the Driver From the

Steering Control System, 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 Hubcaps, 212 Windshield

Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection,

216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219

Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302

Flammability of Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

the non-U.S. certified 1984 Nissan

300ZX 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 an ECE

symbol on the brake failure indicator

lamp; (b)replacement of the

speedometer/odometer with a U.S.-

model component.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment:

installation of U.S.- model headlight,

and sidemarker assemblies.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and

Rims: installation of a tire information

placard.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a U.S.- model warning

buzzer relay and a warning buzzer in

the steering lock electrical circuit.

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. 208 Occupant Crash

Protection: installation of a seat belt

warning buzzer.

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.

The petitioner also states that a VIN

plate will be installed on the vehicle so

that it can be read from outside the left

windshield pillar, and a VIN reference

label will be installed on the edge of the

door or latch post nearest the driver 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: January 3, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97–422 Filed 1–7–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

[Docket No. 96–131; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1992

Through 1996 BMW 325i Passenger

Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 1992

through 1996 BMW 325i 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 1992 through 1996

BMW 325i 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 February 7, 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
1146 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 1997 / Notices

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 1992 through 1996 BMW 325i

passenger cars are eligible for

importation into the United States. The

vehicles which Wallace believes are

substantially similar are 1992 through

1996 BMW 325i passenger cars that

were manufactured for importation into,

and sale in, the United States and

certified by its 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 1992

through 1996 BMW 325i 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.

Wallace submitted information with

its petition intended to demonstrate that

non-U.S. certified 1992 through 1996

BMW 325i 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 1992 through 1996

BMW 325i 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, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New

Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch

Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124

Accelerator Control Systems, 201

Occupant Protection in Interior Impact,

202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact

Protection for the Driver From the

Steering Control System, 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 Hubcaps, 212 Windshield

Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection,

216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219

Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302

Flammability of Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

non-U.S. certified 1992 through 1996

BMW 325i 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 an ECE

symbol on the brake failure indicator

lamp; (b) recalibration of the

speedometer/odometer from kilometers

to miles per hour.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment: (a)

replacement of the headlight assemblies;

(b) replacement of the turn signal lens

assemblies; (c) 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:

inscription of the required warning

statement on the passenger side

rearview mirror.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a warning device to be

activated if the key is left in the steering

lock and the driver’s side door is

opened.

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. 208 Occupant Crash

Protection: (a) installation of a seat belt

warning system; (b) installation of a

U.S.-model driver’s side air bag and

knee bolster; (c) installation of a U.S.-

model passenger’s side air bag on model

years for which this component was

included as standard equipment on the

U.S. certified counterpart. The

petitioner states that the vehicles are

equipped with Type 2 seat belts in all

four outboard designated seating

positions, and with a Type 1 seat belt in

the rear center seating position.

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

non-U.S. certified 1992 through 1996

BMW 325i passenger cars must be

marked to comply with the Theft

Prevention Standard at 49 CFR Part 541.

The petitioner also states that a VIN

plate will be installed on the vehicles so

that it can be read from outside the left

windshield pillar, and a VIN reference

label will be installed on the edge of the

door or latch post nearest the driver, in

compliance 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: January 3, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97–423 Filed 1–7–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–50–P