Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Notices 59889

document the revision level in lieu of

printing the last revision date on each

page of the manual.

Exemption No. 6612A.

[FR Doc. 00–25694 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Environmental Impact Statement:

Butler County, OH

AGENCY: Federal Highway

Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this

notice to advise the public that an

Environmental Impact Statement may

be prepared for a proposed

transportation project in Butler County,

Ohio.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark L. Vonder Embse, Urban Programs

Engineer, Federal Highway

Administration, 200 North High Street,

Room 328, Columbus, Ohio 43215,

Telephone: (614) 280–6854.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

FHWA, in cooperation with the Ohio

Department of Transportation, will

prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) for a proposed

improvement in the vicinity of Trenton,

Ohio. The project termini are

approximately US–127, north of the

Village of Seven Mile, and the SR–63/

SR–4 interchange. The study area is

approximately 9 miles in length.

The purpose and need of the project

are to address travel demand and

capacity, access and safety deficiencies.

Alternatives under consideration

include: (1) Taking no action; (2)

Constructing a new highway on new

location; (3) Upgrading existing

facilities. FHWA, ODOT, and local

agencies will be invited to participate in

defining the alternatives to be evaluated

in the EIS, and any significant social,

economic, or environmental issues

related to the alternatives.

Letters describing the proposed action

and soliciting comments will be sent to

appropriate Federal, State, and local

agencies and to private organizations

and citizens who have previously

expressed or are known to have interest

in this proposal. A series of public

meetings will be held in the project

area. In addition, a public hearing will

be held. Public notice will be given of

the time and place of the meetings and

hearing. The draft EIS will be available

for public and agency review and

comment prior to the public hearing.

Scoping activities will be conducted.

To ensure that the full range of issues

related to this proposed action are

identified and addressed, comments and

suggestions are invited from all

interested parties. Comments or

questions concerning this proposed

action should be sent to the FHWA at

the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning

and Construction. The regulations

implementing Executive Order 12372

regarding intergovernmental consultation on

Federal programs and activities apply to this

program.)

Issued on: September 26, 2000.

Mark L. Vonder Embse,

Urban Programs Engineer, Federal Highway

Administration, Columbus, Ohio.

[FR Doc. 00–25767 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA–2000–7965]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1999–

2000 Porsche 911 GT3 Passenger Cars

Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 1999–2000

Porsche 911 GT3 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 1999–2000

Porsche 911 GT3 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 6, 2000.

ADDRESS: 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.

Wallace Environmental Testing

Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas

(‘‘WETL’’)(Registered Importer 90–005)

has petitioned NHTSA to decide

whether 1999–2000 Porsche 911 GT3

passenger cars are eligible for

importation into the United States. The

vehicles which WETL believes are

substantially similar are 1999–2000

Porsche 911 passenger cars 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 non-U.S. certified 1999–2000

Porsche 911 GT3 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.

WETL submitted information with its

petition intended to demonstrate that

non-U.S. certified 1999–2000 Porsche

911 GT3 passenger cars, as originally

manufactured, conform to many Federal

motor vehicle safety standards in the

same manner as their U.S. certified

59890 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Notices

1On September 6, 2000, BNSF filed a notice of

exemption under the Board’s class exemption

procedures at 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(7). The notice

covered the agreement by UP to grant temporary

overhead trackage rights to BNSF over

approximately 245 miles of UP’s lines as follows:

(1) Between East Portland, OR, in the vicinity of

UP’s milepost 770.34, and Oakridge, OR, in the

vicinity of UP’s milepost 580.5 (UP’s Brooklyn

Subdivision); and (2) between Oakridge, in the

vicinity of UP’s milepost 580.5 and Chemult, OR,

in the vicinity of UP’s milepost 502.9 (UP’s Cascade

Subdivision). See The Burlington Northern and

Santa Fe Railway Company—Trackage Rights

Exemption—Union Pacific Railroad Company, STB

Finance Docket No. 33926 (STB served Sept. 15,

2000). The trackage rights agreement is scheduled

to expire on November 11, 2000. The trackage rights

operations under the exemption were scheduled to

be consummated on September 15, 2000.

counterparts, or are capable of being

readily altered to conform to those

standards.

Specifically, the petitioner claims that

non-U.S. certified 1999–2000 Porsche

911 GT3 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,

118 Power Window Systems, 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.

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: installation of a brake warning

indicator if the vehicles are not already

so equipped. The petitioner states that

the vehicles are equipped with a digital

speedometer which is capable of

providing readings in kilometers or

miles per hours. Although this unit is

not identical to the one installed on

U.S.-certified models, the petitioner

contends that it meets the requirements

of the standard.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment: (a)

Replacement of the taillight lenses with

lenses that conform to the standard; (b)

installation of left and right sidemarker

lights. The petitioner states that the

vehicles are equipped with headlight

assemblies which bear DOT markings

certifying that they meet the standard,

even thought those assemblies are not

identical to the ones installed on U.S.

certified models. The petitioner also

states that the vehicles are equipped at

the factory with 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 with a U.S.-model

component on vehicles that are not

already so equipped.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a warning buzzer and a

warning buzzer microswitch in the

steering lock assembly.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash

Protection: (a) Replacement of the

driver’s seat belt latch and installation

of a safety belt warning buzzer; (b)

replacement of the driver’s and

passenger’s side air bag system and knee

bolsters with U.S.-model components

on vehicles that are not already so

equipped. The petitioner states that the

vehicles are equipped at the front

outboard seating positions with Type II

seat belts.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact

Protection: The petitioner states that the

vehicles have a lower ride height than

U.S. certified models, with the

approximate front bumper clearance

height being 4 9⁄16 inches, as opposed to

8 inches on U.S. certified models, and

the rear bumper clearance height being

9 inches, as opposed to 10 inches on

U.S. certified models. The petitioner

states that either the vehicles’ coil

springs will be replaced with ones

identical to those found on U.S.

certified models, or spring spacers will

be added so that the vehicles have the

same ride height as their U.S. certified

counterparts.

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 on vehicles that are

not already so equipped.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

front and rear bumper shocks and rear

bumper pads will be installed on nonU.S. certified 1999–2000 Porsche 911

GT3 passenger cars so that they comply

with the Bumper Standard found in 49

CFR part 581. The petitioner states that

ride height issues will be resolved

through modifications made to conform

the vehicles to Standard No. 214.

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

all vehicles will be inspected prior to

importation to ensure that they are

equipped with U.S.-model anti-theft

devices, and that all vehicles that are

not so equipped will be modified to

comply with the Theft Prevention

Standard at 49 CFR part 541.

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. [Docket hours are from 9 am to

5 pm]. 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 2, 2000.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 00–25696 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33926 (Sub-No.

1)]

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Co.—Trackage Rights

Exemption—Union Pacific Railroad Co.

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of exemption.

SUMMARY: The Board, under 49 U.S.C.

10502, exempts the trackage rights

described in STB Finance Docket No.

33926 1 to permit the trackage rights to

expire, as they relate to the operations

between East Portland, OR, and

Chemult, OR, on November 11, 2000.

DATES: This exemption is effective on

November 5, 2000. Petitions to reopen

must be filed by October 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: An original and 10 copies of

all pleadings referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33926 (Sub-No. 1) must be

filed with the Surface Transportation

Board, Office of the Secretary, Case

Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW.,