63914 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 25, 2000 / Notices

April 5, 1993. To date, an estimated 1680

man-hours and approximately $50,400 have

been spent on this project.

At that time, Panoz used a 5.0L Ford

Mustang GT engine and five speed

manual transmission in its car. Because

‘‘the 1995 model year and associated

emission components were revised by

Ford,’’ this caused

a delay in the implementation of the airbag

system on the Roadster due to further

research and development time requirements

and expenditure of additional monies to

evaluate the effects of these changes on the

airbag adaptation program.

Shortly before filing its application for

first renewal in 1995, Panoz learned that

Ford was replacing the 5.0L engine and

emission control system on the 1996

Mustang and other passenger cars with

a modular 4.6L engine and associated

emission components. The 1995 system

did not meet 1996 On-Board Diagnostic

emission control requirements, and

Panoz was faced with using the 1996

engine and emission control system as

a substitute. The majority of the money

and man hours at that time had been

spent on adapting an airbag system to

the 5.0L engine car, and the applicant

had to concentrate on adapting it to a

4.6L engine car. Panoz listed eight types

of modifications and testing necessary

for compliance that would cost it

$337,000 if compliance were required at

the end of a one-year period. It asked for

and received a two-year renewal of its

exemption.

However, between 1995 and 1997,

Panoz found integration of the 4.6L

engine into its existing chassis more

difficult than anticipated, primarily

because the 4.6L was 10 inches wider

than the engine it replaced. This

required a total redesign of the chassis,

requiring expenditure of ‘‘a significant

amount of resources.’’ Simultaneously,

Panoz designed the vehicle to allow for

the integration of the Ford Mustang

driver-side and passenger-side airbag

systems. Panoz described these steps in

some detail and estimates that between

May 1995 and August 1997 it spent

2200 man-hours and $66,000 on these

efforts. In the same time period, it spent

$47,000 in static and dynamic crash

testing of a 4.6L car related to airbag

system development. Panoz concluded

by describing the additional

modifications and testing required to

adapt the Ford system to its car. These

costs totaled $358,000. In 1997, the

company argued that a two-year renewal

of its exemption would provide time to

generate sufficient income

(approximately $15,000 a month

through sales of vehicles and private

funding) to fund the modifications and

testing. After August 1997, Panoz spent

an additional 1779 man hours and

$87,375 in airbag development for the

Roadster, a large portion of which was

to adapt the 1997–98 Ford Mustang

mechanical system. In September 1998,

NHTSA issued its NPRM on advanced

airbags which would have required

Panoz to begin the phase-in of the new

system as of September 1, 2002. Panoz

decided that the mechanical airbag

system it was developing could not

comply with the proposed advanced

system. It also lacked the resources to

develop two systems simultaneously, so

it turned its development efforts

towards the advanced system, which

will be in its new model, Esperante. In

November 1999, NHTSA issued a

Supplemental NPRM under which

implementation of the advanced airbag

rule would be delayed for small

manufacturers until September 1, 2005

(subsequently adopted in the final rule

of May 2000). This resulted in Panoz’s

resumption of efforts to adapt the Ford

Mustang airbag system to its Roadster.

However, with its 1999 models, Ford

had replaced the mechanical airbag

system with an electronic one, ‘‘which

dictated that Panoz would have to

conduct further crash testing in order to

properly calibrate the [Restraint Control

Module] for application on the AIV

Roadster.’’ Panoz intends to have the

electronic system adapted by the end of

the exemption it has requested. The

foregoing is a summary of Panoz’s

compliance efforts which are set forth in

detail in its application.

In sum, Panoz has been exempted

from compliance with the airbag

requirements for all passenger cars that

it manufactured between August 1,

1993, and March 1, 2000, approximately

61⁄2 years. These total 178 units.

At the time of its original petition,

Panoz’s cumulative net losses since

incorporation in 1989 were $1,265,176.

It lost an additional $249,478 in 1993,

$169,713 in 1994, $721,282 in 1995, and

$1,349,241 in 1996. Its losses continued

in 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively

$3,253,111, $4,264,689, and $2,996,903.

Thus, Panoz’s losses for the years that

the exemption was in effect, 1993–99,

total $13,004,417.

The applicant reiterated its original

arguments that an exemption would be

in the public interest and consistent

with the objectives of traffic safety.

Specifically, The Roadster is built in the

United States and uses 100 percent U.S.

components, bought from Ford and

approximately 95 other companies (‘‘at

least 250 employees’’ of which ‘‘remain

involved in the Panoz project’’). Panoz

provides employment for 47 full time

and three part time employees. The

company now has 33 U.S. dealers. The

Roadster is said to provide the public

with a classic alternative to current

production vehicles. It is the only

vehicle that incorporates ‘‘molded

aluminum body panels for the entire

car,’’ a process which continues to be

evaluated by other manufacturers and

which ‘‘results in the reduction of

overall vehicle weight, improved fuel

efficiency, shortened tooling lead times,

and increased body strength.’’ With the

exception of S4.1.4 of Standard No. 208,

the Roadster meets all other Federal

motor vehicle safety standards.

Interested persons are invited to

submit comments on the application

described above. Comments should refer

to the docket number and the notice

number, and be submitted to: Docket

Management, Department of

Transportation, room PL–401, 400

Seventh Street 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 comment

closing date indicated below 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

application will be published in the

Federal Register pursuant to the

authority indicated below. Comment

closing date: November 24, 2000.

Authority: (49 U.S.C. 30113; delegations of

authority at 49 CFR 1.50. and 501.8).

Issued on October 19, 2000.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Safety

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 00–27316 Filed 10–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs

Administration

Office of Hazardous Materials Safety;

Notice of Applications for Modification

of Exemption

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: List of applications for

modification of exemptions.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

procedures governing the application

for, and the processing of, exemptions

from the Department of Transportation’s

Hazardous Materials Regulations (49

CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is

hereby given that the Office of

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 25, 2000 / Notices 63915

Hazardous Materials Safety has received

the applications described herein. This

notice is abbreviated to expedite

docketing and public notice. Because

the sections affected, modes of

transportation, and the nature of

application have been shown in earlier

Federal Register publications, they are

not repeated here. Requests for

modifications of exemptions (e.g. to

provide for additional hazardous

materials, packaging design changes,

additional mode of transportation, etc.)

are described in footnotes to the

application number. Application

numbers with the suffix ‘‘M’’ denote a

modification request. These

applications have been separated from

the new applications for exemptions to

facilitate processing.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before November 9, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Records Center, Research

and Special Programs Administration,

U.S. Department of Transportation,

Washington, DC 20590.

Comments should refer to the

application number and be submitted in

triplicate. If confirmation of receipt of

comments is desired, include a selfaddressed stamped postcard showing

the exemption number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the applications are available

for inspection in the Records Center,

Nassif Building, 400 7th Street SW,

Washington, DC or at http://

dms.dot.gov.

This notice of receipt of applications

for modification of exemptions is

published in accordance with part 107

of the Federal hazardous materials

transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5117(b);

49 CFR 1.53(b)).

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 19,

2000.

J. Suzanne Hedgepeth,

Director, Office of Hazardous Materials

Exemptions and Approvals.

Application

No. Docket No. Application

Modification

of

exemption

8698–M ....... Taylor-Wharton Gas Equipment (Div of Harsco Corp,) Theodore, AL (See Footnote 1) ................ 8698

11044–M ..... ChemiTech, Ltd., Des Moines, IA (See Footnote 2) ........................................................................ 11044

11202–M ..... Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA (See Footnote 3) ...................... 11202

11379–M ..... TRW Automotive Occupant Restraint Systems, Washington, MI (See Footnote 4) ........................ 11379

11864–M ..... RSPA–1997–

2453

International Paper, Moss Point, MS (See Footnote 5) ................................................................... 11864

12334–M ..... RSPA–1999–

6177

Autoclave Engineers, Erie, PA (See Footnote 6) ............................................................................. 12334

12442–M ..... RSPA–2000–

7208

Cryogenic Vessel Alternatives, La Porte, TX (See Footnote 7) ....................................................... 12442

1To modify the exemption concerning the pressure relief value, specified retest pressure and OWTT recordkeeping requirements of non-DOT

specification portable tanks transporting certain Division 2.2 materials. 2To modify the exemption to authorize the use of additional cylinders without exceeding cylinder service pressure for the transportation of a reformulated organophosphate product. 3To modify the exemption to allow for the transportation of Division 6.1 and additional Class 8, Class 9 and Division 5.1 materials to cross a

public road, from one part of a plant to another. 4To modify the exemption to authorize a design change of the pressure vessel to increase the maximum fill pressure to 7,500 psi charged with

non-toxic, non-liquefied gases, or mixtures thereof. 5To modify the exemption to authorize party status and to include the offering of tank cars containing a residue of sulfuric acid without removing the frangible disc in the pressure relief device during inspection. 6To modify the exemption to authorize the transportation of Division 2.2, Class 3, Division 6.1 and additional Division 2.1 materials in non-DOT

specification cylinders. 7To modify the exemption to waive the impact test requirements for stainless steel portable tanks for materials used in a lading warmer than

¥425 degrees.

[FR Doc. 00–27379 Filed 10–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–60–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs

Administration

Office of Hazardous Materials Safety;

Notice of Applications for Exemptions

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: List of applicants for

exemptions.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

procedures governing the application

for, and the processing of, exemptions

from the Department of Transportation’s

Hazardous Materials Regulations (49

CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is

hereby given that the Office of

Hazardous Materials Safety has received

the applications described herein. Each

mode of transportation for which a

particular exemption is requested is

indicated by a number in the ‘‘Nature of

Application’’ portion of the table below

as follows: 1—Motor vehicle, 2—Rail

freight, 3—Cargo vessel, 4—Cargo

aircraft only, 5—Passenger-carrying

aircraft.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before November 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Records Center, Research

and Special Programs Administration,

U.S. Department of Transportation,

Washington, DC 20590.

Comments should refer to the

application number and be submitted in

triplicate. If confirmation of receipt of

comments is desired, include a selfaddressed stamped postcard showing

the exemption application number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the applications (See Docket

Number) are available for inspection at

the New Docket Management Facility,

PL–401, at the U.S. Department of

Transportation, Nassif Building, 400 7th

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 or at

http://dms.dot.gov.

This notice of receipt of applications

for new exemptions is published in

accordance with Part 107 of the Federal

hazardous materials transportation law

(49 U.S.C. 5117(b); 49 CFR 1.53(b)).

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 19,

2000.

J. Suzanne Hedgepeth,

Director, Office of Hazardous Materials

Exemptions and Approvals.