Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 90 / Monday, May 11, 1998 / Notices 25895

manufacturer. In this comment,

Volkswagen disputed J.K.’’s claim that

the non-U.S. certified 1993 Audi 100

complies with the Bumper Standard

found in 49 CFR Part 581. Volkswagen

also contended that the vehicle is only

equipped with a driver’s side air bag,

and lacks a knee bolster on the driver’s

side that is necessary to meet the

unbelted test requirements of Standard

No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection.

Volkswagen additionally observed that

the vehicle is not equipped with a

passenger side air bag or knee bolster,

which it asserts are necessary for

compliance with Standard No. 208.

Volkswagen also stated that the U.S.

certified version of the 1993 Audi 100

has been designated a high theft line

vehicle under the Theft Prevention

Standard at 49 CFR Part 541.

Volkswagen contended that the U.S.

certified 1993 Audi 100 received an

exemption from the parts marking

requirements of the standard on the

basis that it is equipped with an antitheft system which differs from the

system found on the non-U.S. certified

version of the vehicle. As a

consequence, Volkswagen asserted that

the non-U.S. certified 1993 Audi 100

would have to be modified prior to

importation so that it is equipped with

the same anti-theft system as that found

on its U.S. certified counterpart.

NHTSA accorded J.K. an opportunity

to respond to Volkswagen’s comment. In

its response, J.K. stated that all vehicles

imported under the petition will be

inspected to ensure that those

manufactured on or after September 1,

1993 are equipped with dual air bags.

Additionally, J.K. stated that knee

bolsters will be installed on vehicles

that lack these components to achieve

compliance with Standard No. 208.

With respect to the Theft Prevention

Standard compliance issue raised by

Volkswagen, J.K. asserted that all cars

produced after 1987 that it has imported

for use in the United States are marked

in the required locations regardless of

whether they have been designated as a

high theft line or are equipped with an

alarm system. J.K. also stated that a U.S.

model anti-theft alarm system will be

installed, where necessary, prior to the

importation of any vehicles to be

imported under the petition.

NHTSA believes that J.K.’s response

adequately addresses the comments that

Volkswagen has made regarding the

petition. NHTSA further notes that the

modifications described by J.K., which

have been performed with relative ease

on thousands of motor vehicles

imported over the years, would not

preclude non-U.S. certified 1993 Audi

100 passenger cars from being found

‘‘capable of being readily altered to

comply with applicable motor vehicle

safety standards.’’ Accordingly, NHTSA

has decided to grant the petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject

Vehicles

The importer of a vehicle admissible

under any final decision must indicate

on the form HS–7 accompanying entry

the appropriate vehicle eligibility

number indicating that the vehicle is

eligible for entry. VSP–244 is the

vehicle eligibility number assigned to

vehicles admissible under this notice of

final decision.

Final Decision

Accordingly, on the basis of the

foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides that

1993 Audi 100 passenger cars not

originally manufactured to comply with

all applicable Federal motor vehicle

safety standards are substantially

similar to 1993 Audi 100 Quattro

passenger cars originally manufactured

for importation into and sale in the

United States and certified under 49

U.S.C. 30115, and are capable of being

readily altered to conform to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

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: May 6, 1998.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98–12438 Filed 5–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA–98–3806]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1995

Ferrari 456 Passenger Cars Are

Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 1995

Ferrari 456 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 a 1995 Ferrari 456

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.

DATE: The closing date for comments on

the petition is June 10, 1998.

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 10 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.

J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland

(‘‘J.K.’’) (Registered Importer 90–006)

has petitioned NHTSA to decide

whether 1995 Ferrari 456 passenger cars

are eligible for importation into the

United States. The vehicle which J.K.

believes is substantially similar is the

1995 Ferrari 456 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.
25896 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 90 / Monday, May 11, 1998 / Notices

The petitioner claims that it carefully

compared the non-U.S. certified 1995

Ferrari 456 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.

J.K. submitted information with its

petition intended to demonstrate that

the non-U.S. certified 1995 Ferrari 456,

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 1995 Ferrari 456

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,

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, 301

Fuel System Integrity, 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) inscription of the word

‘‘Brake’’ on the dash, in place of the

international ECE warning symbol; (b)

replacement of the speedometer/

odometer with one calibrated in miles

per hour.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment: (a)

installation of U.S.-model headlamps

and front sidemarker lights; (b)

installation of U.S.-model taillamp

assemblies and rear sidemarker lights;

(c) installation of a U.S.-model highmounted stop light assembly.

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.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a key microswitch and a

warning buzzer.

Standard No. 118 Power Window

Systems: installation of a relay in 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 buzzer wired to the seat belt

latch; (b) replacement of the seat belts

and the driver’s and passenger’s side air

bags, knee bolsters, control unit and

sensors with U.S.-model components on

vehicles that are not so equipped. The

petitioner states that the vehicle is

equipped with combination lap and

shoulder restraints are automatic, selftensioning, and that release by means of

a single red push button at both front

and rear outboard designated seating

positions.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact

Protection: installation of door bars on

vehicles that are not so equipped.

With regard to compliance with the

Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part

581, the petitioner states that the

bumpers and the support structure for

the bumpers on the non-U.S. certified

1995 Ferrari 456 are identical to those

found on the vehicle’s U.S. certified

counterpart. The petitioner notes,

however, that some of these bumpers

may have to be replaced if they do not

have holes cut into the side to

accommodate side marker lights.

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.

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: May 6, 1998.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98–12439 Filed 5–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs

Administration

International Standards on the

Transport of Dangerous Goods; Public

Meetings

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs

Administration (RSPA), Department of

Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY: This notice is to advise

interested persons that RSPA will

conduct public meetings in preparation

for and to report the results of the

fifteenth session of the United Nation’s

Sub-Committee of Experts on the

Transport of Dangerous Goods

(UNSCOE) to be held June 29 through

July 10, 1998 in Geneva, Switzerland.

DATES: June 18, 1998, 9:30 AM–1:00 PM;

July 16, 1988, 9:30 AM–1:00 PM.

ADDRESSES: Both meetings will be held

in room 6244, Nassif Building, 400

Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC

20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Frist Wybenga, International Standards

Coordinator, Office of Hazardous

Materials Safety, Department of

Transportation, Washington, DC 20590;

(202) 366–0656.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

primary purpose of the first meeting

will be to prepare for the fifteenth

session of the UNSCOE and to discuss

U.S. positions on UNSCOE proposals.

The primary purpose of the second

meeting will be to provide a briefing on

the outcome of the session and to

prepare for the Twentieth Session of the

Committee of Experts on the Transport

of Dangerous Goods which is scheduled

for December 7–18, 1998 in Geneva,

Switzerland. Topics to be covered

during the public meeting include

matters related to restructuring the UN

Recommendations on the Transport of

Dangerous Goods into a model rule

including development of packing

instructions prescribed the types of

packagings for specific materials,

international harmonization of

classification criteria and labeling,

review of intermodal portable tank

requirements including requirements for

multi-element gas containers, review of

the requirements applicable to small

quantities of hazardous materials in