Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 1998 / Notices 27117

rearview mirror with a U.S.-model

component.

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

inoperative when the ignition is

switched off.

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 switchactuated seat belt warning lamp and

buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver’s

side air bag and knee bolster with U.S.-

model components. The petitioner

states that the vehicles are equipped

with combination lap and shoulder

restraints that adjust by means of an

automatic retractor and release by

means of a single push button at both

front designated seating positions, with

combination lap and shoulder restraints

that release by means of a single push

button at both rear outboard designated

seating positions, 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.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

the bumpers on non-U.S. certified 1990–

1993 Bentley Continental R passenger

cars must be reinforced to comply with

the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR

Part 581.

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 11, 1998.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98–13012 Filed 5–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA–98–3809]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1997–

1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK Passenger

Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 1997–1998

Mercedes-Benz SLK 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 1997–1998 MercedesBenz SLK 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 June 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: 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.

Champagne Imports of Lansdale,

Pennsylvania (‘‘Champagne’’)

(Registered Importer 90–009) has

petitioned NHTSA to decide whether

1997–1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK

passenger cars are eligible for

importation into the United States. The

vehicles which Champagne believes are

substantially similar are 1997–1998

Mercedes-Benz SLK passenger cars that

were manufactured for importation into,

and sale in, the United States and

certified by their manufacturer, DaimlerBenz, A.G., as conforming to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

The petitioner claims that it carefully

compared non-U.S. certified 1997–1998

Mercedes-Benz SLK 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.

Champagne submitted information

with its petition intended to

demonstrate that non-U.S. certified

1997–1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK

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 1997–1998 MercedesBenz SLK passenger cars are identical to

their U.S. certified counterparts with

respect to compliance with Standards
27118 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 1998 / Notices

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, and 302

Flammability of Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

non-U.S. certified 1997–1998 MercedesBenz SLK passenger cars comply with

the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR

Part 581 and with the Theft Prevention

Standard found in 49 CFR Part 541.

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 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 that incorporate headlamps

with DOT markings; (b) installation of

U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/

reflector assemblies; (c) installation of

U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.

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 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

inoperative when the ignition is

switched off.

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 switchactuated 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

the vehicle is not so equipped. The

petitioner states that the vehicles are

equipped with combination lap and

shoulder restraints that adjust by means

of an automatic retractor and release by

means of a single push button at both

front designated seating positions, with

combination lap and shoulder restraints

that release by means of a single push

button at both rear outboard designated

seating positions, 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.

The petitioner also states that a

vehicle identification number plate

must be affixed to the vehicles 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 11, 1998.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98–13013 Filed 5–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA–98–3810]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision That Nonconforming 1998

Mercedes-Benz Gelaendewagen, Type

463, Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles

Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments on

petition for decision that

nonconforming 1998 Mercedes-Benz

Gelaendewagen Type 463 multi-purpose

passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible

for importation.

SUMMARY: This notice requests

comments on a petition submitted to the

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) for a decision

that a 1998 Mercedes-Benz

Gelaendewagen Type 463 MPV that was

not originally manufactured to comply

with all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards is eligible for

importation into the United States

because it has safety features that

comply with, or are capable of being

altered to comply with, all such

standards.

DATE: The closing date for comments on

the petition is June 15, 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. Where there is

no substantially similar U.S.-certified

motor vehicle, 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B)