[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33434-33435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16210]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-3869]


Western Star Trucks, Inc.; Receipt of Application for 
Determination of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Western Star Trucks, Inc. of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, has 
applied to be exempted from the notification and remedy requirements of 
49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 ``Motor Vehicle Safety'' for noncompliance with 
49 CFR 571.205, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205, 
``Glazing Materials,'' on the basis that the noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. Western Star Trucks has filed 
an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573 ``Defect and 
Noncompliance Information Reports.''
    This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 
other exercise of judgement concerning the merits of the application.
    Paragraph S6.2 of Standard No. 205 specifies that a number 
designating the material used, the symbol ``DOT,'' and the 
manufacturer's code mark, shall be marked on all glazing materials by 
the prime glazing material manufacturer.

Vehicles Involved

    Western Star Constellation Series truck/tractor manufactured 
between January 17, 1996 and February 3, 1998 equipped with 58'' or 
72'' sleepers with side windows. The serial numbers of the affected 
vehicles fall with the range, 944129 to 953410.

Number of Vehicles

    Eight hundred ninety-one (891) vehicles manufactured as of February 
3, 1998, potentially contain the noncompliance.

Description of the Noncompliance

    Certain Western Star Constellation truck/tractors were equipped 
with 58'' or 72'' sleepers with side windows which were not marked per 
the requirements of S6 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 
205. The window glazing is not marked per the requirements of Section 6 
of ANS Z26. They also were not marked with the symbol ``DOT'' or the 
manufacturer's code mark per S6.2 of FMVSS 205. The window glazing 
does, however, meet the physical requirements of FMVSS 205 and is 
located out of the truck/tractor driver's compartment in an area where 
highway visibility is not required.

Supporting Information

    Although the glazing is not marked per the requirements of FMVSS 
205, the glazing has been tested and complies to Item AS-2 of 
ANSIZ26.1 per the attached report 1/95, from Inchcape Testing Test 
Services.

    The sleeper windows, Western Star Trucks part numbers 63320-3562 
and 63320-3563, were purchased from Sun-view Industries Ltd., 15915 
Bentley Pl., Box 1079, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, VOH 1ZO. 
Sun-view in turn purchased the 3 mm glazing from Wescan Glass--Burnaby, 
3153 Thunderbird Cres., Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 3G2 (A division 
HGP Industries, Inc., Moorestown, NJ). The attached test report was 
provided by Inchcape Testing for the test performed on the glass that 
Wescan provides to Sun-view.
    The test report 1/95 indicates that the 3 mm glazing meets the 
requirements for AS-2 (Safety Glazing Material for Use Anywhere in 
Motor Vehicle Except Windshields). However, the sleeper windows only 
need meet AS-5 as they are at a height not requisite with highway 
visibility, and are ``glazing to the rear of the driver in trucks or 
truck tractor cabs where other means of affording visibility of the 
highway to the side and rear of the vehicle are provided.''
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments on the application of Western Star, described above. Comments 
should refer to the Docket Number and be submitted to: Docket 
Management, Room PL 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 
20590. It is requested but not required that six copies be submitted.

[[Page 33435]]

    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials, and all comments received after the closing date will also 
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the 
application is granted or denied, the Notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: July 20, 1998.

(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 
49 CFR 501.8)

    Issued on: June 12, 1998.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-16210 Filed 6-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P