[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30264-30265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14101]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2001-9732]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993 Ford Mustang Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993 Ford Mustang passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
1993 Ford Mustang 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 July 5, 2001.

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 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 1993 Ford Mustang passenger cars originally manufactured for 
the European market are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicles which WETL believes are substantially similar are 
1993 Ford Mustang 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 
1993 Ford Mustang 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 1993 Ford Mustang 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 1993 
Ford Mustang 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, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirror, 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 
Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 
Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1993 
Ford Mustang passenger cars comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 
CFR part 581 and the Vehicle Identification Number plate requirement of 
49 CFR part 565.
    Petitioner also contends that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Ford 
Mustang passenger cars are not identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts, as specified below, but still comply with the following 
Standard in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: the speedometer indicates 
both kilometers per hour and mile per hour. The odometer indicates 
kilometers and is labeled as such. The brake warning indicator meets 
the requirements.
    Petitioner further contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily

[[Page 30265]]

altered to meet the following standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    The petitioner also states that a certification label must be 
affixed to the driver's side door jamb to meet the requirements of 49 
CFR part 567.
    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 vehicle 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: May 29, 2001.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 01-14101 Filed 6-4-01; 8:45 am]
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