20326 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 88 / Monday, May 6, 1996 / Notices

1The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No.

104–88, 109 Stat. 803 (the Act), which was enacted

on December 29, 1995, and took effect on January

1, 1996, abolished the Interstate Commerce

Commission (ICC) and transferred certain functions

and proceedings to the Surface Transportation

Board (Board). Section 204(b)(1) of the Act

provides, in general, that proceedings pending

before the ICC on the effective date of that

legislation shall be decided under the law in effect

prior to January 1, 1996, insofar as they involve

functions retained by the Act. This notice relates to

a proceeding that was pending with the ICC prior

to January 1, 1996, and to functions that are subject

to Board jurisdiction pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10903.

Therefore, this notice applies the law in effect prior

to the Act, and citations are to the former sections

of the statute, unless otherwise indicated.

1995 are PM connecting rods for the

Ford Duratec V–6, 3.8 L V–6, and the

modular V–8 for the Lincoln

Continental. Chrysler uses PM for the

connecting rods of the 2 and 2.4 L

engines, and GM added PM rods to the

Aurora and Northstar Premium V

engines which completes GM’s

conversion to PM connecting rods. GM

also used PM gears for the parking brake

of its new 4-speed automatic

transmission for small cars.

The GM Aurora V–8 engine uses

magnesium camshaft covers, baffles,

and oil filter adapters for MY 1995. Ford

uses magnesium for some of the seat

stanchions for the Windstar minivan.

On the experimental side, Chrysler built

a light-weight version of the Neon

compact car, reducing the weight by 600

lbs. This vehicle employs an aluminum

body and engine block but also uses

magnesium for seat frames, instrument

panel structures, and parts of the

steering column.

E. Summary

The continued availability and low

cost of gasoline has encouraged the

production and sale of larger, heavier

passenger cars and light trucks. The

increased popularity of light trucks

relative to passenger cars and the

popularity of accessories that add

weight and draw additional power from

the engine have reduced the fuel

economy of the vehicles. Nevertheless,

there was still progress in improving

fuel economy evident in many new

model introductions. Much of the

improvement was due to innovations in

engine technology, but there was also

some weight reduction accomplished

through more efficient packaging design

and the use of lighter or stronger

materials.

[FR Doc. 96–10963 Filed 5–3–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

[Docket No. 96–11; Notice 2]

Decision that Nonconforming 1990

Porsche 944 S2 2-Door Hatchback

Passenger Cars are Eligible for

Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA

that nonconforming 1990 Porsche 944

S2 2-door hatchback passenger cars are

eligible for importation.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

decision by NHTSA that 1990 Porsche

944 S2 2-door hatchback passenger cars

not originally manufactured to comply

with all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards are eligible for

importation into the United States

because they are substantially similar to

a vehicle originally manufactured for

importation into and sale in the United

States and certified by its manufacturer

as complying with the safety standards

(the U.S.-certified version of the 1990

Porsche 944 S2 2-door hatchback), and

they are capable of being readily altered

to conform to the standards.

DATES: This decision is effective May 6,

1996.

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)

(formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i) of the

National Traffic and Motor Vehicle

Safety Act (the Act)), 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 (formerly section 114 of the Act),

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.

LPC of New York, Inc. of

Ronkonkoma, New York (Registered

Importer R–96–100) petitioned NHTSA

to decide whether 1990 Porsche 944 S2

2-door hatchback passenger cars are

eligible for importation into the United

States. NHTSA published notice of the

petition on February 22, 1996 (61 FR

6891) to afford an opportunity for public

comment. The reader is referred to that

notice for a thorough description of the

petition. No comments were received in

response to the notice. Based on its

review of the information submitted by

the petitioner, 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–152 is the

vehicle eligibility number assigned to

vehicles admissible under this decision.

Final Decision

Accordingly, on the basis of the

foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides that a

1990 Porsche 944 S2 2-door hatchback

not originally manufactured to comply

with all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards is substantially

similar to a 1990 Porsche 944 S2 2-door

hatchback originally manufactured for

importation into and sale in the United

States and certified under 49 U.S.C.

30115, and is 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: April 30, 1996.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 96–11112 Filed 5–3–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–M

Surface Transportation Board 1

[Docket No. AB–57 (Sub-No. 33X)]

Soo Line Railroad Company—

Abandonment Exemption—in the

Counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, and

Polk Counties, MN

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of exemption.

SUMMARY: Under 49 U.S.C. 10505, the

Board exempts from the requirements of