Document ID: NHTSA-2013-0033-0002
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Importation Eligibility; Petitions: Nonconforming 1996 Chevrolet Impala Passenger Cars
Posted Date: 2013-07-30T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45997-45999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18245]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0033; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1996 Chevrolet Impala Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.

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[[Page 45998]]

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
nonconforming 1996 Chevrolet Impala passenger cars that were not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the 
United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that 
were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that 
were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety 
standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 1996 Chevrolet Impala 
passenger cars) and they are capable of being readily altered to 
conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 29, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and 
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to 
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are 
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are 
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    How To Read Comments Submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the 
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the 
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in 
the Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit 
late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search 
the Docket for new material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Stevens, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5308).

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 FMVSS 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 FMVSS.
    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.
    U.S. Specs of Havre de Grace, Maryland (Registered Importer R-03-
321) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 1996 
Chevrolet Impala passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which U.S. Specs believes are substantially 
similar are 1996 Chevrolet Impala passenger cars that were manufactured 
for sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as 
conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified 1996 
Chevrolet Impala passenger cars to their U.S.-certified counterparts, 
and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most FMVSS.
    U.S. Specs submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1996 Chevrolet Impala passenger 
cars, as originally manufactured, conform to many FMVSS 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 1996 Chevrolet Impala 
passenger cars are identical to their U.S. certified counterparts with 
respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever 
Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 
Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and 
Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood 
Latch System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control 
Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 202 Head Restraints, 204 
Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 207 
Seating Systems, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 
Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The 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: Recalibration of the 
speedometer to read in MPH instead of KPH; inscription of the word 
``BRAKE'' on the brake failure indicator in place of the ECE warning 
symbol.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Replacement of the headlamps, side marker lamps, and tail 
lamps with U.S.-model components and installation of U.S.-model high-
mounted stop lamp if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a 
GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less: Installation of a tire 
information placard if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Replacement of the passenger 
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model vehicle component or inscription 
of the required warning statement on the face of that mirror.

[[Page 45999]]

    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention: 
Installation of a warning buzzer if the vehicle is not already so 
equipped or reprogramming the buzzer to comply with the standard.
    Standard No. 118 Power-operated Window, Partition, And Roof Panel 
Systems: Inspection of each vehicle to verify compliance with the 
standard and reprogramming and/or rewiring of the system to meet the 
standard if it does not already comply
    Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact: Inspection 
of components subject to this standard and replacement as necessary 
with U.S.-model components.
    Standard No. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components: 
Inspection of door locks and retention components and installation of 
U.S.-model components if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a seat 
belt warning lamp and audible buzzer if the vehicle is not already so 
equipped; inspection of vehicle to ensure that airbags, control unit, 
sensors, seatbelts, and knee bolsters bearing U.S.-model part numbers 
have been installed.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all seat belts 
and replacement with U.S.-model components if vehicle is not already so 
equipped.
    The petitioner states that a vehicle identification plate must be 
affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post if not already 
present to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    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 addresses 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), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49 
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

    Issued On: July 25, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-18245 Filed 7-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P