Document ID: NHTSA-2008-0051-0002
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation
Posted Date: 2008-03-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register: March 31, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 62)]
[Notices]
[Page 16960-16961]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr08-140]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2008-0051]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2000 Chevrolet Tahoe Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2000 Chevrolet Tahoe multipurpose passenger vehicles 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
2000 Chevrolet Tahoe multipurpose passenger vehicles 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 (1) 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, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform
to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 30, 2008.

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: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

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 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.
    Barry Taylor Enterprises of Richmond, California (BTE)(Registered
Importer 01-280) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming
2000 Chevrolet Tahoe multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicles which BTE believes are
substantially similar are 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe multipurpose passenger
vehicles 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 carefully compared non-U.S. certified
2000 Chevrolet Tahoe multipurpose passenger vehicles to their U.S.-
certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially
similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    BTE submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that non-U.S. certified 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe multipurpose passenger
vehicles, 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 2000
Chevrolet Tahoe multipurpose passenger vehicles 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,
111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116
Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and
Roof Panel Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than
Passenger Cars, 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other
than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Passenger Car
Brake 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

[[Page 16961]]

Protection, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting,
214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield
Zone Intrusion, 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System
Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner additionally states that the vehicle identification
plates affixed to the vehicles meet the requirements of 49 CFR part
565.
    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: Inscription of the word
``brake'' on the dash in place of the international ECE warning symbol.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: Installation of a U.S.-conforming model front side-mounted
reflex reflectors and installation of U.S.-conforming model front turn
signal lamps or modification of the existing lamps to meet the
requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles
and installation, on vehicles that are not already so equipped, of
U.S.-conforming model components to meet the requirements of this
standard.
    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) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: March 24, 2008.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
 [FR Doc. E8-6492 Filed 3-28-08; 8:45 am]

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