[Federal Register: December 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 69765-69766]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de03-98]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16629]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2000 Ford F150 Pickup Trucks Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks 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 Ford F150 pickup trucks 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
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.
DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is January 14,
2004.
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 a.m.
to
[[Page 69766]]
5 p.m.]. 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 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit
http://dms.dot.gov.
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 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 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.
Automobile Concepts, Inc. of North Miami, Florida (``AMC'')
(Registered Importer 01-278) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks manufactured in the United States for
export to foreign markets are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicles which AMC believes are substantially similar are
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks that were manufactured for 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
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks 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.
AMC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that non-U.S. certified 2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks, 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 2000
Ford F150 pickup trucks 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 and
Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices
and Associated Equipment, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection,
116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for
Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 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, 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.
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: replacement of the
instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component so that the speedometer
reads in miles per hour.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all
vehicles and replacement of any seat belts, air bag control units, air
bags, and knee bolsters with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are
not already so equipped. Petitioner states that the vehicle should be
equipped with an automatic restraint system consisting of driver's and
passenger's air bags and knee bolsters, air bag crash sensors, and an
air bag control unit. Petitioner also states that the vehicle should be
equipped with combination lap and shoulder belts that are self-
tensioning and that release by means of a single red pushbutton.
Petitioner further states that the vehicle is equipped with a seat belt
warning lamp identical to that on the vehicle's U.S.-certified
counterpart.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must
be affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield post and a reference
and certification label must be affixed to the edge of the driver's
side door or to the latch post nearest the driver to meet the
requirements of 49 CFR Part 565. In addition, a certification label
must be affixed to the driver's side doorjamb to meet the requirements
of 49 CFR Part 567.
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 a.m. to 5 p.m.]. 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: December 9, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-30830 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P