Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1986 Mazda RX-7 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. 96-126; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming

1986 Mazda RX-7 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming

1986 Mazda RX-7 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1986

Mazda RX-7 that was not originally manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for

importation into the United States because (1) it is substantially

similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for importation

into and sale in the United States and that was certified by its

manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) it is

capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is February 7,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice

number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW.,

Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 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) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(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.

[[Page 1144]]

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 (``LPC'') (Registered

Importer 96-100) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1986 Mazda RX-7

passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The

vehicle which LPC believes is substantially similar is the 1986 Mazda

RX-7 that was manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the

United States and certified by its manufacturer as conforming to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.

certified 1986 Mazda RX-7 to its U.S. certified counterpart, and found

the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance

with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

LPC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate

that the non-U.S. certified 1986 Mazda RX-7, as originally

manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards

in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is capable of

being readily altered to conform to those standards.

Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified

1986 Mazda RX-7 is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with

respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever

Sequence . . . ., 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield

Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake

Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 112 Headlamp

Concealment Devices, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124

Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior

Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the Driver From

the Steering Control System, 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,

and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.

Petitioner states that the vehicle also complies with the Bumper

Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.

Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being

readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner

indicated:

Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) inscription of the word

``Brake'' on the lens of the brake failure indicator lamp; (b)

replacement of the speedometer/odometer with a U.S.- model component.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated

Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.- model sealed headlight assemblies;

(b) installation of U.S.- model rear sidemarker lights.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire

information placard.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a U.S.- model

warning buzzer relay and a warning buzzer in the steering lock

electrical circuit.

Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window

system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is

switched off.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat

belt warning buzzer. Petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped

with U.S.-model seat belt assemblies identical to those found on its

U.S.-certified counterpart.

Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover

valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the

evaporative emissions collection canister.

Additionally, the petitioner states that a VIN plate will be

installed in the vehicle so that it can be read from outside the left

windshield pillar, and a VIN reference label will be installed on the

edge of the door or latch post nearest the driver to meet the

requirements of 49 CFR Part 565.

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition

described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be

submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC

20590. 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 Mazda 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: January 3, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97-387 Filed 1-7-97; 8:45 am]

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