Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1995-1996 Ford Bronco Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4073]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming

1995-1996 Ford Bronco Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for

Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming

1995-1996 Ford Bronco multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are

eligible for importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1995-

1996 Ford Broncos manufactured for sale in Venezuela 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.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 19,

1998.

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 10 am to

5 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), 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, 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.

Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas

(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to

decide whether 1995-1996 Ford Broncos manufactured for sale in

Venezuela are eligible for importation into the United States. The

vehicles which Wallace believes are substantially similar are 1995-1996

Ford Broncos that were manufactured for sale in the United States and

certified by their manufacturer, Ford Motor Company, as conforming to

all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

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

certified 1995-1996 Ford Broncos 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.

Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to

demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1995-1996 Ford Broncos, 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 the non-U.S. certified

1995-1996 Ford Broncos are identical to their U.S. certified

counterparts with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 101

Controls and Displays, 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence. * * *,

103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing

Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps,

Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 111 Rearview Mirror, 113

Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 New

Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 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, 301 Fuel System Integrity,

and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified

1995-1996 Ford Broncos comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR

Part 581.

Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being

readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner

indicated:

Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other

than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a U.S.

model air bag at the driver's seating position. The petitioner states

that the vehicles are equipped with Type II seat belts at both front

and both rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a Type I

seat belt at the rear center designated seating position.

The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number

plate must be affixed to the vehicles 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 Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,

Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 am to 5 pm]. 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: July 15, 1998.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98-19250 Filed 7-17-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P