Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1996 Chrysler LHS Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4547]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming

1996 Chrysler LHS Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming

1996 Chrysler LHS 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 1996

Chrysler LHS that was not originally manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is

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eligible for importation into the United States because (1) it is

substantially similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for

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 November 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 1996 Chrysler LHS passenger cars manufactured in Mexico

for the Mexican and other foreign markets are eligible for importation

into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes is

substantially similar is the 1996 Chrysler LHS that was manufactured

for sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer,

Chrysler Corporation, as conforming to all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

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

certified 1996 Chrysler LHS 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.

Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to

demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1996 Chrysler LHS, 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

1996 Chrysler LHS is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirror,

113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118

Power Window Systems, 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, 208 Occupant Crash

Protection (on basis that vehicles are equipped with factory-installed

driver's and passenger's side air bags, with Type II seat belts in

front and rear outboard seating positions, and with a lap belt in the

rear center designated seating position), 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 301 Fuel System Integrity, 302 Flammability of Interior

Materials.

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

1996 Chrysler LHS complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR

part 581.

The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number

plate is affixed to the vehicle that meets the requirements of 49 CFR

part 565.

Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being

readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner

indicated:

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

information placard.

The petitioner finally states that all vehicles will be inspected

prior to importation to assure compliance with the Theft Prevention

Standard found in 49 CFR part 541.

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 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: October 15, 1998.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 98-28125 Filed 10-19-98; 8:45 am]

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