Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1996 Ford Escort Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 231 (Thursday, December 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67601-67602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31299]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6524]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1996 Ford Escort Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1996 Ford Escort passenger cars 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 
a 1996 Ford Escort manufactured for sale in Nicaragua 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 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 January 3, 
2000.

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 
5 p.m.]

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.
    J.K. Technologies, LLC. of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') 
(Registered Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1996 Ford Escort passenger cars manufactured for sale in Nicaragua are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle which J.K. 
believes is substantially

[[Page 67602]]

similar is the 1996 Ford Escort that was manufactured for sale in the 
United States and certified by its 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 1996 Ford Escort 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.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1996 Ford Escort, 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 Ford Escort is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with 
respect to compliance with Standard 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, 110 Tire Selection and Rims, 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, 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, 208 Occupant 
Crash Protection, 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.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle complies with the Bumper 
Standard at 49 CFR Part 581 and with the Theft Prevention Standard at 
49 CFR Part 541.
    The petitioner states that the only modification that must be made 
to the vehicle is the addition of a vehicle identification number plate 
that meets 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, SW, 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 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: November 29, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-31299 Filed 12-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P