Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2005 Honda CR-V Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation, 30428-30429 [E7-10483]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 104 / Thursday, May 31, 2007 / Notices
and deaths resulting from traffic
accidents.
In recent years, the agency has
received a number of economic
hardship petitions concerning
requirements for air bags. Most of the
petitions have been limited to
requirements for advanced air bags,
which did not become effective for
small volume manufacturers until
September 1, 2006. A very small
number of petitioners have requested
that vehicles be permitted to be
manufactured and sold without air bags.
We are concerned about the potential
safety implication of any temporary
exemptions that may be granted by this
agency. However, in considering
whether a requested economic hardship
exemption is in the public interest and
consistent with the Safety Act, we
believe it is important to distinguish
between petitions requesting
exemptions from requirements for
advanced air bags and ones requesting
exemptions to permit vehicles to be
manufactured and sold without air bags.
There are significant differences
between these two types of petitions.
One difference relates to the length of
the time that the relevant requirements
have been in effect, and related
technical difficulties in bringing
vehicles into compliance with the
requirements. The other difference
relates to safety benefits.
All passenger cars manufactured on or
after September 1, 1997 have been
required to provide air bags at the driver
and right front passenger positions.
Thus, the requirements for ‘‘basic’’ air
bags are longstanding, and a number of
small volume manufacturers have found
ways to meet the requirements.
By contrast, the requirements for
advanced air bags did not become
effective for small volume
manufacturers until September 1, 2006.
Because the new advanced air bag
requirements were challenging, major
air bag suppliers concentrated their
efforts on working with large volume
manufacturers, and thus, until recently,
small volume manufacturers had
limited access to advanced air bag
technology.
Frontal air bags for drivers and right
front passengers have great net benefits.
NHTSA estimates that they saved
19,659 lives from 1987 through the end
of 2005.4 Air bags reduce overall fatality
risk in purely frontal crashes by 29
percent. They reduce overall fatality risk
by 12 percent for drivers of passenger
4 Traffic Safety Facts—2005 Data—Occupant
Protection, NHTSA Report No. DOT HS 810 691,
Washington, 2006.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:01 May 30, 2007
Jkt 211001
cars, and by 14 percent for right front
passengers of passenger cars.5
Given the large benefits of frontal air
bags, the number of years that the
requirements have been in effect and the
fact that a number of small volume
manufacturers have been able to meet
the requirements for ‘‘basic’’ air bags,
we have determined that it is generally
not in the public interest or consistent
with the Safety Act to grant new
economic hardship exemptions to
permit light vehicles to be sold without
air bags. We note that while the agency
has granted a small number of such
exemptions in the past, we believe it is
more difficult with the passage of time,
to justify granting such petitions, since
air bag technology has been widely
available and incorporated into vehicle
designs for over twenty years.
As for the SS II Shelby Series II, we
note that, as indicated earlier, SS II
began operations in January 2006. It
acquired the tooling for the Shelby
Series 1 vehicle under a licensing
agreement from Shelby American
Corporation, pursuant to which SS II
has the right to produce a convertible
sports car based upon the Shelby Series
1 design. The Shelby Series II would
utilize the same chassis as the Shelby
Series 1, but use modified exterior,
interior, and powertrain components.
The SS II Shelby Series II is in essence
a modified version of an older vehicle
that was designed without air bags.
Given the safety benefits of frontal air
bags, we have determined that it would
not be in the public interest or
consistent with the Safety Act to grant
an economic hardship exemption to
permit the manufacture and sale of this
vehicle without air bags.
Since we have determined that the
requested exemption is not in the public
interest or consistent with the Safety
Act, it is not necessary address the
issues of economic hardship or whether
or not the manufacturer has tried to
comply with the standard in good faith.
Accordingly, SS II’s petition for a
temporary exemption is denied.
Issued on: May 24, 2007.
Nicole R. Nason,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7–10501 Filed 5–30–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
5 Kahane, C.J., Lives Saved by the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards and Other Vehicle Safety
Technologies, 1960–2002, NHTSA Technical Report
No. DOT HS 809 833, Washington, 2004, pp. 108–
115.
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2007–28262]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for
Decision That Nonconforming 2005
Honda CR–V Multipurpose Passenger
Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for
decision that nonconforming 2005
Honda CR–V multipurpose passenger
vehicles are eligible for importation.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This document announces
receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a
petition for a decision that 2005 Honda
CR–V multipurpose passenger vehicles
that were not originally manufactured to
comply with all applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS)
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 July 2, 2007.
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.] 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 https://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 FMVSS shall be refused
admission into the United States unless
NHTSA has decided that the motor
vehicle is substantially similar to a
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
31MYN1
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 104 / Thursday, May 31, 2007 / Notices
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 FMVSS.
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. (WETL) of Houston,
TX (Registered Importer 90–005) has
petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
nonconforming 2005 Honda CR–V
multipurpose passenger vehicles are
eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicles which WETL
believes are substantially similar are
2005 Honda CR–V multipurpose
passenger vehicles that were
manufactured for sale in the United
States and certified by their
manufacturer as conforming to all
applicable FMVSS.
The petitioner claims that it carefully
compared non-U.S. certified 2005
Honda CR–V multipurpose passenger
vehicles to their U.S.-certified
counterparts, and found the vehicles to
be substantially similar with respect to
compliance with most FMVSS.
WETL submitted information with its
petition intended to demonstrate that
non-U.S. certified 2005 Honda CR–V
multipurpose passenger vehicles, as
originally manufactured, conform to
many FMVSS 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 2005 Honda CR–V
multipurpose passenger vehicles are
identical to their U.S.-certified
counterparts with respect to compliance
with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission
Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock,
and Transmission Braking Effect, 103
Windshield Defrosting and Defogging
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and
Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113
Hood Latch System, 114 Theft
Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake
Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window,
Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 119
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:01 May 30, 2007
Jkt 211001
New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other
than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator
Control Systems, 135 Passenger Car
Brake Systems, 202 Head Restraints,
204 Steering Control Rearward
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials,
206 Door Locks and Door Retention
Components, 207 Seating Systems, 210
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212
Windshield Mounting, 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: Installation of a U.S.-model
instrument cluster, Engine Control Unit
and associated U.S.-model software.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective
Devices and Associated Equipment:
Inspection of all vehicles and
installation, on vehicles that are not
already so equipped, of U.S.-model front
and rear side-mounted marker lamps.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors:
Installation of a U.S.-model passenger
side rearview mirror, or inscription of
the required warning statement on the
face of that mirror.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and
Rims for Motor Vehicles Other than
Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 201 Occupant
Protection in Interior Impact: Inspection
of all vehicles and installation, on
vehicles that are not already so
equipped, of U.S.-model components to
meet the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash
Protection: (a) Inspection of all vehicles
and replacement of any non U.S.-model
seat belts, knee bolsters, air bag control
units, and air bags with U.S.-model
components on vehicles that are not
already so equipped; and (b) installation
of U.S. version software to ensure that
the seat belt warning system meets the
requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt
Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles
and installation, on vehicles that are not
already so equipped, of U.S.-model
components to meet the requirements of
this standard.
Standard No. 225 Child Restraint
Anchorage Systems: Inspection of all
vehicles and installation, on vehicles
that are not already so equipped, of
U.S.-model components to meet the
requirements of this standard.
The petitioner additionally states that
a vehicle identification plate must be
affixed to the vehicles near the left
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
30429
windshield post 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 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: May 25, 2007.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E7–10483 Filed 5–30–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2007–28264]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for
Decision That Nonconforming 2003
Kawasaki VN1500–P1/P2 Series
Motorcycles Are Eligible for
Importation
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for
decision that nonconforming 2003
Kawasaki VN1500–P1/P2 series
motorcycles are eligible for importation.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This document announces
receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a
petition for a decision that 2003
Kawasaki VN1500–P1/P2 series
motorcycles that were not originally
manufactured to comply with all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards (FMVSS) 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
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
31MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 104 (Thursday, May 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30428-30429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10483]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2007-28262]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2005 Honda CR-V Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for
importation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles that were not
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) 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 July 2, 2007.
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.] 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
https://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 FMVSS shall be
refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that
the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a
[[Page 30429]]
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 FMVSS.
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. (WETL) of Houston,
TX (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
nonconforming 2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which
WETL believes are substantially similar are 2005 Honda CR-V
multipurpose passenger vehicles that were manufactured for sale in the
United States and certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all
applicable FMVSS.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles to their U.S.-certified
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with
respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
WETL submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose
passenger vehicles, as originally manufactured, conform to many FMVSS
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 2005
Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles are identical to their U.S.-
certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos.
102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and
Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and Defogging
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses,
113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake
Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems,
119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars, 124
Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Passenger Car Brake Systems, 202 Head
Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating
Systems, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting,
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: Installation of a U.S.-
model instrument cluster, Engine Control Unit and associated U.S.-model
software.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: Inspection of all vehicles and installation, on vehicles
that are not already so equipped, of U.S.-model front and rear side-
mounted marker lamps.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning
statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other
than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact: Inspection
of all vehicles and installation, on vehicles that are not already so
equipped, of U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this
standard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Inspection of all
vehicles and replacement of any non U.S.-model seat belts, knee
bolsters, air bag control units, and air bags with U.S.-model
components on vehicles that are not already so equipped; and (b)
installation of U.S. version software to ensure that the seat belt
warning system meets the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles
and installation, on vehicles that are not already so equipped, of
U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Inspection of
all vehicles and installation, on vehicles that are not already so
equipped, of U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this
standard.
The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post 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 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: May 25, 2007.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E7-10483 Filed 5-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
