Bentley Motors, Inc., Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 38082 [E9-18145]

Agencies

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 145 (Thursday, July 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 38082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18145]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0114; Notice 1]


Bentley Motors, Inc., Receipt of Petition for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) has determined that certain 
passenger car headlamps manufactured for the 2005-2008 Bentley Arnage 
and Azure passenger cars do not fully comply with paragraph 49 CFR 
571.108, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108 Lamps, 
Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment. Bentley has filed an 
appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and 
Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) (see implementing rule 
at 49 CFR part 556), Bentley has petitioned for an exemption from the 
notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the 
basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle 
safety.
    This notice of receipt of Bentley's petition is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the petition.
    Bentley estimated that 1,115 model year 2005-2008 Bentley Arnage 
and Azure passenger cars manufactured between January 13, 2004 and 
November 9, 2007 are involved. Bentley also stated that based on its 
preliminary investigation it believes that only 50% of those vehicles 
have the subject noncompliance.
    Paragraphs S7.8.5.3(b) of FMVSS No. 108 require in pertinent part:

    S7.8.5.3 Visual/optical aiming. Each visually/optically aimable 
headlamp shall be designed to conform to the following requirements: 
* * *
    (b) Horizontal aim, lower beam. There shall be no adjustment of 
horizontal aim unless the headlamp is equipped with a horizontal 
VHAD. If the headlamp has a VHAD, it shall be set to zero.

    Bentley explained that the noncompliance with FMVSS No. 108 is that 
horizontal aim adjustment of the subject lower beams is possible due to 
the absence of a blanking cap over the lower beam horizontal adjustment 
screw.
    Bentley also stated that it discovered this noncompliance as a 
result of a special production line quality audit investigation.
    Bentley further states that it believes that this noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety for three reasons. First, the 
adjustment screw is always hidden by an engine cover when the vehicle's 
hood is open. Second, when the engine cover is removed the screw is 
still hidden down a small dark guide hole, so the screw is not 
immediately visible and it is not immediately obvious that a disabling 
cap is not present. Last, the workshop manual clearly identifies that 
this screw is not functional on North American specification vehicles 
so no vehicle repairer would ever need to try to search for and adjust 
the screw in question.
    Bentley also has informed NHTSA that it has corrected the problem 
that caused this noncompliance.
    In summation, Bentley states that it believes that the 
noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and that no 
corrective action is warranted.
    NHTSA notes that the statutory provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 
30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to file petitions for a 
determination of inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers 
only from the duties found in sections 30118 and 30120, respectively, 
to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a defect or noncompliance 
and to remedy the defect or noncompliance.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the docket and 
notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be submitted by 
any of the following methods:
    a. By mail addressed to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    b. By hand delivery to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Section is open on 
weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm except Federal Holidays.
    c. Electronically: by logging onto the Federal Docket Management 
System (FDMS) Web site at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments. Comments may also be faxed 
to 1-202-493-2251.
    Comments must be written in the English language, and be no greater 
than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to the length of 
necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are submitted in 
hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are provided. If you wish 
to receive confirmation that your comments were received, please 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the comments. Note that 
all comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.
    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.). DOT's complete Privacy 
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 
FR 19477-78).
    You may view documents submitted to a docket at the address and 
times given above. You may also view the documents on the Internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by following the online instructions for 
accessing the dockets available at that Web site.
    The petition, supporting materials, and all comments received 
before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will 
be filed and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials 
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be 
considered to the extent possible. When the petition is granted or 
denied, notice of the decision will be published in the Federal 
Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: August 31, 2009.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 
CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: July 23, 2009.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E9-18145 Filed 7-29-09; 8:45 am]
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