General Motors Corporation, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 70963-70965 [2010-29168]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 223 / Friday, November 19, 2010 / Notices
the subject vehicles were originally
designed to be equipped with spare tires
as standard equipment. The vehicle
owner’s manuals and tire and
information placards included all
required information associated with
the spare tire equipped vehicles. When
a production change substituted a Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit (inflator kit)
for the spare tire, the vehicle tire and
information placards should have been
revised to comply with paragraphs
S4.3(c) and S4.3(d) of FMVSS No. 110,
but were not.
GM described the noncompliances as
the following errors on the tire and
loading information placard:
(1) The tire size designation shows a spare
tire size appropriate for the subject vehicles
instead of the word ‘‘none’’.
(2) The manufacturer’s recommended cold
tire inflation pressure shows inflation
pressure appropriate for the subject spare tire
instead of the word ‘‘none’’.
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
GM also stated that all other
information (front and rear tire size
designations and their respective cold
tire inflation pressures as well as seating
capacity and vehicle capacity weight)
on the subject placards is correct and
that it was not aware of any field or
owner complaints associated with these
noncompliances.
GM additionally stated that it believes
that this noncompliance is
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety
for the following reasons:
(1) All information required for
maintaining and/or replacing the front and
rear tires, as well as the seating capacity and
vehicle capacity weight are correct on the tire
and loading information placard on the
subject vehicles.
(2) The vehicle price label (a.k.a., the
Monroney label) has the correct information,
whether the vehicle is equipped with an
inflator kit or a spare tire. Therefore, original
purchase owners should already know if
their vehicle is equipped with an inflator kit
in place of a spare tire.
(3) In addition to the FMVSS No. 138
required owner’s manual language of
checking the inflation pressures of all tires
including the spare monthly, the owner’s
manual also recommends the owner to check
the tires including the compact spare once a
month or more. The tire information placard
on the subject vehicles contains spare tire
size and recommended cold tire inflation
pressure instead of the word ‘‘none’’ as
required by FMVSS No. 110. The inflator kit
is located in the same location where a spare
tire would be for vehicles ordered with an
optional spare tire. Therefore, if an owner
were to look for the spare tire, he/she would
find the inflator kit, and realize that the
vehicle is equipped with an inflator kit
instead of a spare tire.
(4) In the event of a flat tire, the inflator
kit serves the purpose of getting back on the
road. Since the inflator kit is located in the
same location as the spare tire, the customer
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17:02 Nov 18, 2010
Jkt 223001
should have no problem finding it. The
owner’s manual provides the instructions for
using the inflator kit as well as installing the
spare tire. There is a label with instructions
on the sealant canister of the inflator kit as
well.
(5) The inflator kit includes a tire sealant
canister, an air compressor as well as a
pressure gage in one unit. The inflator kit can
be used to inflate one or more tires regardless
whether the vehicle has a punctured tire or
not. The sealant of the GM sealant canister
does not damage the TPMS pressure sensor,
and the TPMS continues to function.
(6) OnStar e-mail service subscribers get
monthly reminders on tire pressure
maintenance, including the recommended
cold tire inflation pressures and status of
their tire pressures.
(7) Risk to the public is negligible because
the vehicle does have an inflator kit.
(8) GM is not aware of any incidents or
injuries related to the subject condition.
GM also has informed NHTSA that it
has corrected the problem that caused
these errors so that they will not be
repeated in future production.
In summation, GM states that it
believes that the noncompliances are
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety
and that no corrective action is
warranted.
NHTSA Decision
The agency agrees with GM that the
noncompliances are inconsequential to
motor vehicle safety. The agency
believes that the true measure of
inconsequentiality to motor vehicle
safety in this case is that there is no
effect of the noncompliances on the
operational safety of the subject vehicles
in which the vehicle tire and loading
information placards erroneously
indicated that a spare tire was available
when, in fact, a tire inflator kit was
installed in lieu of the spare tire.
In the agency’s judgment, this
noncompliance to FMVSS No. 110 will
have an inconsequential effect on motor
vehicle safety because:
In the event of a flat tire, the inflator
kit serves the purpose of getting back on
the road. Since the inflator kit is located
in the same location as the spare tire,
the customer should have no problem
finding it. The owner’s manual provides
the instructions for using the inflator kit
as well as installing a spare tire, should
one become available. There is a label
with use instructions on the sealant
canister of the inflator kit as well.
Additionally, all information required
for maintaining and/or replacing the
front and rear tires (i.e., tire size
designations and their respective cold
tire inflation pressures), as well as the
seating capacity and vehicle capacity
weight are correct on the tire and
loading information placard on the
subject vehicles.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
70963
In consideration of the foregoing,
NHTSA has decided that GM has met its
burden of persuasion that the subject
FMVSS No. 10 labeling noncompliances
are inconsequential to motor vehicle
safety. Accordingly, GM’s petition is
granted and the petitioner is exempted
from the obligation of providing
notification of, and a remedy for, the
subject noncompliance under 49 U.S.C.
30118 and 30120.
Authority: (49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120:
delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 and
501.8).
Issued on: November 15, 2010.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2010–29170 Filed 11–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2010–0151; Notice 1]
General Motors Corporation, Receipt
of Petition for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
General Motors Corporation (GM),1
has determined that approximately
1,113 Model Year (MY) 2011 Buick
Regal passenger cars do not fully
comply with paragraph S4.3(d) of 49
CFR 571.110, Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire
Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles
With a GVWR of 4,536 Kilograms
(10,000 pounds) or Less. GM filed an
appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR
part 573, Defect and Noncompliance
Responsibility and Reports dated July
26, 2010.
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h) (see implementing rule at 49
CFR part 556), GM 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 GM’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.
Affected are approximately 1,113
model year 2011 Buick Regal passenger
cars manufactured between January 20,
2010, and May 18, 2010 at GM’s
¨
Russelsheim assembly plant.
1 General Motors LLC (GM) is vehicle
manufacturer incorporated under the laws of the
state of Michigan.
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
19NON1
70964
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 223 / Friday, November 19, 2010 / Notices
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (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. Therefore,
these provisions only apply to the
1,113 2 vehicles that have already
passed from the manufacturer to an
owner, purchaser, or dealer.
Paragraph S4.3 of FMVSS No. 110
requires in pertinent part:
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
S4.3 Placard. Each vehicle, except for a
trailer or incomplete vehicle, shall show the
information specified in S4.3 (a) through (g),
and may show, at the manufacturer’s option,
the information specified in S4.3 (h) and (i),
on a placard permanently affixed to the
driver’s side B-pillar. In each vehicle without
a driver’s side B-pillar and with two doors on
the driver’s side of the vehicle opening in
opposite directions, the placard shall be
affixed on the forward edge of the rear side
door. If the above locations do not permit the
affixing of a placard that is legible, visible
and prominent, the placard shall be
permanently affixed to the rear edge of the
driver’s side door. If this location does not
permit the affixing of a placard that is legible,
visible and prominent, the placard shall be
affixed to the inward facing surface of the
vehicle next to the driver’s seating position.
This information shall be in the English
language and conform in color and format,
not including the border surrounding the
entire placard, as shown in the example set
forth in Figure 1 in this standard. At the
manufacturer’s option, the information
specified in S4.3 (c), (d), and, as appropriate,
(h) and (i) may be shown, alternatively to
being shown on the placard, on a tire
inflation pressure label which must conform
in color and format, not including the border
surrounding the entire label, as shown in the
example set forth in Figure 2 in this standard.
The label shall be permanently affixed and
proximate to the placard required by this
paragraph. The information specified in S4.3
(e) shall be shown on both the vehicle
placard and on the tire inflation pressure
label (if such a label is affixed to provide the
information specified in S4.3 (c), (d), and, as
appropriate, (h) and (i)) may be shown in the
format and color scheme set forth in Figures
1 and 2. * * *
(d) Tire size designation, indicated by the
headings ‘‘size’’ or ‘‘original tire size’’ or
‘‘original size,’’ and ‘‘spare tire’’ or ‘‘spare,’’ for
2 GM’s petition, which was filed under 49 CFR
part 556, requests an agency decision to exempt GM
as a manufacturer from the notification and recall
responsibilities of 49 CFR part 573 for 1,113 of the
affected vehicles. However, the agency cannot
relieve GM distributors of the prohibitions on the
sale, offer for sale, or introduction or delivery for
introduction into interstate commerce of the
noncompliant vehicles under their control after GM
recognized that the subject noncompliance existed.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:02 Nov 18, 2010
Jkt 223001
the tires installed at the time of the first
purchase for purposes other than resale. For
full size spare tires, the statement ‘‘see above’’
may, at the manufacturer’s option replace the
tire size designation. If no spare tire is
provided, the word ‘‘none’’ must replace the
tire size designation; * * *
GM explains that the noncompliance
with FMVSS No. 110 is the omission of
the letter ‘‘T’’ in the spare tire size
printed on the tire and loading
information labels that it affixed to the
vehicles. Currently the tire size
designation shows the spare tire size as
‘‘125/80R16’’ instead of ‘‘T125/80R16.’’
GM reported that the noncompliance
was brought to their attention in May of
2010 by the Global Subsystem
Leadership Team during an internal
¨
audit in the Russelsheim Assembly
Plant.
GM additionally stated that it believes
that this noncompliance is
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety
for the following reasons:
(1) All information for maintaining
and/or replacing the front and rear tires,
as well as the seating capacity and
vehicle capacity weight are correct on
tire and loading information labels on
the subject vehicles.
(2) The vehicles are equipped with
spare tires that have the complete tire
size (T125/80R16) molded their
sidewalls.
(3) When a customer needs to replace
the spare tire, he/she will take the
vehicle to a tire store. The tire store will
know what compact spare tire is needed
based on the information in their catalog
or by looking at the spare tire provided
with the vehicle. In the case, they were
to refer to the tire and loading
information label, it will show the spare
tire size 125/80R16 without the letter T.
The only tire available with the size
designation of 125/80R16 is the compact
spare tire T125/80R16, and should not
cause any confusion or error.
(4) Risk to the public is negligible
because the vehicles are equipped with
the correct spare tire, and the tire and
loading information label does have the
correct inflation pressure for the
compact spare tire.
(5) GM is not aware of any incidents
or injuries related to the subject
condition.
GM has additionally informed
NHTSA that it has corrected the
noncompliance so that all future
production vehicles will have compliant
labels.
In summation, GM believes that the
described noncompliance of its vehicles
to meet the requirements of FMVSS No.
110 is inconsequential to motor vehicle
safety, and that its petition, to exempt
from providing recall notification of
PO 00000
Frm 00070
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C.
30118 and remedying the recall
noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C.
30120, and should be granted.
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 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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, selfaddressed 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).
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
19NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 223 / Friday, November 19, 2010 / Notices
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: December 20,
2010
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120:
Delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 and
501.8.
Issued on: November 15, 2010.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2010–29168 Filed 11–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Summary Notice No. PE–2010–51]
Petition for Exemption; Summary of
Petition Received
Federal Aviation
Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of petition for exemption
received.
AGENCY:
This notice contains a
summary of a petition seeking relief
from specified requirements of 14 CFR.
The purpose of this notice is to improve
the public’s awareness of, and
participation in, this aspect of FAA’s
regulatory activities. Neither publication
of this notice nor the inclusion or
omission of information in the summary
is intended to affect the legal status of
the petition or its final disposition.
DATES: Comments on this petition must
identify the petition docket number
involved and must be received on or
before November 29, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments
identified by Docket Number FAA–
2010–1012 using any of the following
methods:
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:02 Nov 18, 2010
Jkt 223001
• Mail: Send comments to the Docket
Management Facility; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC
20590.
• Fax: Fax comments to the Docket
Management Facility at 202–493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Bring comments to
the Docket Management Facility in
Room W12–140 of the West Building
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
Privacy: We will post all comments
we receive, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information you provide.
Using the search function of our docket
Web site, anyone can find and read the
comments received into any of our
dockets, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or
signing the comment for an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477–78).
Docket: To read background
documents or comments received, go to
https://www.regulations.gov at any time
or to the Docket Management Facility in
Room W12–140 of the West Building
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keira Jones (202) 267–4025, Tyneka
Thomas (202) 267–7626 or David
Staples (202) 267–4058, Office of
Rulemaking, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.
This notice is published pursuant to 14
CFR 11.85.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November
15, 2010.
Dennis Pratte,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Rulemaking.
Petition For Exemption
Docket No.: FAA–2010–1012.
Petitioner: Seaborne Airlines.
Section of 14 CFR Affected:
14 CFR 121.305(j)
Description of Relief Sought: Seaborne
Airlines is requesting relief from the
requirement to install a third gyroscopic
bank and pitch indicator in its DHC–6–
300 aircraft.
[FR Doc. 2010–29195 Filed 11–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
PO 00000
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70965
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Summary Notice No. PE–2010–53]
Petition for Exemption; Summary of
Petition Received
Federal Aviation
Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of petition for exemption
received.
AGENCY:
This notice contains a
summary of a petition seeking relief
from specified requirements of 14 CFR.
The purpose of this notice is to improve
the public’s awareness of, and
participation in, this aspect of FAA’s
regulatory activities. Neither publication
of this notice nor the inclusion or
omission of information in the summary
is intended to affect the legal status of
the petition or its final disposition.
DATES: Comments on this petition must
identify the petition docket number
involved and must be received on or
before November 29, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments
identified by Docket Number FAA–
2010–0947 and FAA–2010–0970 using
any of the following methods:
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
• Mail: Send comments to the Docket
Management Facility; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC
20590.
• Fax: Fax comments to the Docket
Management Facility at 202–493–2251.
• Hand Delivery: Bring comments to
the Docket Management Facility in
Room W12–140 of the West Building
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
Privacy: We will post all comments
we receive, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information you provide.
Using the search function of our docket
Web site, anyone can find and read the
comments received into any of our
dockets, including the name of the
individual sending the comment (or
signing the comment for an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477–78).
Docket: To read background
documents or comments received, go to
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70963-70965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29168]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0151; Notice 1]
General Motors Corporation, Receipt of Petition for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
General Motors Corporation (GM),\1\ has determined that
approximately 1,113 Model Year (MY) 2011 Buick Regal passenger cars do
not fully comply with paragraph S4.3(d) of 49 CFR 571.110, Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims
for Motor Vehicles With a GVWR of 4,536 Kilograms (10,000 pounds) or
Less. GM filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573,
Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports dated July 26,
2010.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ General Motors LLC (GM) is vehicle manufacturer incorporated
under the laws of the state of Michigan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) (see implementing rule
at 49 CFR part 556), GM 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 GM'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.
Affected are approximately 1,113 model year 2011 Buick Regal
passenger cars manufactured between January 20, 2010, and May 18, 2010
at GM's R[uuml]sselsheim assembly plant.
[[Page 70964]]
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (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. Therefore, these provisions only
apply to the 1,113 \2\ vehicles that have already passed from the
manufacturer to an owner, purchaser, or dealer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ GM's petition, which was filed under 49 CFR part 556,
requests an agency decision to exempt GM as a manufacturer from the
notification and recall responsibilities of 49 CFR part 573 for
1,113 of the affected vehicles. However, the agency cannot relieve
GM distributors of the prohibitions on the sale, offer for sale, or
introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce
of the noncompliant vehicles under their control after GM recognized
that the subject noncompliance existed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paragraph S4.3 of FMVSS No. 110 requires in pertinent part:
S4.3 Placard. Each vehicle, except for a trailer or incomplete
vehicle, shall show the information specified in S4.3 (a) through
(g), and may show, at the manufacturer's option, the information
specified in S4.3 (h) and (i), on a placard permanently affixed to
the driver's side B-pillar. In each vehicle without a driver's side
B-pillar and with two doors on the driver's side of the vehicle
opening in opposite directions, the placard shall be affixed on the
forward edge of the rear side door. If the above locations do not
permit the affixing of a placard that is legible, visible and
prominent, the placard shall be permanently affixed to the rear edge
of the driver's side door. If this location does not permit the
affixing of a placard that is legible, visible and prominent, the
placard shall be affixed to the inward facing surface of the vehicle
next to the driver's seating position. This information shall be in
the English language and conform in color and format, not including
the border surrounding the entire placard, as shown in the example
set forth in Figure 1 in this standard. At the manufacturer's
option, the information specified in S4.3 (c), (d), and, as
appropriate, (h) and (i) may be shown, alternatively to being shown
on the placard, on a tire inflation pressure label which must
conform in color and format, not including the border surrounding
the entire label, as shown in the example set forth in Figure 2 in
this standard. The label shall be permanently affixed and proximate
to the placard required by this paragraph. The information specified
in S4.3 (e) shall be shown on both the vehicle placard and on the
tire inflation pressure label (if such a label is affixed to provide
the information specified in S4.3 (c), (d), and, as appropriate, (h)
and (i)) may be shown in the format and color scheme set forth in
Figures 1 and 2. * * *
(d) Tire size designation, indicated by the headings ``size'' or
``original tire size'' or ``original size,'' and ``spare tire'' or
``spare,'' for the tires installed at the time of the first purchase
for purposes other than resale. For full size spare tires, the
statement ``see above'' may, at the manufacturer's option replace
the tire size designation. If no spare tire is provided, the word
``none'' must replace the tire size designation; * * *
GM explains that the noncompliance with FMVSS No. 110 is the
omission of the letter ``T'' in the spare tire size printed on the tire
and loading information labels that it affixed to the vehicles.
Currently the tire size designation shows the spare tire size as ``125/
80R16'' instead of ``T125/80R16.''
GM reported that the noncompliance was brought to their attention
in May of 2010 by the Global Subsystem Leadership Team during an
internal audit in the R[uuml]sselsheim Assembly Plant.
GM additionally stated that it believes that this noncompliance is
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety for the following reasons:
(1) All information for maintaining and/or replacing the front and
rear tires, as well as the seating capacity and vehicle capacity weight
are correct on tire and loading information labels on the subject
vehicles.
(2) The vehicles are equipped with spare tires that have the
complete tire size (T125/80R16) molded their sidewalls.
(3) When a customer needs to replace the spare tire, he/she will
take the vehicle to a tire store. The tire store will know what compact
spare tire is needed based on the information in their catalog or by
looking at the spare tire provided with the vehicle. In the case, they
were to refer to the tire and loading information label, it will show
the spare tire size 125/80R16 without the letter T. The only tire
available with the size designation of 125/80R16 is the compact spare
tire T125/80R16, and should not cause any confusion or error.
(4) Risk to the public is negligible because the vehicles are
equipped with the correct spare tire, and the tire and loading
information label does have the correct inflation pressure for the
compact spare tire.
(5) GM is not aware of any incidents or injuries related to the
subject condition.
GM has additionally informed NHTSA that it has corrected the
noncompliance so that all future production vehicles will have
compliant labels.
In summation, GM believes that the described noncompliance of its
vehicles to meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 110 is inconsequential
to motor vehicle safety, and that its petition, to exempt from
providing recall notification of noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C.
30118 and remedying the recall noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C.
30120, and should be granted.
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 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal Holidays.
c. Electronically: By logging onto the Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) Web site at http:[sol][sol]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
http:[sol][sol]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).
[[Page 70965]]
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
http:[sol][sol]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: December 20, 2010
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: Delegations of authority at
CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: November 15, 2010.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2010-29168 Filed 11-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P