BMW of North America, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance, 25115-25117 [2019-11209]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 104 / Thursday, May 30, 2019 / Notices
years ago, FRA developed Forms FRA F
6180.161(a)–(k) to cover new types of
cars. For these new types of cars, FRA
follows the standard established by the
Association of American Railroads
(AAR), Standard 2044 or S–2044.
A car manufacturer’s request to FRA
for a sample car inspection generally
includes a logo, company name,
signature block, specific drawings,
reflectorization application, and
engineering information, such as test or
modeling of components. In addition,
the request may include car reporting
marks and the number of cars that
would be constructed in the car series.
The request would also provide the
inspection location, contact person,
title, and contact information. The
request typically contains several
paragraphs explaining the cited
regulations that the car manufacturer
believes are related to the car
construction. For the many cars built
today considered cars of special
construction, detailed information
explaining the similarities between the
car being built and the nearest car type
identified in the regulation is provided
to help determine which regulatory
requirements are applicable. Based on
the information submitted, a formal onsite inspection may be required. FRA
reviews the information and responds to
the car manufacturer.
Type of Request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses (Car
manufacturers).
Form(s): FRA F 6180.161(a)–(k).
Respondent Universe: Car
manufacturers/state inspectors.
Frequency of Submission: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
121.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 121
hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $7,406.
Title: System for Telephonic
Notification of Unsafe Conditions at
Highway-Rail and Pathway Grade
Crossings.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0591.
Abstract: The collection of
information is set forth under 49 CFR
part 234, Grade Crossing Safety,
implementing Section 205 of the Rail
Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA),
Public Law 110–432, Div. A (Oct. 16,
2008). Generally, the rule is intended to
increase safety at highway-rail and
pathway grade crossings. Section 205 of
the RSIA mandates that the Secretary of
Transportation require certain railroad
carriers to take a series of specified
actions related to setting up and using
systems by which the public can notify
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the railroads by toll-free telephone
number of safety problems at their
highway-rail and pathway grade
crossings. Such systems are commonly
known as Emergency Notification
Systems or ENS. The information
collected is used by FRA to ensure that
railroad carriers establish and maintain
a toll-free telephone service to report
unsafe conditions at public and private
highway-rail and pathway grade
crossings for rights-of-way over which
they dispatch trains.
Type of Request: Extension with
change (revised estimates) of a currently
approved information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 625 Railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
298,292.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
15,305 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $1,091,934.
Title: Control of Alcohol and Drug
Use in Railroad Operations: PostAccident Toxicological Testing for
Controlled Substances.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0598.
Abstract: Since 1985, as part of its
accident investigation program, FRA has
conducted post-accident alcohol and
drug tests on railroad employees who
have been involved in serious train
accidents (50 FR 31508, Aug. 2, 1985).
If an accident meets FRA’s criteria for
post-accident testing (see 49 CFR
219.201), FRA conducts tests for alcohol
and for certain drugs classified as
controlled substances under the
Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title
II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse
Prevention Substances Act of 1970
(CSA, 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The Drug
Enforcement Agency, which is primarily
responsible for enforcing the CSA,
oversees the classification of controlled
substances into five schedules.
Schedule I contains illicit drugs, such as
heroin, which has no legitimate medical
use under Federal law. Currently, FRA
routinely conducts post-accident tests
for the following controlled substances:
marijuana, cocaine, phencyclidine, and
certain opioids, amphetamines,
barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.
Controlled substances are drugs or
chemicals that are prohibited or strictly
regulated because of their potential for
abuse or addiction. FRA reports results
of testing for controlled substances to
the railroad’s Medical Review Officer
(MRO) and the employee, and the MRO
must review positive results and report
results of the review to FRA. (See 49
CFR 219.211(b) and (c)).
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25115
Type of Request: Extension with
change (revised estimates) of a currently
approved information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): N/A.
Respondent Universe: 692 Railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On
occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
18.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 3
hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour
Dollar Cost Equivalent: $330.
Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR
1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA
informs all interested parties that it may
not conduct or sponsor, and a
respondent is not required to respond to
a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2019–11222 Filed 5–29–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2018–0003; Notice 1]
BMW of North America, LLC, Receipt
of Petition for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Receipt of petition.
AGENCY:
BMW of North America, LLC,
a subsidiary of BMW AG (BMW), has
determined that certain model year
(MY) 2016–2018 BMW X1 motor
vehicles do not fully comply with
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
(FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials.
BMW filed a noncompliance report
dated September 10, 2018. BMW
subsequently petitioned NHTSA on
September 28, 2018, for a decision that
the subject noncompliance is
inconsequential as it relates to motor
vehicle safety. This document
announces receipt of BMW’s petition.
DATES: The closing date for comments
on the petition is July 1, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written data, views,
and arguments on this petition.
Comments must refer to the docket
number cited in the title of this notice
and may be submitted by any of the
following methods:
SUMMARY:
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• Mail: Send comments by mail
addressed to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver comments
by hand to the 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 for Federal
Holidays.
• Electronically: Submit comments
electronically by logging onto the
Federal Docket Management System
(FDMS) website at https://
www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Comments may also be faxed to
(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 comments you have
submitted by mail 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.
All comments and supporting
materials received before the close of
business on the closing date indicated
above will be filed in the docket and
will be considered. All comments and
supporting materials received after the
closing date will also be filed and will
be considered to the fullest extent
possible.
When the petition is granted or
denied, notice of the decision will also
be published in the Federal Register
pursuant to the authority indicated at
the end of this notice.
All comments, background
documentation, and supporting
materials submitted to the docket may
be viewed by anyone at the address and
times given above. The documents may
also be viewed on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov by following the
online instructions for accessing the
dockets. The docket ID number for this
petition is shown in the heading of this
notice.
DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement is available for review in a
Federal Register notice published on
April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477–78).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Jkt 247001
I. Overview: BMW has determined
that certain MY 2016–2018 BMW X1
motor vehicles do not fully comply with
paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS No. 205,
Glazing Materials (49 CFR 571.205).
BMW filed a noncompliance report
dated September 10, 2018, pursuant to
49 CFR part 573, Defect and
Noncompliance Responsibility and
Reports. BMW subsequently petitioned
NHTSA on September 28, 2018, for an
exemption from the notification and
remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C.
Chapter 301 on the basis that this
noncompliance is inconsequential as it
relates to motor vehicle safety, pursuant
to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) and
49 CFR part 556, Exemption for
Inconsequential Defect or
Noncompliance.
This notice of receipt, of BMW’s
petition, is published under 49 U.S.C.
30118 and 30120 and does not represent
any agency decision or other exercises
of judgment concerning the merits of the
petition.
II. Vehicles Involved: Approximately
86,572 MY 2016–2018 BMW X1
xDrive28i and BMW X1 sDrive28i
multipurpose passenger vehicles,
manufactured between March 10, 2015,
and August 16, 2018, are potentially
involved.
III. Noncompliance: BMW explains
that the noncompliance is that the rear
window glazing markings, in the subject
vehicles do not fully comply with
paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS No. 205.
Specifically, the rear window glazing
does not contain the DOT certification
and the glazing manufacturing code
markings.
IV. Rule Requirements: Paragraph
S6.2 of FMVSS No. 205 includes the
requirements relevant to this petition.
Prime glazing material manufacturers
must certify their glazing material by
adding the symbol ‘‘DOT’’ and a
manufacturer’s code mark that NHTSA
assigns to the manufacturer, in letters
and numerals of the same size, as
required by section 7 of ANSI/SAE
Z26.1–1996.
V. Summary of BMW’s Petition:
BMW described the subject
noncompliance and stated its belief that
the noncompliance is inconsequential
as it relates to motor vehicle safety.
In support of its petition, BMW
submitted the following reasoning:
1. FMVSS No. 205 Section 2 (Purpose)
states, ‘‘The purpose of this standard is
to reduce injuries resulting from impact
to glazing surfaces, to ensure a
necessary degree of transparency in
motor vehicle windows for driver
visibility, and to minimize the
possibility of occupants being thrown
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through the vehicle windows in
collisions.’’
2. Potentially affected vehicles
conform to all the FMVSS No. 205
performance requirements. Therefore,
they satisfy the stated purpose of
FMVSS 205 regarding (a) injury
reduction, (b) driver visibility, and (c)
minimizing occupant ejection.
3. There are no safety performance
implications associated with this
potential noncompliance.
4. BMW has not received any contacts
from vehicle owners regarding this
issue.
5. BMW is unaware of any accidents
or injuries that may have occurred as a
result of this issue.
6. NHTSA has previously granted
petitions for inconsequential
noncompliance regarding FMVSS No.
205 involving marking of window
glazing. BMW believes that its petition
is similar to other manufacturer’s
petitions in which NHTSA has granted
approval. Examples of similar petitions,
in which NHTSA has granted approval,
include the following:
• Ford Motor Company, NHTSA–
2014–0054 N2, March 2, 2015.
• General Motors, LLC, NHTSA–
2013–0039 N2, September 25, 2015.
• Mitsubishi Motors North America,
Inc., NHTSA–2015–0066 N2, August 22,
2015.
• Custom Glass Solutions Upper
Sandusky Corp., NHTSA–2013–0124
N2, January 23, 2015.
• Supreme Corporation, NHTSA–
2015–0126 N2 October 21, 2016.
7. Vehicle production has been
corrected to conform to FMVSS No. 205
S6.3.
8. BMW also provided a copy of the
FMVSS No. 205 Certification Report
from AIB-Vincotte International N.V.
BMW concluded by expressing the
belief that the subject noncompliance is
inconsequential as it relates to motor
vehicle safety, and that its petition to be
exempted from providing notification of
the noncompliance, as required by 49
U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the
noncompliance, as required by 49
U.S.C. 30120, should be granted.
After review of BMW’s petition, the
agency contact BMW to clarify whether
or not the subject vehicles were in fact
noncompliant with paragraph S6.3 as
stated in their petition or paragraph S6.2
of FMVSS No. 205. BMW respond that
the subject vehicles were in fact
noncompliant with paragraph S6.2 of
FMVSS No. 205.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 104 / Thursday, May 30, 2019 / Notices
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, any
decision on this petition only applies to
the subject vehicles that BMW no longer
controlled at the time it determined that
the noncompliance existed. However,
any decision on this petition does not
relieve vehicle distributors and dealers
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 BMW notified them that
the subject noncompliance existed.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120:
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and
501.8)
Otto G. Matheke III,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019–11209 Filed 5–29–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
II. Vehicles Involved
Approximately 1,029 MY 2018 Buick
Regal motor vehicles manufactured
between August 22, 2017, and February
15, 2018, are potentially involved.
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2018–0054; Notice 2]
General Motors, LLC, Grant of Petition
for Decision of Inconsequential
Noncompliance
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Grant of petition.
AGENCY:
General Motors, LLC (GM),
has determined that certain model year
(MY) 2018 Buick Regal motor vehicles
do not fully comply with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.
110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor
Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load
Carrying Capacity Information for Motor
Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536
kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less. GM
filed a noncompliance report dated
April 4, 2018, and subsequently
petitioned NHTSA on April 27, 2018,
for a decision that the subject
noncompliance is inconsequential as it
relates to motor vehicle safety. This
document announces the grant of GM’s
petition.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kerrin Bressant, Office of Vehicle Safety
Compliance, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
telephone (202) 366–1110, facsimile
(202) 366–5930.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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SUMMARY:
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Jkt 247001
I. Overview
GM has determined that certain MY
2018 Buick Regal motor vehicles do not
fully comply with paragraph S4.3 of
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
(FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and
Rims and Motor Home/Recreation
Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity
Information for Motor Vehicles with a
GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000
pounds) or Less (49 CFR 571.110). GM
filed a noncompliance report dated
April 4, 2018, pursuant to 49 CFR part
573, Defect and Noncompliance
Responsibility and Reports. GM also
petitioned NHTSA on April 27, 2018,
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and
30120(h) and 49 CFR part 556, for an
exemption from the notification and
remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C.
Chapter 301 on the basis that this
noncompliance is inconsequential as it
relates to motor vehicle safety.
Notice of receipt of GM’s petition was
published, with a 30-day public
comment period on May 24, 2018, in the
Federal Register (83 FR 24162). No
Comments were received.
III. Noncompliance
GM explains that the noncompliance
is that the subject vehicles were
equipped with tire placards that
incorrectly state the spare tire size and
cold tire pressure. Specifically, the tire
placards state that the spare tire size is
‘‘None’’ when in fact it should have
been ‘‘T125/70R17’’ and omitted the
cold tire pressure for the spare tire when
it should have read ‘‘420 kPa, 60 psi,’’
as required by paragraph S4.3 of FMVSS
No. 110.
IV. Rule Requirements
Paragraph S4.3 of FMVSS No. 110
includes the requirements relevant to
this petition. Each vehicle, except for a
trailer or incomplete vehicle, shall show
the original spare tire size designation
and recommended cold tire inflation
pressure on a placard permanently
affixed to the vehicle on the driver’s
side B-pillar.
V. Summary of GM’s Petition
GM described the subject
noncompliance and stated its belief that
the noncompliance is inconsequential
as it relates to motor vehicle safety.
In support of its petition, GM
submitted the following reasoning:
1. There is no issue with the spare tire
itself, it’s safe and nondefective. The
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25117
only issue here is that certain
information about the spare tire is not
listed on the vehicle placard. But that is
inconsequential because that
information is provided in other
locations.
2. Specifically, the spare tire
information is located in at least three
places: (1) On the sidewall of the spare
tire; (2) in the owner’s manual, which
the vehicle placard specifically directs
the customer to for additional
information; and (3) on the Monroney
label.
3. There is no issue with the road tires
and the information on the vehicle
placard for the road tires is correct.
4. In the event of a flat tire, the
customer will have a spare tire that is
labeled with the proper inflation
pressure and has a sufficient load rating
for the vehicle. It will be immediately
apparent to any customer potentially
confused by the ‘‘none’’ language that
the vehicle has a spare tire when they
lift the liftgate as explained in the
owner’s manual. In addition, the fact
that the vehicle has a spare tire is
explained on the Monroney label.
5. The spare-tire size and pressure
information is readily available from
additional sources (e.g., any automotive
dealer or tire replacement facility), and
on GM’s or the tire retailer’s website.
6. Most, if not all, temporary spare
tires have the same cold tire pressure,
which is 60 psi. The 60 psi pressure is
an industry standard and it is set by at
least two governing bodies, the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association and the European
Tire Rim Technical Organization.
7. All other information on the
vehicle placard is correct.
8. NHTSA has previously granted
similar inconsequential petitions with
respect to FMVSS No. 110
noncompliances.
9. GM is not aware of any field or
owner complaints associated with this
issue. GM is also not aware of any
crashes or injuries associated with this
condition.
GM’s complete petition and all
supporting documents are available by
logging onto the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) website at
https://www.regulations.gov and by
following the online search instructions
to locate the docket number as listed in
the title of this notice.
VI. NHTSA’s Analysis
The intent of FMVSS No. 110 is to
ensure that vehicles are equipped with
tires appropriate to handle maximum
vehicle loads and to prevent
overloading.
GM explained that the subject
vehicles are equipped with tire and
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25115-25117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11209]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2018-0003; Notice 1]
BMW of North America, LLC, Receipt of Petition for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Receipt of petition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: BMW of North America, LLC, a subsidiary of BMW AG (BMW), has
determined that certain model year (MY) 2016-2018 BMW X1 motor vehicles
do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)
No. 205, Glazing Materials. BMW filed a noncompliance report dated
September 10, 2018. BMW subsequently petitioned NHTSA on September 28,
2018, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential
as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt
of BMW's petition.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is July 1, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written data,
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the
docket number cited in the title of this notice and may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
[[Page 25116]]
Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver comments by hand to the 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 for Federal Holidays.
Electronically: Submit comments electronically by logging
onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Comments may also be faxed to (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 comments you have submitted by mail 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.
All comments and supporting materials received before the close of
business on the closing date indicated above will be filed in the
docket and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be
considered to the fullest extent possible.
When the petition is granted or denied, notice of the decision will
also be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated at the end of this notice.
All comments, background documentation, and supporting materials
submitted to the docket may be viewed by anyone at the address and
times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov by following the online instructions for
accessing the dockets. The docket ID number for this petition is shown
in the heading of this notice.
DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement is available for review in a
Federal Register notice published on April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477-78).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Overview: BMW has determined that certain MY 2016-2018 BMW X1
motor vehicles do not fully comply with paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS No.
205, Glazing Materials (49 CFR 571.205). BMW filed a noncompliance
report dated September 10, 2018, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect
and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports. BMW subsequently
petitioned NHTSA on September 28, 2018, for an exemption from the
notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the
basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor
vehicle safety, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) and 49 CFR
part 556, Exemption for Inconsequential Defect or Noncompliance.
This notice of receipt, of BMW's petition, is published under 49
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or
other exercises of judgment concerning the merits of the petition.
II. Vehicles Involved: Approximately 86,572 MY 2016-2018 BMW X1
xDrive28i and BMW X1 sDrive28i multipurpose passenger vehicles,
manufactured between March 10, 2015, and August 16, 2018, are
potentially involved.
III. Noncompliance: BMW explains that the noncompliance is that the
rear window glazing markings, in the subject vehicles do not fully
comply with paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS No. 205. Specifically, the rear
window glazing does not contain the DOT certification and the glazing
manufacturing code markings.
IV. Rule Requirements: Paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS No. 205 includes the
requirements relevant to this petition. Prime glazing material
manufacturers must certify their glazing material by adding the symbol
``DOT'' and a manufacturer's code mark that NHTSA assigns to the
manufacturer, in letters and numerals of the same size, as required by
section 7 of ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996.
V. Summary of BMW's Petition:
BMW described the subject noncompliance and stated its belief that
the noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle
safety.
In support of its petition, BMW submitted the following reasoning:
1. FMVSS No. 205 Section 2 (Purpose) states, ``The purpose of this
standard is to reduce injuries resulting from impact to glazing
surfaces, to ensure a necessary degree of transparency in motor vehicle
windows for driver visibility, and to minimize the possibility of
occupants being thrown through the vehicle windows in collisions.''
2. Potentially affected vehicles conform to all the FMVSS No. 205
performance requirements. Therefore, they satisfy the stated purpose of
FMVSS 205 regarding (a) injury reduction, (b) driver visibility, and
(c) minimizing occupant ejection.
3. There are no safety performance implications associated with
this potential noncompliance.
4. BMW has not received any contacts from vehicle owners regarding
this issue.
5. BMW is unaware of any accidents or injuries that may have
occurred as a result of this issue.
6. NHTSA has previously granted petitions for inconsequential
noncompliance regarding FMVSS No. 205 involving marking of window
glazing. BMW believes that its petition is similar to other
manufacturer's petitions in which NHTSA has granted approval. Examples
of similar petitions, in which NHTSA has granted approval, include the
following:
Ford Motor Company, NHTSA-2014-0054 N2, March 2, 2015.
General Motors, LLC, NHTSA-2013-0039 N2, September 25,
2015.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., NHTSA-2015-0066 N2,
August 22, 2015.
Custom Glass Solutions Upper Sandusky Corp., NHTSA-2013-
0124 N2, January 23, 2015.
Supreme Corporation, NHTSA-2015-0126 N2 October 21, 2016.
7. Vehicle production has been corrected to conform to FMVSS No.
205 S6.3.
8. BMW also provided a copy of the FMVSS No. 205 Certification
Report from AIB-Vincotte International N.V.
BMW concluded by expressing the belief that the subject
noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety,
and that its petition to be exempted from providing notification of the
noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118, and a remedy for the
noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120, should be granted.
After review of BMW's petition, the agency contact BMW to clarify
whether or not the subject vehicles were in fact noncompliant with
paragraph S6.3 as stated in their petition or paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS
No. 205. BMW respond that the subject vehicles were in fact
noncompliant with paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS No. 205.
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
[[Page 25117]]
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, any decision on this petition only applies to the subject
vehicles that BMW no longer controlled at the time it determined that
the noncompliance existed. However, any decision on this petition does
not relieve vehicle distributors and dealers 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 BMW notified them that the subject noncompliance existed.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at
49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8)
Otto G. Matheke III,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-11209 Filed 5-29-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P