Proposed Rules. Receipt of petition

Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT
Action: Receipt of petition
Citation: FR Doc. 2013-31397 · Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0105; Notice 1

Summary

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1994 and 1997 Westfalia 14 Foot Double Axle Cargo Trailers 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 they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all such standards.

Dates

The closing date for comments on the petition is February 3, 2014.

Supplementary Information

Background Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B), a motor vehicle, including a trailer, that was not originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS, and has no substantially similar U.S.-certified counterpart, shall be refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle has safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS based on destructive test data or such other evidence as NHTSA decides to be adequate. 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, Texas (Registered Importer R-90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 1994 and 1997 Westfalia 14 Foot Double Axle Cargo Trailers are eligible for importation into the United States. WETL believes these vehicles are capable of being modified to meet all applicable FMVSS. WETL submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate that 1994 and 1997 Westfalia 14 Foot Double Axle Cargo Trailers are capable of being altered to comply with all standards to which they were not originally manufactured to conform. The petitioner contends that the nonconforming 1994 and 1997 Westfalia 14 Foot Double Axle Cargo Trailers are capable of being readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner indicated: Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment: installation of conforming Turn Signals, Stop Lamps, Side Marker Lamps, Reflex Reflectors, and a License Plate Lamp in a manner consistent with requirements of the standard. Standard No. 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars: installation of tire and rim combinations meeting the vehicle's gross vehicle and gross axle weight ratings (GVWR and GAWR) and other requirements of the standard if the vehicle is not already so equipped. Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard conforming with the standard and inspection and replacement of any nonconforming rims with ones conforming to the standard. 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 addresses 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 1.95 and 501.8. Issued on: December 27, 2013. Claude H. Harris, Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. [FR Doc. 2013-31397 Filed 12-31-13; 8:45 am]