[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61711-61713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26060]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2018-0014; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a

[[Page 61712]]

petition for a decision that certain model year (MY) 2005 Chevrolet 
Corvette passenger cars (PCs) 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 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 (the U.S.-
certified version of the MY 2005 Chevrolet Corvette PCs) and are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 31, 
2018.

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 must be submitted 
by any of the following methods:
     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, 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Thurgood, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA, telephone (202) 366-0712.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. History

    Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not 
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS (49 CFR 571) 
shall be refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has 
decided that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor 
vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and 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, Processing of Petitions, 
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.

II. Summary of Petition

    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories (WETL), of Houston, 
Texas (Registered Importer R-90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether nonconforming MY 2005 Chevrolet Corvette PCs are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles that WETL believes are 
substantially similar are MY 2005 Chevrolet Corvette PCs, manufactured 
for sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as 
conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the subject non-U.S.-certified vehicles as originally 
manufactured, conform to many applicable 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 the non-U.S.-certified MY 
2005 Chevrolet Corvette PCs, as originally manufactured, conforms to: 
Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter 
Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting 
and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 
Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 
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, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood 
Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 
Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 124 
Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 138 Tire 
Pressure Monitoring Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior 
Impact, 202a Head Restraints; Mandatory Applicability Begins on 
September 1, 2008, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 
Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 
Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 
Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 225 Child 
Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials and 401 Interior Trunk Release.
    The petitioner also contends that the subject non-U.S.-certified 
passenger cars are capable of being readily altered to meet the 
following standards in the manners indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: The brake warning telltale 
must be modified to show the word ``BRAKE'' when activated.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Inspection to ascertain 
if the software and firmware installed in the vehicle are the same as 
the most up-to-date versions installed in the U.S.-conforming version 
of the vehicle. Replacement of any software or firmware found not to be 
the most recent versions. Replacement of sun visors with U.S.-model 
components to meet the labeling requirements of FMVSS No. 208.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be

[[Page 61713]]

affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield pillar to meet the 
requirements of 49 CFR part 565.

III. Comments

    All comments and supporting materials received before the close of 
business on the closing date indicated above will be filed in the 
docket and considered. Comments filed after the closing date will also 
be considered to the fullest extent possible and available for 
examination in the docket at the above addresses.
    Once the petition is granted or denied, notice of the decision will 
be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated at the end of this notice.
    This notice of receipt of the subject petition does not represent 
any agency decision or other exercise of judgment concerning the merits 
of the petition. 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), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49 
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

Michael A. Cole,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-26060 Filed 11-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P


