70 FR 71 pg. 19837 - DOT Chemical, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance
Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 71Page: 19837
Docket number: [Docket No. NHTSA-2005-20858; Notice 1]
FR document: [FR Doc. 05-7524 Filed 4-13-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2005-20858; Notice 1]
DOT Chemical, Receipt of Petition for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance
DOT Chemical has determined that certain containers of brake fluid which it manufactured in June 2004 do not comply with S5.1.7, S5.1.9, and S5.1.10 of 49 CFR 571.116, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 116, "Motor vehicle brake fluids." DOT Chemical has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, "Defect and Noncompliance Reports."
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), DOT Chemical 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 DOT Chemical'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 a total of approximately 50,000 containers of DOT 4 brake fluid, lot numbers KMF02 and KMF03, manufactured in June 2004. FMVSS No. 116 requires that, when tested as referenced in S5.1.7 "Fluidity and appearance at low temperature," S5.1.9 "Water tolerance," and S5.1.10 "Compatibility," the brake fluid shall show no crystallization or sedimentation. The subject brake fluid shows crystallization and sedimentation when tested as referenced in S5.1.7 at -40° F and -58° F, sedimentation when tested as referenced in S5.1.9 at -40° F, and crystallization when tested as referenced in S5.1.10 at -40° F.
DOT Chemical believes that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and that no corrective action is warranted. DOT Chemical states that there are fiber-like crystals in the fluid, which are borate salts, and
are a natural part (no contamination) of DOT 4 brake fluid production (just fallen out of solution in some packaged goods) and have not demonstrated any flow restrictions even at extended periods of low temperatures at -40° F. Furthermore, when the fluid is subjected to temperatures in a normal braking system, the crystals go back into solution in some cases not to reappear at all at ambient temperatures.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments on the petition described above. 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. Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20590-0001. Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC. It is requested, but not required, that two copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm except Federal Holidays. Comments may be submitted electronically by logging onto the Docket Management System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on "Help" to obtain instructions for filing the document electronically. Comments may be faxed to 1-202-493-2251, or may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
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: May 16, 2005.
(Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 and 501.8)
Issued on: April 11, 2005.
Ronald L. Medford,
Senior Associate Administrator for Vehicle Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-7524 Filed 4-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P