60466 Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 214 / Friday, November 5, 1999 / Notices

MBL Growth Fund, Inc. [File No. 811– applicant made a liquidating Institute, 1650 King Street Suite 600, 3593] distribution to its shareholders based on Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 684–6100. Summary: Applicant seeks an order net asset value per share. No. expenses David I. Tevelin, declaring that it has ceased to be an were incurred in connection with the Executive Director. investment company. On June 22, 1999, liquidation. [FR Doc. 99–29163 Filed 11–3–99; 1:18 pm] Filing Date: The application was filed applicant made a liquidating BILLING CODE 6820±SC±M distribution to its shareholders based on on July 30, 1999. net asset value per share. Expenses of Applicant’s Address: 520 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102–3111. $4,175 were incurred in connection DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION with the liquidation and were paid by MBL Variable Contract Account—11 applicant. [File No. 811–5798] National Highway Traffic Safety Filing Dates: The application was Administration filed on July 22, 1999, and amended on Summary: Applicant seeks an order [Docket No. NHTSA±99±6433] September 29, 1999. declaring that it has ceased to be an investment company. On June 30, 1999, Applicant’s Address: 520 Broad International Regulatory Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102–3111. applicant made a liquidating distribution to its shareholders based on Harmonization, Motor Vehicle Safety; MBL Variable Contract Account—2 net asset value per share. No expenses Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle [File No. 811–2047] were incurred in connection with the Equipment Summary: Applicant seeks an order liquidation. AGENCY: National Highway Traffic declaring that it has ceased to be an Filing Date: The application was filed Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT. investment company. On June 30, 1999, on July 30, 1999. ACTION: Notice of technical meeting. and July 14, 1999, applicant made Applicant’s Address: 520 Broad liquidating distributions to its Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102–3111. SUMMARY: NHTSA is hosting the second in a series of informal technical shareholders based on net asset value Empire Life Deferred Variable Annuity meetings relating to global tire per share. No expenses were incurred in Account [File No. 811–05478] connection with the liquidation. harmonization issues before the Filing Date: The application was filed Summary: Applicant seeks an order Working Party on Brakes and Running on July 29, 1999. declaring that it has ceased to be an Gear (GRRF). The GRRF is one of several Applicant’s Address: 520 Broad investment company. Applicant has not subsidiary bodies, known as working Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102–3111. made any public offering of its parties, formed by the United Nations/ securities and does not propose to make Economic Commission for Europe MBL Variable Contract Account—3 any public offering or engage in Working Party on the Construction of [File No. 811–2313] business of any kind. Motor Vehicles (WP.29) to address Summary: Applicant seeks an order Filing Date: The application was filed particular aspects of motor vehicle declaring that it has ceased to be an on August 17, 1999. performance. The decision to initiate investment company. On June 30, 1999, Applicant’s Address: 5069 154th the series of informal technical meetings and July 14, 1999, applicant made Place NE, Redmond, Washington 98052. was made by the Chair of the GRRF. The liquidating distributions to its For the Commission, by the Division of meetings are focusing on two issues: (1) shareholders based on net asset value Investment Management, pursuant to Globally harmonizing tire regulations, per share. No expenses were incurred in delegated authority. and (2) establishing minimum connection with the liquidation. Margaret H. McFarland, performance requirements for tire grip Filing Dates: The application was Deputy Secretary. (traction). filed on July 29, 1999, and amended on [FR Doc. 99–28975 Filed 11–4–99; 8:45 am] DATES: The informal technical meeting September 29, 1999, and October 4, BILLING CODE 8010±01±M will be held on Thursday and Friday, 1999. November 18–19, 1999, at the address Applicant’s Address: 520 Broad given below, and will begin at 9 p.m. Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102–3111. and end at 5 p.m. each day. MBL Variable Contract Account—7 STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE In view of seating limitations, [File No. 811–3853] organizations and individuals wishing Sunshine Act Meeting to attend the meeting are requested to Summary: Applicant seeks an order Notice of Public Meeting contact Mr. George Soodoo by Monday, declaring that it has ceased to be an November 15, 1999. investment company. On June 30, 1999, STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE ADDRESSES: applicant made a liquidating On November 18, 1999, the distribution to its shareholders based on Date: Friday, November 12, 1999; 9 meeting will be in Room 4438 of the net asset value per share. No. expenses am–5 pm. Nassif Building, 400 Seventh St, SW, were incurred in connection with the Place: Harrahs, South Tahoe, NV. Washington, DC 20590. On November liquidation. Matters To Be Considered: 19, 1999, the meeting will be in Room Filing Date: The application was filed Consideration of proposals submitted 3328 of the Nassif Building. on July 29, 1999. for Institute funding. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Applicant’s Address: 520 Broad Portions Open to the Public: All George Soodoo, Group Leader, Vehicle Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102–3111. matters other than those noted as closed Dynamics Division, Office of Safety below. Performance Standards, National MBL Variable Contract Account—9 Portions Closed to the Public: Internal Highway Traffic Safety Administration, [File No. 811–5224] personnel matters and Board of 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC Summary: Applicant seeks an order Directors’ committee meetings. 20590. Tel: (202)–366–2720, and Fax: declaring that it has ceased to be an Contact Person: David Tevelin, (202)–366–4329, email: investment company. On June 30, 1999, Executive Director, State Justice [email protected].

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Ms. Julie Abraham, Director, Office of developing safety regulations not only The second day of the meeting will International Policy and Harmonization, on tires, but also on brakes, wheels and address issues related to tire grip. The National Highway Traffic Safety other chassis components of motor group intends to address the form of Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, vehicles.) In response, the chair of the testing that should be used to measure Washington, DC 20590. Tel: (202)–366– GRRF encouraged interested tire grip (e.g., surface selection, testing 2114, and Fax: (202)–366–2559. participating countries to host informal mode, etc.). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This technical meetings to address the global The minutes of the meeting will be notice is to advise interested parties harmonization of tire regulations. He kept and placed in the public docket for that, on November 18 and 19, 1999, also asked that these meetings address this notice. NHTSA will host an informal technical minimum performance requirements for All persons and organizations wishing meeting relating to global tire tire grip (traction), which was originally to attend the meeting are asked to harmonization activities of the Working proposed by the U.K. in February 1998, contact George Soodoo at the address or Party on Brakes and Running Gear as an amendment to ECE Regulation 30, telephone number indicated above. (GRRF). The GRRF is one of several Pneumatic Tyres. Seating is limited. Therefore, we ask subsidiary bodies, known as working The United Kingdom’s Department of that organizations limit the number of parties, formed by the United Nations Environment, Transport, and Regions their representatives to one or two Economic Commission for Europe (DETR) hosted the first informal persons in order to ensure that all Working Party on the Construction of technical meeting in London, England individuals and organizations who wish Vehicles to address particular aspects of on July 1–2, 1999. Mr. Gordon Burford to participate are able to do so. motor vehicle performance. of the DETR chaired the meeting on Following is the provisional agenda behalf of Mr. Geoff Harvey, the Chair of for the meeting: I. Background the informal technical group, who was At the 45th Session of the GRRF, held unable to participate in the meeting. UN ECE GRRF Ad-hoc Group—Global in Geneva, Switzerland, in February The meeting was attended by sixteen Harmonization of Tyre Regulations and 1999, the European Tyre and Rim representatives from the following Tyre Grip Technical Organisation (ETRTO) governments and organizations: The Provisional Agenda: 2nd meeting 18 submitted a proposal for a global United States, the United Kingdom, and 19 November 1999, to be held in technical regulation for passenger cars Germany, Japan, Hungary, the Washington DC, U.S.A. tires.1 (The GRRF is responsible for Netherlands, ETRTO, and RMA. The participants spent the first day Thursday 18 November—Global 1 The proposed new global tire standard (also discussing the technical aspects Harmonization of Tire Regulations known as Global Tire Standard 2000 for New associated with developing a global tire • Minutes of the first meeting. Pneumatic Passenger Car Tires (GTS–2000)) seeks • to harmonize the tire standards of the United States, standard, including tire dimensions, Draft document for global tire Europe and Japan. It was developed in the context markings, and specific performance harmonization. of the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue with the tests. They spent the second day • Response of tire industry to U.S. cooperation and support of members from the discussing what requirements should be request for information. international tire industry (specifically, the Rubber included in the tire grip test. The Manufacturers Association (RMA) from the United Friday 18 November—Tire Grip States, the Liaison Office of the Rubber Industry of minutes from the first meeting are the European Union (BLIC), and the Japan available in NHTSA Docket 98–3592 • U.K. proposal on tire grip. Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (See document #12). • (JATMA)). During the process, the RMA consulted Discussion on variety of issues with consumer groups. The tire industry developed II. Second Informal Technical Meeting including research needs, test surface, the proposed new global tire standard with the on Global Tire Harmonization and selection of control tire. intent of recommending its adoption by the United States, other interested governments, WP.29, and On November 18 and 19, 1999, the Issued on: November 2, 1999. the International Standards Organization (ISO). United States will host the second Martin Koubek, Before developing the proposed new global tire Assistant to the Director Office of standard, the tire industry reviewed and compared informal technical meeting on global the tire standards of the United States, Europe, tire harmonization of the GRRF at the International Policy and Harmonization. Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, and Saudi U.S. Department of Transportation. The [FR Doc. 99–29140 Filed 11–3–99; 2:19 pm] Arabia. A copy of the proposed new global tire meeting will follow the informal BILLING CODE 4910±59±P standard was submitted to NHTSA by BLIC and is available in NHTSA Docket 98–4367 (See document discussion format of the first meeting. #30). Mr. Geoff Harvey of the DETR will chair As described by RMA, the proposed new global the meeting. The goal of the meeting is DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION tire standard ‘‘lists the following test criteria: (1) to address the specific research and Physical dimensions for overall width and outer Surface Transportation Board diameter; (2) strength test (plunger energy) for bias- development needs associated with ply and bias-belted tires; (3) bead unseating global tire harmonization and minimum [STB Finance Docket No. 33805] resistance tests for bias-ply and bias-belted tires; (4) performance requirements for tire grip low speed (not less than 50 mph) endurance tests (traction). The first day of the meeting Ameren CorporationÐControl for bias-ply and bias-belted tires plus all radial tires with a speed symbol of ‘‘Q’’ or below; and (5) high will focus on the technical issues ExemptionÐMissouri Central Railroad speed endurance test for all tires (bias-ply, bias- associated with the global Company belted, and radial).’’ In addition, it contains labeling harmonization of tire standards. The requirements covering tire pressure, load rating, group will begin the process of drafting Ameren Corporation (Ameren), the and tire construction. a technical regulation that will parent of wholly owned subsidiary The proposed new global tire standard was Ameren ERC, Inc. (ERC), has filed a announced at the November 1998 TABD Conference eventually be submitted to the GRRF. in Charlotte, North Carolina. verified notice of exemption to continue On January 25, 1999, the RMA, the Tire and Rim proposed new global tire standard. On June 8, 1999, in control of the Joppa & Eastern Association (TRA), the Rubber Association of we granted the petition. In a September 3, 1999 Railroad (JERR) and to acquire control of Canada (RAC), JATMA, ETRTO, and BLIC letter to all of the petitioners, we solicited Missouri Central Railroad Company petitioned NHTSA requesting that we revise and additional information regarding each of the update Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. petitioners’ requests. A copy of the letter is (MCRR). On October 13, 1999, Ameren 109, New Pneumatic Tires, to conform to the available in the docket for this notice. and ERC also filed a motion for

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