[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40074-40075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19368]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-084; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1995 Jeep Cherokee Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1995 Jeep Cherokee multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible 
for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1995 
Jeep Cherokee that was not originally manufactured to comply with all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for 
importation into the United States because (1) It is substantially 
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for sale in the 
United States and that was certified by its manufacturer as complying 
with the safety standards, and (2) it is capable of being readily 
altered to conform to the standards.

DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 30, 1996.

ADDRESS: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice number, 
and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 
20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section 
108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act 
(the Act)), a motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to 
conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards 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. Sec. 30115 (formerly section 114 of 
the Act), 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 Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    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.
    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1995 Jeep Cherokee MPVs are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is substantially similar 
is the 1995 Jeep Cherokee that was manufactured for sale in the United 
States and certified by its manufacturer, Chrysler Corporation, as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non- U.S. 
certified 1995 Jeep Cherokee to its U.S. certified counterpart, and 
found the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1995 Jeep Cherokee, as 
originally manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1995 Jeep Cherokee is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with 
respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever 
Sequence * * * ., 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield 
Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake 
Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires 
for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control 
Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head 
Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the Driver From the Steering 
Control System, 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 Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1995 Jeep Cherokee complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR 
Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101  Controls and Displays: (a) Placement of the word 
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp lens; (b) installation of 
a seat belt warning lamp that displays the appropriate symbol; (c) 
recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles per 
hour.
    Standard No. 108  Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.- model headlamp assemblies; (b) 
installation of U.S.- model front and rear sidemarker/reflector 
assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 111  Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger 
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 114  Theft Protection: installation of a warning 
buzzer microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
    Standard No. 115  Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a 
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and 
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the 
driver.
    Standard No. 118  Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power 
window system so that the window transport is inoperative when the 
ignition is switched off.
    Standard No. 120  Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208  Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a 
U.S.- model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt webbing 
actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; (b) 
installation of an ignition switch actuated seat belt warning lamp and 
buzzer. The petitioner states that the

[[Page 40075]]

vehicle is equipped at each front designated seating position with a 
combination lap and shoulder restraint that adjusts by means of an 
automatic retractor and releases by means of a single push button. The 
petitioner further states that the vehicle is equipped with combination 
lap and shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push 
button at both rear outboard seating positions, and with a lap belt at 
the rear center seating position.
    Standard No. 301  Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
evaporative emissions collection canister.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be 
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
    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 address 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 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: July 25, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-19368 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P