[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16640-16641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8823]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-018; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1991 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
1991 Jeep Cherokee multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) cars 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 1991
Jeep Cherokee manufactured for the European market 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.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 7, 1997.
ADDRESSES: 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 am to 4 pm.]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), 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. 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
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
1991 Jeep Cherokee MPVs manufactured for the European market are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle which
Champagne believes is substantially similar is the 1991 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 1991 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 1991 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
1991 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, 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, petitioner contends that the non-U.S. certified 1991
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) Substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake
failure indicator lamp; (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)
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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 convex
passenger side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning
buzzer microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
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: 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 vehicle is equipped with a
combination lap and shoulder restraint that adjusts by means of an
automatic retractor and releases by means of a single push button in
each front designated seating position, with a combination lap and
shoulder restraint that releases by means of a single push button in
each rear outboard designated seating position, and with a lap belt in
the rear center designated seating position.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR
part 565.
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: April 2, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-8823 Filed 4-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P