[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19167-19168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10024]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-25; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993 Land Rover Defender 110 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 
1993 Land Rover Defender 110 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 1993 
Land Rover Defender 110 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 importation 
into and 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 19, 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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 MPVs are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes 
is substantially similar is the 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 that was 
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and 
certified by its manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 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.
    Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Land Rover Defender 110, 
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 
1993 Land Rover Defender 110 is identical to its U.S.

[[Page 19168]]

certified counterpart with respect to compliance with Standards 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, 211 
Windshield Mounting, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.
    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: replacement of the 
speedometer/odometer with one calibrated in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108  Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) replacement of the headlight and taillight assemblies 
with conforming parts; (b) installation of turnsignal lens assemblies 
and sidemarkers.
    Standard No. 111  Rearview Mirrors: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger-side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114  Theft Protection: installation of a warning 
buzzer in the ignition switch.
    Standard No. 120  Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208  Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
seat belt warning system; (b) installation of lap belts adjustable by 
means of an emergency locking retractor in the rear side mount seats. 
The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped at each front and 
rear outboard seating position with Type 2 lap and shoulder belts that 
are adjustable by means of an emergency locking retractor. 
Additionally, the petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with a 
Type 1 lap belt in the rear center designated seating position.
    Standard No. 210  Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: installation of 
seat belt anchorages at the rear side mount seating positions.
    Standard No. 216  Roof Crush Resistance: installation of an 
internal and external roll cage assembly identical to the one found on 
the vehicle's U.S.-certified counterpart.
    Standard No. 301  Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rear 
bumper assembly with supports attached to the frame to provide 
protection to the fuel tank.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the rear bumper on the 
non-U.S. certified 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 must be replaced with a 
component identical to the one found on the vehicle's U.S.-certified 
counterpart.
    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, S.W., 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 9, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-10024 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 4910-59-P