[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48711-48712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24429]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-61; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
1979 Jeep CJ-7 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 
1979 Jeep CJ-7 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 1979 
Jeep CJ-7 MPV 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 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 October 16, 
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.
    J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer 
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1979 Jeep CJ-7 MPVs are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle which J.K. 
believes is substantially similar is the 1979 Jeep CJ-7 that was 
manufactured for 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 1979 Jeep CJ-7 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.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1979 Jeep CJ-7, 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 
1979 Jeep CJ-7 is identical to its U.S. 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, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 
116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 205 Glazing Materials, 
206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 208 
Occupant Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt 
Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 219 Windshield Zone 
Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 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: (a) Substitution of a lens

[[Page 48712]]

marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) 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 headlamps and front 
sidemarker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamps which 
incorporate rear sidemarker lights.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    The petitioner 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: September 10, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-24429 Filed 9-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P