[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 223 (Monday, November 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58003-58004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28831]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2001-10900]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicles are 
eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicles that were 
not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United 
States because (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were 
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United 
States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with 
the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered 
to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 19, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9 am to 5 
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 
(``WETL'')(Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether 1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicles, 
originally manufactured for sale in European markets, are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which WETL believes 
are substantially similar are 1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose 
passenger vehicles that were manufactured for importation into, and 
sale in, the United States and certified by their manufacturer as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicles to their 
U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially 
similar with respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards.
    WETL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, as originally manufactured, conform to 
many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the same manner as their 
U.S. certified counterparts, or are capable of being readily altered to 
conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1998 
Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicles are identical to 
their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with 
Standard Nos. 102

[[Page 58004]]

Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic and 
Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 
Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake 
Fluids, 118 Power Window Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 
Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact 
Protection for the Driver from the Steering Control Panel, 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, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 
Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1998 
Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose passenger vehicles comply with the 
Vehicle Identification Number plate requirement of 49 CFR part 565 and 
the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581. Petitioner also states 
that the non-U.S. certified 1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager multipurpose 
passenger vehicles are not covered by the Theft Prevention Standard of 
49 CFR part 541.
    Petitioner further contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: Add brake warning indicator 
label, if necessary.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of headlight and taillight assemblies with 
sidemarker lights.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Etch required warning on 
passenger side mirror glass.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of audible 
safety belt warning system for the driver side and, if necessary, 
replacement of air bag systems and knee bolsters with U.S. versions.
    The petitioner also states that a certification label must be 
affixed to the driver=s side door jamb to meet the requirements of 49 
CFR part 567.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be 
submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW, 
Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9 am to 5 pm). 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: November 14, 2001.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 01-28831 Filed 11-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P