[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18679-18680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9112]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2002-12047]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible 
for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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 
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs 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 
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 May 16, 2002.

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 a.m. 
to 5 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), 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, 
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 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs originally manufactured for sale 
in the European market are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicles which WETL believes are substantially similar are 
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs that were manufactured for importation 
into, and sale in, the United States and certified

[[Page 18680]]

by their manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs 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 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs, 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 2001 
Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts 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 and 
Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 
Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power Window 
Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger 
Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in 
Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward 
Displacement, 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, 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 2001 
Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs comply with the Vehicle Identification Number 
plate requirement of 49 CFR part 565.
    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: addition of brake warning 
indicator symbol that conforms to the standard.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of headlight assemblies with U.S.-model 
components that include sidemarker lights.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with one that has the required warning statement 
permanently etched into the glass.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected prior to 
importation for compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard found in 
49 CFR Part 541, and that U.S.-model anti-theft devices must be 
installed on all vehicles lacking that equipment.
    The petitioner also states that a certification label must be 
affixed to the driver's side doorjamb 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: April 10, 2002.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 02-9112 Filed 4-15-02; 8:45 am]
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