[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2394-2395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-916]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2002-14088]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
European Market 1994 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 
European Market 1994 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 
LHD 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs manufactured for sale in Europe 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 February 18, 
2003.

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.) Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

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 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs originally manufactured for sale 
in Europe are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which WETL believes are substantially similar are 1994 Jeep 
Grand Cherokee MPVs that were manufactured for sale in the United 
States and certified by their manufacturer, Chrysler Corporation, as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
European Market 1994 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 European Market 1994 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 
European Market 1994 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 (noting that the vehicle has an audible 
anti-theft system that sounds when the key is left in the ignition lock 
and the driver's door is opened), 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 
Power Window Systems (noting that the window transport mechanism is 
inoperative when the ignition is switched off and the door is opened), 
119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 120 
Tire Selection and Rims 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 (noting 
that the vehicle is equipped with a safety belt warning system that 
includes an audible gong and illuminated dash light, with Type II seat 
belts in the front and rear outboard designated seating positions, and 
with a U.S.-model air bag and knee bolster in the driver's seating 
position), 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 
(noting that a rollover valve is integrated into the fuel module 
assembly, and is identical to that equipped on the vehicle's U.S. 
certified counterpart) and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified LHD 
Japanese Market 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs comply with the Bumper 
Standard found in 49 CFR part 581, and with the Vehicle Identification 
Number (VIN) plate requirement of 49 CFR part 565.
    Petitioner further contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standard, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: addition of the brake 
symbol.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of the headlight assemblies, which include 
sidemarker lights, and taillamp assemblies with U.S. model components.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected prior to 
importation

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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 left front 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 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 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: January 10, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-916 Filed 1-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P