[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7064-7066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3117]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-17021]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
European and Other Foreign Market 1997 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 and other foreign market 1997 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 
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs manufactured for sale in Europe and other 
foreign markets 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 March 15, 2004.

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]. 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 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs originally manufactured for sale 
in Europe and other foreign markets are eligible for importation into 
the United States. The vehicles which WETL believes are substantially 
similar are 1997 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 and other foreign market 1997 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 and other foreign market 
1997 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 and other foreign market 1997 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, 111 
Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection (noting 
that the vehicle has an audible gong 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 
European and other foreign market 1997 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 standards, 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.
    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 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

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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: February 9, 2004.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 04-3117 Filed 2-11-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P