[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 62 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17029-17030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7246]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-17413]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2004 Porsche 911(996) GT3 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2004 Porsche 911(996) GT3 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
2004 Porsche 911(996) GT3 passenger cars 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 April 30, 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 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.

[[Page 17030]]

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. Technologies of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 2004 Porsche 
911(996) GT3 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles that J.K. believes are substantially 
similar are 2004 Porsche 911(996) GT3 passenger cars 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 compared non-U.S. certified 2004 
Porsche 911(996) GT3 passenger cars 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.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2004 Porsche 911(996) GT3 passenger 
cars, 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 2004 
Porsche 911(996) GT3 passenger cars 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, 106 Brake Hoses, 
109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 
Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Passenger Car Brake 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, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 
214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 302 Flammability of Interior 
Materials, and 401 Interior Trunk Release.
    With regard to the Bumper Standard found at 49 CFR part 581, 
petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with bumpers and 
support structures that are identical to those found on their U.S.-
certified counterparts.
    Petitioner also 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: Installation of a U.S.-
model instrument cluster.
    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 taillamp assemblies, 
which incorporate rear sidemarker lights.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror, or replacement 
of that mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Programming of the vehicles to 
activate the key warning and seat belt warning systems.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: Programming of the vehicles so that they comply with the 
standard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Programming of the 
vehicles to ensure that the seat belt warning system activates in the 
proper manner. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped 
with a seat belt warning lamp that is identical to the component used 
on the vehicles' U.S.-certified counterparts. The petitioner further 
states that the vehicles are equipped with dual front air bags and 
combination lap and shoulder belts at the front outboard seating 
positions that are self-tensioning and released by means of a single 
red push button.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Inspection of 
all vehicles and modification, as necessary, to ensure compliance with 
the standard. The petitioner expressed the belief that the vehicle does 
in fact comply with the standard.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected to ensure 
compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR part 541, and 
that anti-theft marking will be added as necessary to ensure compliance 
with this standard.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post and a 
reference and certification label must be affixed in the area of the 
left front door post 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 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: March 25, 2004.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 04-7246 Filed 3-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P