[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 104 (Thursday, May 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30428-30429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10483]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2007-28262]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2005 Honda CR-V Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2005 Honda CR-V 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 
2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles that were not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) 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 July 2, 2007.

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 FMVSS shall be 
refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that 
the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a

[[Page 30429]]

motor vehicle originally manufactured for 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 FMVSS.
    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. (WETL) of Houston, 
TX (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
WETL believes are substantially similar are 2005 Honda CR-V 
multipurpose passenger vehicles that were manufactured for sale in the 
United States and certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all 
applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles to their U.S.-certified 
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with 
respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    WETL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2005 Honda CR-V multipurpose 
passenger vehicles, as originally manufactured, conform to many FMVSS 
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 2005 
Honda CR-V multipurpose passenger vehicles are identical to their U.S.-
certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 
102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and 
Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 
113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake 
Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 
119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars, 124 
Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Passenger Car Brake Systems, 202 Head 
Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing 
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating 
Systems, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 
214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.
    The 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, Engine Control Unit and associated U.S.-model 
software.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Inspection of all vehicles and installation, on vehicles 
that are not already so equipped, of U.S.-model front and rear side-
mounted marker lamps.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of that mirror.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other 
than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact: Inspection 
of all vehicles and installation, on vehicles that are not already so 
equipped, of U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this 
standard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any non U.S.-model seat belts, knee 
bolsters, air bag control units, and air bags with U.S.-model 
components on vehicles that are not already so equipped; and (b) 
installation of U.S. version software to ensure that the seat belt 
warning system meets the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles 
and installation, on vehicles that are not already so equipped, of 
U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Inspection of 
all vehicles and installation, on vehicles that are not already so 
equipped, of U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this 
standard.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield 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: May 25, 2007.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E7-10483 Filed 5-30-07; 8:45 am]
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