[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20485-20486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8003]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0035, Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1999 to 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series Multipurpose Passenger 
Vehicles Manufactured Prior to September 1, 2006 Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
nonconforming 1999 to 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series 
multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) manufactured prior to September 
1, 2006 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 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 (the U.S.-certified version of the 
1999 to 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series MPV manufactured prior 
to September 1, 2006) and they are capable of being readily altered to 
conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and 
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to 
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are 
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are 
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: 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 (65 FR 19477-78).
    How to Read Comments Submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the 
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the 
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in 
the Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit 
late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search 
the Docket for new material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Stevens, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5308).

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 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 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.
    US SPECS, of Havre de Grace, Maryland (Registered Importer 03-321) 
has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 1999 to 2006 
Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series MPVs manufactured prior to September 
1, 2006 are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which US SPECS believes are substantially similar are 1999 to 
2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series MPVs manufactured prior to 
September 1, 2006 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 compared non-U.S. certified 
nonconforming 1999 to 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series MPVs 
manufactured prior to September 1, 2006 to their U.S.-certified 
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with 
respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    US SPECS submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1999 to 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser 
IFS 100 Series MPVs manufactured prior to September 1, 2006 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 1999 to 
2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series MPVs manufactured prior to 
September 1, 2006 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, 105 Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake

[[Page 20486]]

Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch System, 116 Motor 
Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Light 
Vehicle Brake Systems, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control 
Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 207 Seating Systems, 210 
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 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: (a) Inscription of the word 
``brake'' on the brake telltale in place of the international ECE 
warning symbol; and (b) replacement of the speedometer with a unit 
reading in miles per hour, or modification of the existing speedometer 
so that it reads in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of the following components on vehicles that 
are not already so equipped: (a) U.S.-model front side marker lamps; 
(b) U.S.-model headlamps; (c) U.S.-model tail lamps that incorporate 
rear side marker lights; (d) U.S.-model high-mounted stop lamp; and (e) 
front and rear side reflex reflectors.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    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 the existing mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a supplemental 
key warning buzzer, or reprogramming of the starting system to meet the 
requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: reprogramming or rewiring of the power operated window system 
to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact: inspection 
of each vehicle and replacement of non U.S.-model upper interior 
components with U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this 
standard on vehicles not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components: 
inspection of each vehicle and replacement of non U.S.-model door lock 
components with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not already 
so equipped.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of each 
vehicle and (a) installation of a seat belt warning lamp and buzzer on 
vehicles that are not already so equipped; and (b) replacement of any 
non U.S.- model air bags, air bag control units, sensors, seat belts, 
and knee bolsters on vehicles that are not already so equipped. The 
petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with an automatic 
restraint system that consists of dual front air bags and knee 
bolsters. In addition, the vehicles have combination lap and shoulder 
belts at the outboard front and rear seating positions that are self-
tensioning and capable of being released by means of a single red push 
button.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: inspection of each vehicle 
and replacement of any non U.S.-certified model seat belts with U.S.-
model components.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: inspection of each vehicle 
and installation of door reinforcements to meet the requirements of the 
standard on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: inspection of 
each vehicle and installation of U.S.-model child restraint anchorage 
system components on vehicles not already no so equipped.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: inspection of each vehicle 
and replacement of any non U.S.-model fuel system components with U.S.-
model components on vehicles not already so equipped.
    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.
    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 addresses 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 28, 2012.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2012-8003 Filed 4-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P