[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24264-24265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9683]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0040, Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Left-Hand Drive 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Multi-Purpose 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 
left-hand drive (LHD) 2006 Land Rover Range Rover multi-purpose 
passenger vehicles (MPVs) manufactured prior to September 1, 2006 for 
sale in the United Kingdom and other foreign markets 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 2006 Land Rover Range 
Rover MPV) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to 
the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 23, 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

[[Page 24265]]

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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(WETL) (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether nonconforming LHD 2006 Land Rover Range Rover MPVs are eligible 
for importation into the United States. The vehicles which WETL 
believes are substantially similar are 2006 Land Rover Range Rover MPVs 
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 LHD 2006 
Land Rover Range Rover MPVs 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 LHD 2006 Land Rover Range Rover 
MPVs, 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 LHD 2006 Land Rover Range 
Rover MPVs 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, 116 Motor 
Vehicle Brake Fluids, Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, 
Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles 
other than passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Light 
Vehicle Brake Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 
Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the Driver from the Steering 
Control System, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing 
Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating 
Systems, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 
Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 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 Telltales, and Indicators: inscription of 
the word ``brake'' on the brake telltale in place of the international 
ECE warning symbol. Inspection of all vehicles and installation of 
U.S.-model speedometer and odometer, or modification of the existing 
speedometer and odometer to conform with the requirements of this 
standard, if required.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model headlamps and tail lamps that 
incorporate side marker lamps. The petitioner states that the vehicle 
is already equipped with a center high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the face of the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: reprogramming of the instrument 
cluster to activate the warning buzzer whenever the key is left in the 
ignition and the driver's door is opened.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars: installation of a tire and rim information placard.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a U.S.-
model rollover valve.
    The petitioner states that each vehicle will be inspected prior to 
importation for compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard in 49 CFR 
part 541 and that anti-theft devices will be installed on all 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 and that a certification label 
must be affixed to the driver's door jamb to meet the requirements of 
49 CFR part 567.
    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: April 16, 2012.
Claude H. Harris,
 Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2012-9683 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P