[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10687-10689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03461]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0014, Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1992 Porsche Carrera Passenger Cars 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 
1992 Porsche Carrera passenger cars 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 1992 Porsche Carrera) and they are capable of 
being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is March 18, 2013.

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

[[Page 10688]]

     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: 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 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.
    J.K. Technologies, LLC (``JK''), of Baltimore, Maryland (Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
1992 Porsche Carrera passenger cars are eligible for importation into 
the United States. The vehicles which JK believes are substantially 
similar are 1992 Porsche Carrera passenger cars 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 the non-U.S. certified 1992 
Porsche Carrera to its U.S.-certified counterpart, and found the 
vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance with 
most FMVSS.
    JK submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that the non-U.S. certified 1992 Porsche Carrera, as originally 
manufactured, conforms to many FMVSS in the same manner as its U.S. 
certified counterpart, or is capable of being readily altered to 
conform to those standards. Specifically, the petitioner claims that 
the non-U.S. certified 1992 Porsche Carrera is identical to its U.S. 
certified counterpart 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, Standard 
No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 109 
New Pneumatic Tires and certain specialty tires, 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, 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, 301 Fuel System 
Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls Telltales, and Indicators: Replacement of 
the instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of the following U.S.-model components on 
vehicles not already so equipped: (a) Headlamps; (b) tail lamps (c) 
front and rear side marker lamps; and (d) a high-mounted stop lamp.
    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. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than 
Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire and rim information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Reprogramming the 
vehicle computer to activate the seat belt warning lamp in a manner 
that meets the standard; and (b) inspection of all vehicles and 
installation of the following U.S.-model components on vehicles that 
are not already so equipped: (1)Airbags; (2)control unit; (3) sensors; 
(4) seat belts; and (5) knee bolster. The petitioner states that the 
vehicle is equipped with an automatic restraint system that consists of 
dual front airbags and knee bolsters, and with combination lap and 
shoulder belts at the front and rear outboard seating positions that 
are automatic, self-tensioning, and capable of being released by means 
of a single red push button.
    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

[[Page 10689]]

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: February 11, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-03461 Filed 2-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P