[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 65 (Thursday, April 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20388-20389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07844]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0164; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
2007 Ford Escape Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: 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 2007 Ford Escape Multi-Purpose 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 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 same 2007 Ford 
Escape Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles) and they are capable of being 
readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 6, 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.
     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. Sec.  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.
    Mesa Auto Wholesalers of Chandler, Arizona (Registered Importer 94-
018) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 2007 Ford 
Escape Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are eligible for importation 
into the United States. The vehicles which Mesa Auto Wholesalers 
believes are substantially similar are 2007 Ford Escape Multi-Purpose 
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 compared non-U.S. certified 2007 Ford 
Escape Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles to their U.S.-certified 
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with 
respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    Mesa Auto Wholesalers submitted information with its petition 
intended to demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2007 Ford Escape Multi-
Purpose 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 2007 Ford 
Escape Multi-Purpose 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, 
109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake 
Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 
124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 138 
Tire Pressure Monitoring 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, 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 Anchorages, 301 Fuel 
System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily

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altered to meet the following standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: replacement of the 
instrument cluster with the U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of the headlamps, side marker lamps, high-
mounted stop lamp, and tail lamps with U.S.-model components.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the passenger 
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component 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 placard with required tire 
information printed in the English language.
    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), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49 
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

    Issued on: March 29, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-07844 Filed 4-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P