[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 65 (Thursday, April 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20386-20387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07846]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0015; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2012 Porsche GT3RS Passenger Cars 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 2012 Porsche GT3RS 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 2012 Porsche GT3RS) 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

[[Page 20387]]

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.
    J.K. Technologies, LLC. of Baltimore, Maryland (Registered Importer 
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 2012 
Porsche GT3RS passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which J.K. Technologies believes are 
substantially similar are 2012 Porsche GT3RS 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 non-U.S. certified 2012 
Porsche GT3RS passenger cars to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and 
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most FMVSS.
    J.K. Technologies submitted information with its petition intended 
to demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2012 Porsche GT3RS passenger 
cars, 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 2012 Porsche GT3RS passenger 
cars 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, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 126 Electronic Stability 
Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 138 Tire Pressure 
Monitoring Systems, 139 New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles, 
201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204 
Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 206 Door Locks and Door 
Retention Components, 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: replacement of the 
instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component and reprogramming the 
vehicle computer.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of the headlamps, side marker lamps, and tail 
lamps with U.S.-model components and reprogramming the vehicle computer 
to activate necessary systems.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a 
GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    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. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention: 
reprogramming the vehicle computer to activate the key warning and belt 
warning systems.
    Standard No. 118 Power-operated Window, Partition, And Roof Panel 
Systems: reprogramming the vehicle computer to conform to the standard.
    Standard No. 205 Glazing Materials: inspecting each vehicle for 
compliance with the standard and replacement of nonconforming glazing 
with U.S.-model components as needed.
    Standard No. 207 Seating Systems: replacement of driver's and 
passenger seats with U.S.-model components to accommodate an advanced 
airbag system.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: The petitioner states 
that all parts of these systems, including the belts, airbags, sensors, 
control units (ECU), wiring harnesses, knee bolsters, and braces, must 
be replaced with parts identical to the U.S.-model components. The 
petitioner also states: ``Due to the varying regulations around the 
world all parts of these systems must be inspected to verify the U.S. 
part numbers on all belts and control unit.''
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: replacement of seatbelts 
with updated components to address a safety recall campaign.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a U.S.-
model rollover valve in the fuel tank vent line.
    Standard No. 401 Interior Trunk Release: installation of U.S.-model 
interior trunk release components.
    The petitioner states that the bumpers and bumper support structure 
are identical to that of the U.S. certified model. However, the bumper 
shocks must be replaced with U.S.-model components and ``Bumper 
Extensions'' must also be added to comply with 49 CFR part 581.
    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), (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. 2013-07846 Filed 4-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P