Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1992 Jeep Wrangler Multi-Purpose Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

Topics:  Jeep Wrangler

Claude H. Harris
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
November 1, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65756-65758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26101]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0103, Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1992 Jeep Wrangler Multi-Purpose Vehicles 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 1992 Jeep Wrangler 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

[[Page 65757]]

by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (1992 Jeep 
Wrangler 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 December 2, 
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: 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. 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.
    US Specs, of Havre De Grace, MD (Registered Importer R-03-321) has 
petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 1992 Jeep Wrangler 
Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which US Specs believes are substantially 
similar are 1992 Jeep Wrangler 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 1992 Jeep 
Wrangler 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.
    US Specs submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1992 Jeep Wrangler 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 1992 Jeep Wrangler 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, 105 Hydraulic and Electric Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 113 Hood Latch 
System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control 
Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head 
Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing 
Materials, 207 Seating Systems, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 
Wheel Nuts, Wheels Disks, and Hub Caps, 212 Windshield Mounting, 216 
Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System 
Integrity, 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: Modification or replacement 
of the speedometer to read in miles per hour (MPH) if the vehicle is 
not already so equipped and replacement of the ECE warning symbol on 
the brake failure indicator light with the word ``BRAKE'' to comply 
with this standard.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Replacement of the headlamps, side marker lights, turn 
signal/park lights, front and rear reflex reflectors, and stop lamps 
with U.S.-model components if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
    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: 
Installation or reprogramming of the warning buzzer to meet this 
standard if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 118 Power Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: Installation of the window systems to ensure they meet the 
requirements of this standard and rewiring there systems to meet the 
standard if necessary.
    Standard No. 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other Than 
Passenger

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Cars: Inspection of vehicle and installation of conforming tires if the 
vehicle is not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection for Vehicles Other Than Passenger 
Vehicles: Installation of an information placard containing 
manufacturer specifications for seating capacity and loading, and tire 
specifications if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 206 Door Locks and Door Retention Components: 
Inspection of door locks and retention components and installation of 
conforming parts from U.S. Vehicle if the vehicle is not already so 
equipped.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of seat 
belt lamp and audible warning buzzer if the vehicle is not already so 
equipped.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of seat belts and 
installation of U.S. model parts if the vehicle is not already so 
equipped.
    The petitioner states that the VIN plate must also beinstalled on 
the left front corner of the dashboard 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: October 29, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-26101 Filed 10-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P