Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 2007 Jeep Wrangler Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

Topics:  Jeep Wrangler

Claudia Covell
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
2 March 2018

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9083-9084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04214]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2017-0056; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2007 Jeep Wrangler Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
model year (MY) 2007 Jeep Wrangler Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles 
(MPV) manufactured before September 1, 2007, 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, specifically 
the U.S.-certified version of the 2007 Jeep Wrangler MPV manufactured 
before September 1, 2007, and they are capable of being readily altered 
to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written data, 
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the 
docket and notice number cited in the title of this notice and 
submitted by any of the following methods:
     Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver comments by hand to U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. The 
Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except 
Federal Holidays.
     Electronically: Submit comments electronically by logging 
onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Comments may also be faxed to (202) 493-2251.
    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 comments you have submitted by mail were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.
    All comments and supporting materials received before the close of 
business on the closing date indicated above will be filed in the 
docket and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials 
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be 
considered to the fullest extent possible.
    When the petition is granted or denied, notice of the decision will 
also be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated at the end of this notice.
    All comments, background documentation, and supporting materials 
submitted to the docket may be viewed by anyone at the address and 
times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by following the online instructions for 
accessing the dockets. The docket ID number for this petition is shown 
in the heading of this notice. DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement is 
available for review in a Federal Register notice published on April 
11, 2000, (65 FR 19477-78).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Stevens, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202 366 5308).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. History: Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that 
was not originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS (49 
CFR 571) 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 Processing of Petitions, 
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.
    II. Summary of Petition: Wallace Environmental Testing 
Laboratories, Inc. (WETL) of Houston, Texas (Registered Importer R-90-
005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 2007 Jeep 
Wrangler Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPV)

[[Page 9084]]

manufactured before September 1, 2007 are eligible for importation into 
the United States. The vehicles which WETL believes are substantially 
similar are MY 2007 Jeep Wrangler MPV manufactured before September 1, 
2007, sold 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 MY 2007 
Jeep Wrangler MPV manufactured before September 1, 2007 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 MY 2007 Jeep Wrangler MPV 
manufactured before September 1, 2007, as originally manufactured, 
conform to many applicable 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 the non U.S.-certified MY 
2007 Jeep Wrangler MPV manufactured before September 1, 2007, as 
originally manufactured, conforms to the following standards: FMVSS 
Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and 
Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 
108 Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment, 109 New 
Pneumatic and Certain Specialty Tires, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood 
Latch System, 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention, 116 Motor 
Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof 
Panel Systems, 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, 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 subject non-U.S. certified 
vehicles are capable of being readily altered to meet the following 
standard, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: Installation of the U.S. 
version of the instrument cluster, or changing the faceplate to include 
the word ``brake'' on the brake system malfunction telltale.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of the 
required tire information placard.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield pillar to 
meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565, and that a Registered 
Importer Certification Label must be affixed to the vehicle in the 
driver's side door jamb to satisfy the requirements of 49 CFR part 567.
    III. Comments: 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.

Claudia Covell,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-04214 Filed 3-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P