Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 1997 Jeep Wrangler Multi-Purpose Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 1997 Jeep Wrangler Multi-Purpose Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

Topics: Jeep Wrangler

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 1997 Jeep Wrangler Multi-Purpose Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

Otto G. Matheke III
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
4 January 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 183-184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-29041]

[[Page 183]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2020-0037; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
Model Year 1997 Jeep Wrangler Multi-Purpose Vehicles Are Eligible for
Importation

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

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) receipt of a petition for a decision that model
year (MY) 1997 Jeep Wrangler multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) 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 1997 Jeep Wrangler MPVs)
and are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is February 3,
2021.

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 may be
submitted by any of the following methods:
Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to the 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 the 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 for 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 along 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.
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: Robert Mazurowski, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-1012).

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 MY 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
of each petition that it receives in the Federal Register, 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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. (WETL),
(Registered Importer R-90-005), of Houston, Texas has petitioned NHTSA
to decide whether nonconforming 1997 Jeep Wrangler MPVs are eligible
for importation into the United States. The vehicles which Wallace
Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. believes are substantially
similar are MY 1997 Jeep Wrangler MPVs 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 1997
Jeep Wrangler MPVs to their U.S. certified counterparts, and found the
vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance with
most FMVSS.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. submitted
information with its petition intended to demonstrate that non-U.S.
certified MY 1997 Jeep Wrangler MPVs, 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 1997 Jeep Wrangler MPVs, as originally
manufactured, conform to: 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,
113, Hood Latch System, 116, Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118, Power-
Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel System, 124, Accelerator
Control Systems, 135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 201, Occupant
Protection in Interior Impact, 202, Head Restraints; Applicable at the
Manufacturers Option until September 1, 2009, 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, 210, Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages, 212, Windshield Mounting, 213, Child Restraint Systems,

[[Page 184]]

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
FMVSS, in the manner indicated:
FMVSS No. 101, Controls and Displays: The instrument cluster will
require replacement with a part meeting the requirements of this
standard. FMVSS No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/
Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor
Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less: The
addition of a tire label is required. FMVSS No. 111, Rear Visibility:
Inscription of the required warning statement on the face of the
passenger mirror. FMVSS No. 114, Theft Protection: The addition of an
audible anti-theft system is required, which gongs when the key is left
in the ignition module and the driver's door is opened. FMVSS No. 208,
Occupant Crash Protection: Both front and rear outboard designated
seating positions will require replacement with Type 2 seat belts.
However, the petitioner notes ``driver and passenger front outboard
seating positions are equipped with US version air bag systems and knee
bolsters''. FMVSS No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies: Both front and rear
outboard designated seating positions will require replacement with
Type 2 seat belts.
The petitioner additionally states that all vehicles will be
inspected prior to importation for compliance with the Theft Prevention
Standard per 49 CFR part 541. The petitioner further states a vehicle
identification plate must be affixed to the vehicle, near the left
windshield pillar, to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565, as well
as, a reference and certification label added to the left front door
post area to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 567.

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.

Otto G. Matheke III,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-29041 Filed 12-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P