48710 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 179 / Tuesday, September 16, 1997 / Notices

The petitioner claims that it carefully

compared the non-U.S. certified 1991–

1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 passenger

cars to their U.S. certified counterparts,

and found the vehicles to be

substantially similar with respect to

compliance with most Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

G&K submitted information with its

petition intended to demonstrate that

the non-U.S. certified 1991–1996 Lexus

SC300 and SC400 passenger cars, as

originally manufactured, conform to

many Federal motor vehicle safety

standards 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 1991–1996 Lexus

SC300 and SC400 passenger cars are

identical to their U.S. certified

counterparts with respect to compliance

with Standards Nos. 102 Transmission

Shift Lever Sequence . . ., 103

Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104

Windshield Wiping and Washing

Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems,

106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment, 109

New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview

Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116

Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control

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, 209

Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt

Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield

Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection,

216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219

Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302

Flammability of Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

the non-U.S. certified 1991–1996 Lexus

SC300 and SC400 passenger cars

comply with the Bumper Standard

found in 49 CFR Part 581.

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: (a) Substitution of a lens

marked ‘‘Brake’’ for a lens with an ECE

symbol on the brake failure indicator

lamp; (b) recalibration of the

speedometer/odometer from kilometers

to miles per hour.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and

Rims: installation of a tire information

placard.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a warning buzzer

microswitch and a warning buzzer in

the steering lock assembly.

Standard No. 118 Power Window

Systems: rewiring of the power window

system so that the window transport is

inoperative when the ignition is

switched off.

Standard No. 203 Impact Protection

for the Driver From the Steering Control

System: installation of a driver’s side air

bag and knee bolster identical to those

installed on the vehicles’ U.S.-certified

counterparts.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash

Protection: installation of a seat belt

warning buzzer. Installation of a driver’s

side air bag and knee bolster on 1991–

1993 models, and installation of both a

driver’s and a passenger’s side air bag

and knee bolster on 1994–1996 models.

The petitioner states that all air bags and

knee bolsters installed will be identical

to those found on the vehicles’ U.S.-

certified counterparts. The petitioner

further states that the vehicles are

equipped with Type 2 seat belts in both

front and rear outboard designated

seating positions.

Standard No. 301 Fuel System

Integrity: installation of a rollover valve

in the fuel tank vent line between the

fuel tank and the evaporative emissions

collection canister.

The petitioner also states that a

vehicle identification number (VIN)

plate will be installed in the vehicles to

meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part

565.

Interested persons are invited to

submit comments on the petition

described above. Comments should refer

to the docket number and be submitted

to: Docket Section, National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration, Room

5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20590. It is requested

but not required that 10 copies be

submitted.

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 address 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) and

(b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; delegations of authority

at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: September 9, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97–24427 Filed 9–15–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. 97–039; Notice 2]

Decision that Nonconforming 1990–

1996 Toyota Landcruiser MultiPurpose Passenger Vehicles are

Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA

that nonconforming 1990–1996 Toyota

Landcruisers multi-purpose passenger

vehicles (MPVs) are eligible for

importation.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

decision by NHTSA that 1990–1996

Toyota Landcruiser MPVs not originally

manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards are eligible for importation

into the United States because they are

substantially similar to vehicles

originally manufactured for importation

into and sale in the United States and

certified by their manufacturer as

complying with the safety standards

(the U.S.-certified version of the 1990–

1996 Toyota Landcruiser), and they are

capable of being readily altered to

conform to the standards.

DATES: This decision is effective as of

September 16, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle

Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–

5306).

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 Federal motor vehicle safety

standards 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 Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

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
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 179 / Tuesday, September 16, 1997 / Notices 48711

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.

Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale,

Pennsylvania (Registered Importer R–

90–009) petitioned NHTSA to decide

whether 1990–1996 Toyota

Landcruisers are eligible for importation

into the United States. NHTSA

published notice of the petition on July

15, 1997 (62 FR 37950) to afford an

opportunity for public comment. The

reader is referred to that notice for a

thorough description of the petition. No

comments were received in response to

the notice. Based on its review of the

information submitted by the petitioner,

NHTSA has decided to grant the

petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject

Vehicles

The importer of a vehicle admissible

under any final decision must indicate

on the form HS–7 accompanying entry

the appropriate vehicle eligibility

number indicating that the vehicle is

eligible for entry. VSP–218 is the

eligibility number assigned to vehicles

admissible under this decision.

Final Decision

Accordingly, on the basis of the

foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides that

1990–1996 Toyota Landcruisers not

originally manufactured to comply with

all applicable Federal motor vehicle

safety standards are substantially

similar to 1990–1996 Toyota

Landcruisers originally manufactured

for importation into and sale in the

United States and certified under 49

U.S.C. 30115, and are capable of being

readily altered to conform to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and

(b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; delegations of authority

at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: September 9, 1997.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97–24428 Filed 9–15–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

[Docket No. 97–61; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for

Decision that Nonconforming 1979

Jeep CJ–7 Multi-Purpose Passenger

Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for

decision that nonconforming 1979 Jeep

CJ–7 multi-purpose passenger vehicles

(MPVs) are eligible for importation.

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt

by the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) of a petition

for a decision that a 1979 Jeep CJ–7

MPV that was not originally

manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards is eligible for importation into

the United States because (1) it is

substantially similar to a vehicle that

was originally manufactured for and

sale in the United States and that was

certified by its manufacturer as

complying with the safety standards,

and (2) it is capable of being readily

altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments

on the petition is October 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to

the docket number and notice number,

and be submitted to: Docket Section,

Room 5109, National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St.,

SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket

hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm.]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle

Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–

5306).

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 Federal motor vehicle safety

standards 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 Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

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. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland

(‘‘J.K.’’) (Registered Importer 90–006)

has petitioned NHTSA to decide

whether 1979 Jeep CJ–7 MPVs are

eligible for importation into the United

States. The vehicle which J.K. believes

is substantially similar is the 1979 Jeep

CJ–7 that was manufactured for sale in

the United States and certified by its

manufacturer as conforming to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards.

The petitioner claims that it carefully

compared the non-U.S. certified 1979

Jeep CJ–7 to its U.S. certified

counterpart, and found the two vehicles

to be substantially similar with respect

to compliance with most Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

J.K. submitted information with its

petition intended to demonstrate that

the non-U.S. certified 1979 Jeep CJ–7, as

originally manufactured, conforms to

many Federal motor vehicle safety

standards in the same manner as its U.S.

certified counterpart, or is capable of

being readily altered to conform to those

standards.

Specifically, the petitioner claims that

the non-U.S. certified 1979 Jeep CJ–7 is

identical to its U.S. certified counterpart

with respect to compliance with

Standards Nos. 102 Transmission Shift

Lever Sequence. . . ., 103 Defrosting

and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield

Wiping and Washing Systems, 106

Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems,

116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic

Tires for Motor Vehicles other than

Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control

Systems, 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 Retention,

219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301

Fuel System Integrity, and 302

Flammability of Interior Materials.

Petitioner also contends that the

vehicle is capable of being readily

altered to meet the following standards,

in the manner indicated:

Standard No. 101 Controls and

Displays: (a) Substitution of a lens