Document ID: NHTSA-2008-0062-0002
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2005 Jeep Liberty Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation
Posted Date: 2008-04-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register: April 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 68)]
[Notices]               
[Page 19135-19136]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap08-114]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2008-0062]

 
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2005 Jeep Liberty Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2005 Jeep Liberty multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for 
importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
2005 Jeep Liberty multipurpose 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 (1) 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, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform 
to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 8, 2008.

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

[[Page 19136]]

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 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, 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 (JK)(Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
2005 Jeep Liberty multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which JK believes are 
substantially similar are 2005 Jeep Liberty multipurpose 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 carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
2005 Jeep Liberty multipurpose passenger vehicles to their U.S.-
certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially 
similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    JK submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2005 Jeep Liberty multipurpose 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 2005 
Jeep Liberty multipurpose 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, 106 Brake Hoses, 
108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment, 111 Rearview 
Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle 
Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than Passenger 
Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Passenger Car Brake 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 Mounting, 
214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.
    Petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle 
identification number plate that complies with the requirements of 49 
CFR Part 565.
    Petitioner also observes that the vehicle complies with the Theft 
Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR part 541.
    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: installation of a U.S.-
model instrument cluster.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other 
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any non U.S.-model seat belts, air bag 
control units, air bags, and sensors with U.S.-model components on 
vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    Petitioner states that the vehicle's restraint system components 
include airbags, knee bolsters and combination lap and shoulder belts 
at the front outboard designated seating positions and combination lap 
and shoulder belts at the rear outboard designated seating positions.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, inspection of 
all vehicles and installation, on vehicles that are not already so 
equipped, of U.S.-model components to meet the requirements of this 
standard.
    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) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: April 1, 2008.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E8-7388 Filed 4-7-08; 8:45 am]

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