81 FR 17760 - Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 61 (March 30, 2016)

Page Range		17760-17761
FR Document		2016-07144

This document announces a decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that certain model year (MY) 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class passenger cars (PCs) 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 originally manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified version of the MY 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class PC), and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17760-17761]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07144]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0083, Notice 2]


Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 
Class Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

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

ACTION: Grant of petition.

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[[Page 17761]]

SUMMARY: This document announces a decision by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration that certain model year (MY) 2014 
Mercedes-Benz SLK Class passenger cars (PCs) 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 originally 
manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their 
manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified 
version of the MY 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class PC), and they are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: This decision became effective on March 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: 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 as required 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# RI-90-006), petitioned NHTSA to decide whether MY 2014 
Mercedes-Benz SLK Class PCs are eligible for importation into the 
United States. NHTSA published a notice of the petition on February 16, 
2016 (81 FR 7889) to afford an opportunity for public comment. No 
comments were received in response to this petition. The reader is 
referred to the receipt notice for a thorough description of the 
petition.

NHTSA'S Conclusions

    NHTSA has reviewed the petition and has concluded that the vehicles 
covered by the petition are substantially similar to MY 2014 Mercedes-
Benz SLK Class PC's and are capable of being readily altered to comply 
with all applicable FMVSS.
    NHTSA has also determined that any RI who imports or modifies one 
of these vehicles must include in the statement of conformity and 
associated documents (referred to as a ``conformity package'') it 
submits to NHTSA under 49 CFR 592.6(d) additional specific proof to 
confirm that the vehicle was manufactured to conform to, or was 
successfully altered to conform to, FMVSS No. 101, Controls and 
Displays, FMVSS No. 138, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, FMVSS No. 
208 Occupant Crash Protection and FMVSS No. 301 Fuel System Integrity. 
This proof must include detailed descriptions of all modifications made 
to achieve conformity with those standards, including a detailed 
description of systems in place (if any) on the vehicle at the time it 
was delivered to the RI and a similarly detailed description of the 
systems in place after the vehicle is altered, including photographs of 
all required labeling. The description must also include parts assembly 
diagrams and associated part numbers for all components that were 
removed from or installed on the vehicle, a description of how any 
computer programming changes were completed, and a description of how 
compliance was verified after alterations were completed. Photographs 
(e.g., monitor print screen captures) or report printouts, as 
practicable, must be submitted as proof that any computer reprogramming 
was carried out successfully.
    In addition to the information specified above, each conformity 
package must also include evidence showing how the RI verified that the 
changes it made in loading or reprograming vehicle software to achieve 
conformity with each separate FMVSS, did not also cause the vehicle to 
fall out of compliance with any other applicable FMVSS.

Decision

    Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides 
that MY 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class passenger cars that were not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS, are 
substantially similar to MY 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class passenger cars 
manufactured for importation into and/or 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.

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-581 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles 
admissible under this notice of final decision.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 
49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

Jeffrey M. Giuseppe,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-07144 Filed 3-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

17760 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 61 / Wednesday, March 30, 2016 / Notices

In addition to the more formal • Channel resources to meet capacity Professional Staff Cost During a Survey
National TPM Implementation Review development and training needs; and Year
Survey, FHWA will conduct informal • Identify and prioritize TPM • All respondents: 19,500 hours × $38
voluntary TPM State-of-Practice research needs. per hour = $741,000
Questionnaires related to ongoing TPM Lastly, as part of FHWA’s ongoing Æ Per respondent: (20 × $38 = $760)
policy and guidance, technical technical assistance efforts, a TPM
assistance, and capacity needs. To Toolbox is being created to help Clerical Staff Cost During a Survey Year
address concerns expressed by FHWA’s partners self-assess and • All respondents: 1,950 hours × $18
stakeholders regarding the burden of benchmark their TPM implementation per hour = $35,100
effort and administration of these progress, capabilities, and gaps. The Æ Per respondent (2 hours × $18 per
additional questionnaires, FHWA is TPM Toolbox will also help FHWA hour = $36)
proposing to sequence the National streamline the integration and
TPM Implementation Review Survey administration of all the efforts Total Annual Cost During a Survey Year
and other State-of-the-Practice described above. To maximize the • Subtotal Direct Salaries (Professional
Questionnaires on a biennial cycle. effectiveness and efficiency of the TPM + Clerical) $776,100
Under this biennial cycle, the first Toolbox, FHWA will collect business • Overhead/fringe benefits at 33%:
National TPM Implementation Review contact and organizational demographic $256,113
Survey would be administered in 2016 (size of organization, location, etc.) • Total annual respondents cost during
and the follow-up in 2020. The smaller, information along with the responses survey year: $1,032,213
less formal State-of-the-Practice submitted as part of the TPM Toolbox’s Æ Total average annual cost per
Questionnaires would be administered self-assessment applications. respondent during survey year:
in 2018 and 2022. The State-of-the- Respondents: The 975 respondents $1,058.68
Practice Questionnaires are essential to estimate is based on soliciting input Public Comments Invited: You are
helping FHWA coordinate with its from 52 STA, 409 MPOS, and a asked to comment on any aspect of this
many stakeholders to reduce duplicative sampling of other State and local information collection, including: (1)
survey efforts as the industry works to transportation entities. In most cases, Whether the proposed collection of
implement and understand the TPM only STAs and MPOs will be surveyed. information is necessary for the U.S.
practices. Frequency: Agencies will be solicited DOT’s performance, including whether
Under this sequencing, the National to provide information via a survey 1 the information will have practical
TPM Implementation Review Survey time every two years. Additionally, utility; (2) the accuracy of the U.S.
will continue to serve the original transportation agencies may submit DOT’s estimate of the burden of the
purpose of allowing FHWA to evaluate information more frequently by using proposed information collection; (3)
the effectiveness of efforts to implement the TPM Toolbox’s self-assessment tool. ways to enhance the quality, usefulness,
TPM and PBPP. The State-of-the- Estimated Average Burden per and clarity of the collected information;
Practice Questionnaires will enable Response: The estimated average annual and (4) ways that the burden could be
FHWA and its stakeholders to burden hours is up to 20 hours per minimized, including the use of
coordinate the collection of information response during a year with a survey/ electronic technology, without reducing
necessary to advance the state-of-the- questionnaire request. the quality of the collected information.
practice and further TPM capacity Estimated Total Annual Burden The agency will summarize and/or
building efforts. This approach limits Hours: The estimated total annual include your comments in the request
the number of TPM related surveys to 4 burden hours for all respondents is for OMB’s clearance of this information
over a number of years: estimated to be 19,500 burden hours
• National TPM Implementation collection.
(975 respondents × 20 burden hours) per Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
Review Survey (Baseline): 2016.
year with survey/questionnaire requests.
• State-of-the-Practice of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended;
Questionnaires: 2018. Professional Staff Time During a Survey and 49 CFR 1.48.
• National TPM Implementation Year Issued On: March 25, 2016.
Review Survey (Follow-up): 2020. Michael Howell,
• State-of-the-Practice • 20 hours/respondent × 975
Questionnaires: 2022. respondents × 1 questionnaire during Information Collection Officer.
After each survey or questionnaire, a survey year = 19,500 hours [FR Doc. 2016–07169 Filed 3–29–16; 8:45 am]
FHWA and its stakeholders will explore BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
Clerical Staff Time During a Survey
how to better align the information Year
collection requests with yet-to-be
determined performance management • 2 hours/respondent × 975 respondents DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
reporting processes. The information × 1 questionnaire during a survey year
= 1,950 hours National Highway Traffic Safety
will be collected from State, Administration
metropolitan, regional, local, and/or The aggregated associated salary cost
tribal transportation agencies via to all respondents (975) during a survey [Docket No. NHTSA–2015–0083, Notice 2]
internet-based questionnaires or web year is estimated to be $1,032,213 based
on an average salary of $38 per hour Decision That Nonconforming Model
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applications and will be used to help
FHWA and its partner organizations do (approximately $79,000 per year) for Year 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class
the following: professional staff and $18 per hour Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
• Strategically plan to meet ever (approximately $37,000 per year) for Importation
growing demand for TPM technical clerical staff. Disaggregated, the total AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
assistance needs; average annual cost per respondent Safety Administration (NHTSA),
• Develop and refine TPM policy and during a survey year is estimated to be Department of Transportation (DOT).
guidance based on stakeholder $1,058.68. The burden hours and costs
ACTION: Grant of petition.
feedback; are illustrated below.

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Document Created: 2016-03-30 09:28:12
Document Modified: 2016-03-30 09:28:12

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Grant of petition.
Dates		This decision became effective on March 25, 2016.
FR Citation		81 FR 17760

81 FR 17760 - Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK Class Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 61 (March 30, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration