81 FR 64978 - Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming Model Year 2009 Jeep Compass Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 183 (September 21, 2016)

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that model year (MY) 2009 Jeep Compass multipurpose passenger 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 2009 Jeep Compass MPVs) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64978-64980]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22720]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0121; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
Model Year 2009 Jeep Compass Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
model year (MY) 2009 Jeep Compass multipurpose passenger 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

[[Page 64979]]

States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with 
the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2009 Jeep 
Compass MPVs) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform 
to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is October 21, 
2016.

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 https://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 https://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 https://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 
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: 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 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.
    G&K Automotive Conversion Inc. (G&K) of Santa Ana, California 
(Registered Importer R-90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 2009 Jeep Compass MPVs are eligible for importation into 
the United States. The vehicles which G&K believes are substantially 
similar are MY 2009 Jeep Compass 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 2009 
Jeep Compass MPVs to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the 
vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance with 
most FMVSS.
    G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified MY 2009 Jeep Compass 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 
2009 Jeep Compass MPVs, as originally manufactured, conform to 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, 
113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake 
Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof panel System, 
124 Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 139 
New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles, 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, 
225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems 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 
standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: replacement of the original 
instrument cluster with the U.S. model component and associated 
software, or modifying the existing speedometer such that speed is 
displayed in miles per hour (MPH) and the brake telltale displays the 
word ``BRAKE'' as described in the petition.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-conforming front side marker lamps, 
headlamps, and front side mounted reflex reflectors.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of the 
required tire information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rear Visibility: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the face of the passenger mirror, or replacement 
of the passenger side mirror with the U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: installation of 
the original vehicle manufacturer's U.S.-model TPMS system including 
the module receiver, tire pressure sensors, associated software and 
additional components as necessary for a vehicle to conform to the 
standard.

[[Page 64980]]

    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of each 
vehicle and replacement of any non-conforming seatbelts and advanced 
air bag suppression system components with U.S.-model components as 
described in the petition as necessary for the vehicle to conform to 
the standard.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: inspection of each vehicle 
and replacement of any non-U.S. model fuel system components with U.S.-
model components as necessary to conform to the requirements of the 
standard as described in the petition.
    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.
    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.

Jeffrey M. Giuseppe,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-22720 Filed 9-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P