Federal Register
March 15, 2011
[Federal Register: March 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 50)]
[Notices]
[Page 14117-14119]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr11-165]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. DOT-NHTSA-2011-0028, Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) Passenger Cars Manufactured Prior to
September 1, 2006 Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to
September 1, 2006 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
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to
September 1, 2006, 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 2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior
to September 1, 2006), and they are capable of being readily altered to
conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 14, 2011.
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
[[Page 14118]]
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 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 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.
J.K. Technologies, LLC (``JK''), of Baltimore, Maryland (Registered
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to
September 1, 2006, are eligible for importation into the United States.
The vehicles which JK believes are substantially similar are 2005-2006
Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to September 1,
2006, 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 compared non-U.S. certified 2005-2006
Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to September 1,
2006, 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 2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars
manufactured prior to September 1, 2006, 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-
2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to
September 1, 2006 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood
Latch System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control
Systems, 135 Light Vehicle 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, 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.
The 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 Telltales, and Indicators: Installation
of U.S. conforming instrument cluster and cruise control lever, and
installation or activation of associated U.S.-version software in the
vehicle's computer system.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: Installation of the following U.S.-model components on
vehicles not already so equipped: (a) Front sidemarker lamps with
integral side reflex reflectors; (b) headlamps; (c) integral tail lamp
housings that includes rear side marker, rear turn signal, and brake
lamps, as well as rear and side reflex reflectors.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a
GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning
statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a supplemental
key warning buzzer, or installation or activation of U.S.-version
software to meet the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel
Systems: Installation or activation of U.S.-version software in the
vehicle's computer system to meet the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Inspection of all
vehicles and replacement of any non U.S.-conforming model seat belts,
air bag control units, air bags, and sensors with U.S.-model components
on vehicles that are not already so equipped; and (b) installation or
activation of U.S.-version software to ensure that the seat belt
warning system meets the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles
and replacement of any non U.S.-certified model seat belts with U.S.-
model components.
Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Installation of
U.S.-model child restraint anchorage systems components.
Standard No. 401 Interior Trunk Release: Installation of U.S.-model
interior trunk release components.
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
[[Page 14119]]
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: March 9, 2011.
Claude H. Harris,
Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011-5982 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
