[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36778-36779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17752]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-054, Notice 1]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collections of 
information.

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SUMMARY: Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from 
the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). Under new procedures established by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies 
must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, 
including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved 
collections.
    At NHTSA's request, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
authorized emergency processing of this information collection. OMB 
approved the information collection for a90-day extension, under OMB 
control no. 2127-0021.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 10, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket and notice numbers cited 
at the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Section, 
Room 5109, NHTSA, 400 Seventh St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. Please 
identify the proposed collection of information for which a comment is 
provided, by referencing its OMB Clearance Number. It is requested, but 
not required, that 1 original plus 2 copies of the comments be 
provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 
p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for 
collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Mr. Edward 
Kosek, NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, NHTSA, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Room 6123, Washington, D.C. 20590. Mr. Kosek's 
telephone number is (202) 366-2590. Please identify the relevant 
collection of information by referring to its OMB Clearance Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB 
for approval, it must publish a document in the Federal Register 
providing a 60-day comment period and otherwise consult with members of 
the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of 
information. The OMB has promulgated regulations describing what must 
be included in such a document. Under OMB's regulations (at 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)), an agency must ask for public comment on the following:
    (i) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) how to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (iv) how to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    In compliance with these requirements, NHTSA asks public comment on 
the following proposed collection of information:

National Accident Sampling System (NASS)

    Type of Request--Reinstatement of clearance.
    OMB Clearance Number--2127-0021.
    Form Numbers--HS-433A, HS-433B, HS-435H, HS-435I, and HS-435F.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval--June 30, 1999.
    Summary of the Collection of Information--NASS investigates high 
severity crashes. Once a crash has been selected for investigation, 
several activities are initiated by the NASS Crashworthiness Data 
System (CDS) team. Researchers locate, visit, measure, and photograph 
the crash scene; locate, inspect, and photograph all involved vehicles; 
conduct a telephone or personal interview with each involved person or 
surrogate; and obtain and record injury information from hospitals or 
emergency rooms for all injured victims. During each activity the 
researchers record information on the NASS vehicle, and occupant/
pedestrian forms as appropriate.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information--NASS CDS data are used to describe and analyze 
circumstances, mechanisms, and consequences of high severity motor 
vehicle crashes in the United States. These descriptions and analyses 
in turn will help to describe the magnitude of vehicle damage and 
injury severity as related to traffic safety problems. It will give 
motor vehicle researchers an opportunity to specify areas in which 
improvements may be possible, design countermeasure programs, and 
evaluate the effects of existing and proposed safety measures. Users 
include virtually every program area in NHTSA, other federal agencies 
such as the Federal Highway Administration, state and local 
governments, domestic and foreign motor vehicle manufacturers, 
insurance and consumer organizations, safety research organizations, 
universities, foreign government agencies, and individual citizens.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Participation is voluntary for all respondents. NHTSA contractor 
employers begin by going to the police to get copies of accident 
reports. They select certain accidents, usually the more serious, to 
investigate. They interview occupants and witnesses, acquire medical 
records, and inspect the crash scene and vehicles. Data is coded on 
standard forms and entered into a computerized database.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--Each year, 6,000 crashes 
will be researched. A total of 13,500 occupants and witnesses will be 
interviewed. The average interview takes .33 hours or a total of 4,455 
burden hours. Police and hospital records clerks will simply make 
existing files available to us. This will take a police/hospital total 
of 1,224 burden hours. Tow facility personnel will provide access to 
our researchers to inspect crash vehicles. This will take a total of 
128 burden hours. The yearly total from the above groups is 5,807

[[Page 36779]]

burden hours. NHTSA will require no Recordkeeping outside of NHTSA 
employees and contractors.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.

    Issued: July 9, 1996.
William Boehly,
Associate Administrator, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 96-17752 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
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