[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55067-55069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27164]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-049; 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.
    This document describes four collections of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 23, 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 Street, SW., Washington, DC 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

[[Page 55068]]

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. Ed 
Kosek, NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, NHTSA, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Room 6123, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Kosek's 
telephone number is (202) 366-2589. 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:

Consolidated Labeling Requirement for 49 CFR 571.115, and Parts 565, 
541, and 567

    Type of Request--Reinstatement of clearance.
    OMB Clearance Number--2127-0510.
    Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval--Three years from date of 
approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information--Under 49 CFR 571.115 and 
Part 565, provisions are made which specify the format and content for 
a vehicle identification number (VIN) system and the general physical 
requirements for a VIN and its installation to simplify vehicle 
information retrieval. This system will aid NHTSA in reducing the 
incidence of accidents by increasing the accuracy and efficiency of 
vehicle recall campaigns and in achieving many of its safety goals. 
Manufacturers are required to assign a unique VIN to each new vehicle 
and to inform NHTSA of the code used in forming the VIN. The 
regulations apply to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, 
trucks, buses, trailers, incomplete vehicles, and motorcycles.
    Part 541 requires manufacturers to either label or affix a VIN to 
specific major component parts of certain passenger motor vehicles, 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, and light-duty trucks with a gross 
vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less. Replacement component 
parts must be marked with the ``DOT'' symbol, the letter ``R'', and the 
manufacturer's logo.
    Part 567 requires the VIN to be appear on the certification label.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use of the 
information--State motor vehicle administrations, law enforcement 
organizations, and other agencies utilize the unique VIN as a means of 
identifying motor vehicles that are registered within their state. 
NHTSA utilizes this vehicle identification number to identify motor 
vehicles that are subject to defect notices. NHTSA also uses these VINs 
to calculate motor vehicle theft rates by model year/calendar year as 
required by Section 603 of the Cost Savings Act.
    Under Part 565, vehicle manufacturers are required to identify 
those trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicles manufactured between 
September 1, 1993, and September 1, 1995, that are equipped with 
automatic occupant crash protection (such as air bags or automatic 
belts). If this information were not available, NHTSA would not be able 
to determine if trucks or multipurpose passenger vehicles equipped with 
an air bag or an automatic safety belt are being certified as being in 
compliance with Federal Standard 208. This lack of information would 
seriously hinder the agency's efforts to select vehicles for purchase 
on the open market for the purposes of conducting crash tests to ``spot 
check'' a manufacturer's compliance. If each vehicle were not labeled 
with a VIN and if the VIN information were not collected by NHTSA, 
these programs which require vehicle identification would not be 
possible.
    The identification of major parts of high-theft motor vehicle lines 
is designed to decrease automobile theft by making it more difficult 
for criminals to ``chop'' vehicles into component parts and then fence 
such parts. The information would aid law enforcement officials at all 
levels of Government in the investigation of ``chop shops'' by creating 
evidence for prosecution of the operators for possession of stolen 
motor vehicle parts. Major parts are marked on high-theft vehicle 
lines. Operators of both ``chop shops'' and auto body repair shops 
would avoid possession of parts bearing identification that links the 
parts to a stolen vehicle. Thus, Congress intends major parts 
identification to decrease the market for stolen parts and therefore, 
to decrease the incentive for motor vehicle theft.
    If this information were not available, the legislative goal of a 
comprehensive scheme against automobile theft would be frustrated. The 
Theft Prevention Statute would not effectively deter ``chop shop'' 
operators because law enforcement officials could not readily identify 
parts in the operators' possession as stolen. Also, stolen parts, when 
recovered, could not easily be traced back to the proper owner and 
returned to the owner or insurer. Further, failure to require parts' 
identification would violate the Theft Prevention Statute.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
All foreign and domestic manufacturers are potential respondents. NHTSA 
estimates 1,000 respondents per year with a frequency of approximately 
18,670,000 responses. The responses are an estimation of the total 
production of motor vehicles and replacement parts.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--The agency estimates that 
approximately 64 percent of all passenger motor vehicles produced would 
be selected as high-theft models subject to the standard. Assuming 18 
million passenger motor vehicle sales per year, 11.52 million motor 
vehicles annually would be covered. Costs of compliance are estimated 
at $10.00 per vehicle for stamped identifiers, and $5.20 per vehicle 
for label identifiers. The total annual fleet costs are, thus, 
estimated at $115.2 million for stamped identifiers ($10.00  x  11.52 
million) and $59.9 million for label identifiers ($5.20  x  11.52 
million).



[[Page 55069]]


    Authority: 440 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.

    Dated: September 19, 1996.
L. Robert Shelton,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-27164 Filed 10-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P