[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 251 (Monday, December 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68810-68811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33119]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-101; Notice No. 1 ]


Reports, Forms, and Record keeping Requirements

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

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

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits public comments that requires each tire 
manufacturer to collect and maintain records of the names and addresses 
of the first purchasers of new tires.
    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 the collection of data used by a tire 
manufacturer, when it determines that some of its tires either fail to 
comply with an applicable safety standard or contain a safety-related 
defect, for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 28, 1997.

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 NHTSA request 
for collection of information approval may be obtained at no charge 
from Mr. Ed 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) 366-2589. 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

[[Page 68811]]

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 collections of 
information:

49 CFR Part 574, Tire Identification and Record

    Type of Request--Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Clearance Number--2127-0050.
    Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard form.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval--Three years from the 
approval date.
    Summary of the Collection of Information--NHTSA requires each tire 
manufacturer to collect and maintain records of the names and addresses 
of the first purchasers of new tires. To carry out this mandate, 49 CFR 
Part 574 requires tire dealers and distributors to record the names and 
addresses of retail purchasers of new tires and the identification 
number(s) of the tire sold.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use of the 
information--The information is used by a tire manufacturer, when it 
determines that some of its tires either fail to comply with an 
applicable safety standard or contain a safety-related defect. With the 
information on the registration form, the tire manufacturer can notify 
the first purchaser of the tire and provide the purchaser with any 
necessary information or instructions.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
Estimated number is 3,750,000; Frequency of response--occurs each time 
a tire is sold.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--747,500 hours.
    NHTSA estimates that small businesses will need to spend the same 
45 seconds per tire sale to register the tires as the larger 
businesses. It is not possible to reduce this burden further because 
Congress mandated that the same forms and the same procedures used to 
register each manufacturer's tires (49 U.S.C. 30117(b)). However, since 
these small businesses make fewer sales than larger dealers, they will 
spend less time on tire registrations. The amount of time per sale 
spent to register tires does not impose an undue burden on the small 
businesses involved.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.
    Dated: December 13, 1996.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-33119 Filed 12-27-96; 8:45 am]
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