[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 251 (Monday, December 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68811-68812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33120]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-109; 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 a collection of information 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 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 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:

Insurer Reporting Requirement for 49 CFR Part 544

    Type of Request--Reinstatement of clearance.
    OMB Clearance Number--2127-0547.

[[Page 68812]]

    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--The Motor Vehicle Theft 
Law Enforcement Act of 1984 was amended by the Anti Car Theft Act 
(ACTA) of 1992 (P.L. 102-519) which mandated this information 
collection. One component of the comprehensive theft prevention package 
required the Secretary of Transportation (delegated to the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)) to promulgate a theft 
prevention standard to provide for the identification of certain motor 
vehicles and their major replacement parts to impede motor vehicle 
theft. Section 615 of the ACTA requires insurance companies and rental/
leasing companies to provide information to NHTSA on comprehensive 
insurance premiums which address motor vehicle theft.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use of the 
information--The insurer's report will be submitted by motor vehicle 
insurance companies and rental/leasing companies on an annual basis to 
NHTSA. All rental/leasing companies (which have a fleet of 50,000 or 
more units in its fleet and are not covered by theft insurance policies 
issued by motor vehicle insurers) are bound to comply. Specific motor 
vehicle insurance companies and subject rental and leasing companies 
are listed in Appendices A, B, and C of Part 544. These reports are 
required to be submitted in a specified format as shown in Parts 544.5 
and 544.6, giving requirements and contents of the report.
    The information will be used by NHTSA in exercising its statutory 
authority to help reduce comprehensive insurance premiums charged by 
insurers of motor vehicles due to motor vehicle thefts. The report will 
also show the rate of theft and recoveries of stolen vehicles that they 
insure by type and other categories.
    Without this information, the agency cannot adequately assess the 
effectiveness of the ACTA as directed by Congress.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
The respondents are specific vehicle insurance companies, and rental/
leasing companies (which have a fleet size of 50,000 or more and are 
not covered by theft insurance policies issued by motor vehicle 
insurers). The agency estimates the number of respondents to total 30 
vehicle insurance companies and 13 rental/leasing companies. The 
frequency of response to the collection of information is determined by 
the number of specific motor vehicle insurance companies, and rental/
leasing companies listed in Appendices A, B, and C of Part 544. The 
lists are updated annually.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--The agency estimates that 
the reporting burden for this year will be $1,168,090 for 30 insurance 
companies and $99,840 for approximately 13 rental/leasing companies 
with a fleet size of 50,000 or more. The reporting burden is based on 
claim adjusters' salaries, clerical and technical expenses, and labor 
costs.

    Authority: 440 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.
    Dated: October 28, 1996.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-33120 Filed 12-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P