[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 251 (Monday, December 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68812-68813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33121]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-100; Notice No. 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: This notice solicits public comments that labeling 
requirements ensure that tires are mounted on the appropriate rims; and 
that the rims and tires are mounted on the vehicles for which they are 
intended.
    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. 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) 366-2589. 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 collections of information:

Tires and Rims Labeling

    Type of Request--Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved

[[Page 68813]]

collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Clearance Number--2127-0053.
    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--The labeling of motor 
vehicle tire and rims with information required by the regulations and 
standards to benefit motor vehicle manufacturers and consumers. 
Primarily, these labeling requirements (49 CFR Parts 569 & 574) help 
ensure that tires are mounted on appropriate rims; and that the rims 
and tires are mounted on vehicles for which they were intended.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use of the 
information--The agency has not considered methods of collecting the 
required information and providing it to consumers and tire dealers 
other than permanently labeling motor vehicles, tires, and rims. The 
safety information provided on the labels is needed throughout the 
useful life of the motor vehicle, tire, or rim. The permanent vehicle, 
tire, and rim labels are required by the federal standards for tires 
and rims. These standards are legal obstacles to reducing the burden of 
the labeling requirements.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
The estimated number of respondents totals 6,673; the frequency of 
response will be each time a tire or rim is manufactured;
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Record keeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information. The yearly burden rate 
for new tire manufacturers, retreaders and rim manufacturers to label 
the motor vehicle tires and rims is 264,444 hours.
    The labeling requirements apply to all motor vehicle tires and rims 
intended for use on the nation's highways regardless of the size of the 
manufacturer or retreader. The burden to small manufacturers and 
entities resulting from these labeling requirements cannot be adjusted 
or minimized since all tires and rims must be labeled with this 
information.

    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. 96-33121 Filed 12-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P