[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6597-6598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3193]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-055; 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 on the manufacturer 
reporting requirements specified in 49 CFR part 590, for the phase-in 
of the motor vehicle rear-door retention requirement.
    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 the information 
concerning vehicle manufacturers' plans for beginning to comply with 
these rear door retention requirements, for which NHTSA intends to seek 
OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 10, 1998.

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 subject of the proposed collection of information for 
which a comment is provided. 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 collection of information:

Production Schedule for Compliance of Back Door Locks and Door 
Retention Components With FMVSS 206

    Type of Request--New Request for Clearance.
    OMB Clearance Number--2127.
    Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval--February 28, 2001.
    Summary of the Collection of Information--NHTSA must ensure that 
motor vehicle manufacturers comply with new provisions in Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard 206 ``Door Locks and Door Retention 
Components'', requiring increased performance for back door locks and 
back door retention components. The new requirements published on 
September 28, 1995 (60 FR 50124), and July 31, 1996 (61 FR 39904), 
required new retention requirements for the rear doors of passenger 
cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks. The agency specified a one-year 
phase-in of this requirement. Vehicle manufacturers are required to 
produce a combined total production of 60 percent of their vehicles in 
compliance during the period of September 1, 1997, and September 1, 
1998. After September 1,

[[Page 6598]]

1998, the vehicle manufacturers are required to report on this phase-
in, to the agency. The July 31, 1996 notice also specifies the 
reporting requirements, as specified in 49 CFR, part 590.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use of the 
information--In order to ensure manufacturers are complying with new 
provision for back door locks and retention components in Standard 206, 
NHTSA needs reports from manufacturers of new passenger cars, 
multipurpose vehicles and trucks which have liftgates, hatchbacks, rear 
cargo doors or sliding doors which are applicable to the Standard 206. 
For each report, the manufacturer will provide (in addition to 
administrative necessities such as identity, address) numerical 
information from which NHTSA will be able to determine whether a 
manufacturer complies with the percentage phase-in requirements. The 
required numerical information will include the total number of 
vehicles manufactured during the production year that are equipped with 
back door locks and retention components that comply with the new 
provisions of Standard 206, and the total number of vehicles produced.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information--
NHTSA anticipates that no more than 35 vehicle manufacturers will be 
affected by the requirements. NHTSA does not believe any of these 35 
manufacturers is a small business (i.e., one that employs less than 500 
persons.) Each manufacturer must file one report. Additionally, the 
NHTSA may request compliance information on a specific model vehicle 
during the first year of the phase-in.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that each 
manufacturer will need 12 hours per year of time for recordkeeping and 
24 hours per year to prepare a report, at a cost of $30.00 per hour. 
Thus, the number of estimated reporting burden hours a year on 35 
manufacturers at 1 report per manufacturer and 36 person hours, $30 per 
hour at an annual cost to the public of $37,800.

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

    Dated: January 29, 1998.
L. Robert Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards
[FR Doc. 98-3193 Filed 2-6-98; 8:45 am]
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