[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 130-131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33413]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-00-8350]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection 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 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 reinstatement of previously approved collections.
    This document describes one collection of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

Dates: Comments must be received on or before March 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at 
the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management, 
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 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 2 copies of the comment be provided. The Docket 
Section is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact 
Edward Jettner, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5320, NPS-
11,Washington, DC 20590.
    Mr. Jettner's telephone number is (202) 366-4917. Please identify 
the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control 
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 first 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 regulation (at 5CFR 
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;
    (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 for public 
comments on the following proposed collections of information:
    Title: Consolidated Labeling Requirements for Motor Vehicles 
(Except the VIN)
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0512.
    Affected Public: Business or for-profit.
    Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 30111 authorizes the issuance of Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and regulations. The agency, in 
prescribing a FMVSS or regulation considers available relevant motor 
vehicle safety data, and consults with other agencies as it deems 
appropriate. Further, the statute mandates that in issuing any FMVSS or 
regulation, the agency considers whether the standard or regulation is 
``reasonable, practicable and appropriate for the particular type of 
motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is 
prescribed,'' and whether such a standard will contribute to carrying 
out the purpose of the Act. The Secretary is authorized to invoke such 
rules and regulations as deemed necessary to carry out these 
requirements. Using this authority, the agency issued the following 
FMVSS and regulations, specifying labeling requirements to aid the 
agency in achieving many of its safety goals:

[[Page 131]]

    FMVSS 105, Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems;
    FMVSS 135, Passenger Car Brake Systems;
    FMVSS 205, Glazing Materials;
    FMVSS 209, Seat Belt Assemblies; and
    Part 567, Certification.
    FMVSS 105, Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems and FMVSS 135, 
Passenger Car Brake Systems require that each vehicle shall have a 
brake fluid warning statement in letters at least one-eighth of a inch 
high on the master cylinder reservoirs and located so as to be visible 
by direct view.
    FMVSS 205, Glazing Materials, requires that manufacturers mark 
their automotive glazing with certain label information, including:
    Manufacturer's distinctive trademark;
    Manufacturer's ``DOT'' code number;
    Model of glazing (alpha-numerical designation); and
    Type of glazing (there are currently 21 items of glazing ranging 
from plastic windows to bullet resistant windshields).
    In addition to these requirements which apply to all glazing, 
certain specialty items such as standee windows in buses, roof openings 
and interior partitions made of plastic require that the manufacturer 
affix a removable label to each item. The label specifies cleaning 
instructions which will minimize the loss of transparency. Other 
information may be provided by the manufacturer but is not required.
    FMVSS 209, Seat Belt Assemblies, requires safety belts to be 
labeled with the year of manufacture, the model, and the name or 
trademark of the manufacturer (S4.5(j)). Additionally, replacement 
safety belts that for specific models of motor vehicles must have 
labels or accompanying instruction sheets to specify the applicable 
vehicle models and seating positions (S4.5(k)). All other replacement 
belts are required to be accompanied by an installation instruction 
sheet (S4.1(k)).
    Seat belt assemblies installed as original equipment in new motor 
vehicles need not be required to be labeled with position/model 
information. This information is only useful if the assembly is removed 
with the intention of using the assembly as a replacement in another 
vehicle; this is not a common practice.
    Part 567, Certification, responds to 49 U.S.C. 30111 that requires 
each manufacturer or distributor of motor vehicles to furnish to the 
dealer or distributor of the vehicle a certification that the vehicle 
meets all applicable FMVSS. This certification is required by that 
provision to be in the form of a label permanently affixed to the 
vehicle. Under 49 U.S.C. 32504, vehicle manufacturers are directed to 
make a similar certification with regard to bumper standards. To 
implement this requirement, NHTSA issued 49 CFR part 567. The agency's 
regulations establish form and content requirements for the 
certification labels.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 72959 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 1214.

    Issued on: December 26, 2000.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 00-33413 Filed 12-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P