[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12829-12831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2001-8907]


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 April 30, 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 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for 
collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Walter 
Culbreath, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 5208, NAD-
40,Washington, D.C. 20590. Mr. Culbreath's telephone number is (202) 
366-1566. 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 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;
    (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:
    (1) Title: Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS).
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0006.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Abstract: Under both the Highway Safety Act of 1966 and the 
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the responsibility to 
collect accident data that support the establishment and enforcement of 
motor vehicle regulations and highway safety programs. These 
regulations and programs are developed to reduce the severity of injury 
and the property damage associated with motor vehicle accidents. The 
Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) is a major system that acquires 
national fatality information directly from existing State files and 
documents. Since FARS is an on-going data acquisition system, reviews 
are conducted yearly to determine whether the data acquired are 
responsive to the total user population needs. The total user 
population includes Federal and State agencies and the private sector. 
Annual changes in the forms are minor in terms of operation and method 
of data acquisition, and do not affect the reporting burden of the 
respondent (State employees utilize existing State accident files). The 
changes usually involve clarification adjustments to aid statisticians 
in conducting more precise analyses and to remove potential ambiguity 
for the respondents.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 77,400 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 52.
    (2) Title: Consumer Compliant/Recall Audit Information.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0008.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Abstract: Chapter 301 of Title 49 of the United States Code, the 
Secretary of Transportation is authorized to require manufacturers of 
motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment to conduct owner 
notification and remedy, i.e., a recall campaign, when it has been 
determined that a safety defect exists in the performance, 
construction, components, or materials in motor vehicles and motor 
vehicle equipment. To make this determination, the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) solicits information from vehicle 
owners which is used to identify and evaluate possible safety-related 
defects and provide the necessary evidence of the existence of such a 
defect. Under the Authority of Chapter 301 of Title 49 of the United 
States Code, the Secretary of Transportation is authorized to require 
manufacturers of motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment which do not 
comply with the applicable motor vehicle safety standards or contains a 
defect that relates to motor vehicle safety to notify each owner that 
their vehicle contains a safety defect or noncompliance. Also, the 
manufacturer of each such motor vehicle item of

[[Page 12830]]

replacement equipment presented for remedy pursuant to such 
notification shall cause such defect or noncompliance to be remedied 
without charge. In the case of a motor vehicle presented for remedy 
pursuant to such notification, the manufacturer shall cause the vehicle 
remedied by whichever of the following means he elects: (1) By 
repairing such vehicle; (2) by replacing such motor vehicle without 
charge; or (3) by refunding the purchase price less depreciation. To 
ensure these objectives are being met, NHTSA audits recalls conducted 
by manufacturers. These audits are performed on a randomly selected 
number of vehicle owners for verification and validation purposes.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 36,380 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 239,000.
    (3) Title: 49 CFR Part 566, Manufacturers Identification.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0043.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Abstract: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 
statute at 49 U.S.C. 30118: Notification of defects and noncompliance, 
requires manufacturers to determine if the motor vehicle or item or 
replacement equipment contains a defect related to motor vehicle safety 
or fails to comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard. Following such determination, the manufacturer is required to 
notify the Secretary of Transportation, owners, purchasers and dealers 
of motor vehicles or replacement equipment, of the defect or 
noncompliance and to remedy the defect or noncompliance without charge 
to the owner. With this determination, NHTSA issued 49 CFR Part 566, 
Manufacturer Identification. Part 566 requires every manufacturer of 
motor vehicles and/or replacement equipment to file with the agency on 
a one time basis, the required information specified in Part 566.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 25 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    (4) Title: Names and Addresses of First Purchasers of Motor 
Vehicles.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0044.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 30117: Providing information to, and 
maintaining records on, purchasers at subparagraph (b) Maintaining 
purchaser records and procedures, states in part: A manufacturer of 
motor vehicle or tire (except a retreaded tire) shall maintain a record 
of the name and address of the first purchasers of each vehicle or tire 
it produces and, to the extent prescribed by regulations of the 
Secretary, shall maintain a record of the name and address of the first 
purchaser of replacement equipment (except a tire) that the 
manufacturer produces. This agency has no regulation specifying how the 
information is to be collected or maintained. When NHTSA's authorizing 
statue was enacted in 1966, Congress determined that an efficient 
recall of defective or noncomplying motor vehicles required the vehicle 
manufacturers retain an accurate record of vehicle purchasers, by 
virtue of quick and easy access to this information, the manufacturer 
is able to quickly notify vehicle owners in the event of a recall. 
Experience with this statutory provision has shown that manufacturers 
have retained this information in a manner sufficient to enable them to 
expeditiously notify vehicle purchasers in case of a recall. Based on 
this experience, NHTSA has determined that no obligation is needed. 
Without this type of information readily available, manufacturers would 
either need to spend more time or money to notify purchasers of a 
recall.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 950,000 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 19,000.
    (5) Title: 49 CFR 556, Petitions for Inconsequentiality.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0045.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Abstract: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 
statute at 49 U.S.C. 30113: General exemptions at subsection (b) 
Authority to exempt and procedures, authorizes the Secretary of 
Transportation upon application of a manufacturer, to exempt the 
applicant from the notice and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 
301, if the Secretary determines that the defect or noncompliance is 
inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. The notice and 
remedy requirements of Chapter 301 are set forth in 49 U.S.C. 30120, 
remedies for defects and noncompliance. Those sections require a 
manufacturer of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment to notify 
distributors, dealers, and purchasers if any of the manufacturer's 
products are determined either to contain a safety-related defect or to 
fail to comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standard. The manufacturer is under a concomitant obligation to remedy 
such defects or noncompliance. NHTSA exercised this statutory authority 
to excuse inconsequential defects or noncompliance when it promulgated 
49 CFR Part 556, Petitions for Inconsequentiality--this regulation 
establishes the procedures for manufacturers to submit such petitions 
to the agency will use un evaluating those petitions. Part 556 allows 
the agency to ensure that petitions filed under 15 U.S.C. 30113(b) are 
both properly substantiated and efficiently processed.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 30 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 15.
    (6) Title: Voluntary Child Safety Seat Registration Form.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0576.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Abstract: Chapter 301 of Title 49 of the United States provides 
that if either NHTSA or a manufacturer determines the motor vehicles or 
items of motor vehicle equipment contains a defect that relates to 
motor vehicle safety or fail to comply with an applicable Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard, the manufacturer must notify owners and 
purchasers of the defect of noncompliance and must provide a remedy 
without charge. Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 577, Defects and noncompliance 
notification for equipment items, including child safety seats, must be 
sent by first class mail to the most recent purchaser known to the 
manufacturer. In the absence of a registration system, many owners of 
child safety seats are not notified of safety defects and 
noncompliance, since the manufacturer is not aware of their identities.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 26 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    (7) Title: Generic Clearance for Customer and External Stakeholder 
Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0579.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households are primary survey 
respondents. Businesses or other-for profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, Federal agencies, and State, local or tribal governments 
are other possible survey respondents.
    Abstract: Executive Order 12862 mandates that agencies survey their 
customers to identify the kind and quality of services they want and 
their level of satisfaction with existing services. Other requirements 
include the Governmental Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 
which promotes a new focus on results, service quality, and customer 
satisfaction. NHTSA will use surveys of the public and other external 
stakeholders to gather data as one input to decision making on how to 
better meet the goal of improving safety on the nation's highways. The 
data gathered on public expectations, NHTSA's products and services, 
along with specific information on motor

[[Page 12831]]

vehicle crash related issues, will be used by the agency to better 
structure its processes and products, forecast safety trends and 
achieve the agency's goals.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 20,396 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 134,334.

Herman L. Simms,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-4840 Filed 2-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P