[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14254-14255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5906]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket Number NHTSA-2000-8273, Notice 2]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document grants a request by the Association of 
International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. to extend for 30 days from 
release of the agency's evaluation study of the Parts Content Labeling 
Regulations, the comment period on the agency's request for public 
comment on the proposal to extend and reinstate two information 
collections previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), 49 CFR 537--Automotive Fuel Economy Reports and 49 CFR 583-
Automobile Parts Content Labeling.

DATES: Comments must be received on April 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to Docket No. NHTSA-2000-8273 and be 
submitted to U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Room PL-401, 
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Section is 
open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henrietta L. Spinner, NHTSA, Office of 
Planning and Consumer Programs, (202) 366-0846 or FAX to (202) 366-
4490. The mailing address is National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, NPS-32, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Monday, January 8, 2001, NHTSA published 
a request for comment on the agency's proposed collections of 
information. The document described two collections, 49 CFR Part 537-
Automotive Fuel Economy Reports and 49 CFR Part 583-Automobile Parts 
Content Labeling.
    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. OMB has 
promulgated regulations describing what must be included in such a 
document pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8 (d).
    In compliance with OMB's regulations, NHTSA sought comment on 49 
CFR 537, Automotive Fuel Economy Reports (OMB Control No. 2127-0019). 
49 CFR Part 537 requires automobile manufacturers to submit semi-annual 
reports to NHTSA regarding their efforts to improve fuel economy.
    This information assists NHTSA in evaluating automobile 
manufacturers' plans for complying with average fuel economy standards 
and in preparing an annual review of the average fuel economy 
standards. The information is collected by NHTSA by having the 
automobile manufacturers mail their semi-annual automotive fuel economy 
reports and/or submit a copy on computer diskette to the agency. The 
required information is used for four basic purposes. These purposes 
are: (a) to give NHTSA advance indication if any manufacturer will fail 
to comply with the applicable average fuel economy standards; (b) to 
give NHTSA necessary information to prepare fuel economy reports; (c) 
to assist NHTSA in responding to general information requests 
concerning automotive fuel economy, which are routinely received from 
Congress, other parts of the Executive branch, and the public; and (d) 
to provide NHTSA with detailed and accurate technical and economic 
information used to evaluate possible future average fuel economy 
standards which may be established by NHTSA.
    NHTSA also requested comment on 49 CFR 583--Automobile Parts 
Content Labeling (OMB Control No. 2127-0573), which establishes 
requirements for the disclosure of information relating to the 
countries of origin of the equipment of new passenger motor vehicles.
    This information will be used by NHTSA to determine whether 
manufacturers are complying with the American Automobile Labeling Act 
(49 United States Code 32304). The American Automobile Labeling Act 
requires all new passenger motor vehicles (including passenger cars, 
certain small buses, all light trucks and multipurpose passenger 
vehicles with a

[[Page 14255]]

gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less), to bear labels 
providing information about domestic and foreign content of their 
equipment. With the affixed label on the new passenger motor vehicle, 
it serves as an aid to potential purchasers in the selection of new 
passenger motor vehicles by providing them with information about the 
value of the U.S./Canadian and foreign parts of each vehicle, the 
countries of origin of the engine and transmission, and the site of the 
vehicle's final assembly.
    The notice specified a comment closing date of March 9, 2001 (60 
days after date of publication). However, on February 22, 2001, we 
received a request for an extension of the comment closing date from 
the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. (AIAM). 
The AIAM stated that it would need at least 30 days from release of the 
agency's evaluation study of the Parts Content Labeling Regulations for 
review and to allow for public comment thereon in the context of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act Clearance for 49 CFR Part 583.
    NHTSA wants the public to have adequate time to analyze the 
evaluation study which was released in early March for public comment. 
Therefore, the request for an additional 30 days from release of the 
evaluation does not seem excessive. Thus, to provide the AIAM and other 
interested parties ample time and opportunity to analyze the evaluation 
study of the Parts Content Labeling Regulations and to present its 
comment on this proposal, NHTSA believes that there is good cause for 
the extension of the comment period and that such an extension is 
consistent with the public interest. Accordingly, the AIAM's request to 
extend the comment for an additional 30 days from release of the 
evaluation is granted. The comment period will now close on April 9, 
2001.

    Dated: March 6, 2001.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-5906 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P