[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61723-61724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24938]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2002-13433]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed extension of existing 
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 December 2, 2002.

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, SW., 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 Sharon 
Vaughn-Fair, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5219, NCC113, 
Washington, DC 20590. Mrs. Vaughn-Fair's telephone number is (202) 366-
1834. 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:
    Title: Designation of Agent.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0040.
    Affected Public: Business.
    Form Number: This collection of information uses no standards 
forms.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of 
approval.
    Abstract: The U.S. agent is used to advise foreign manufacturers of 
safety related defects where laws vary from country to country. In 
turn, the manufacturer can notify U.S. purchasers and correct the 
defect.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: This collection of 
information applies to motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment 
manufacturers located outside of the United States (foreign 
manufacturers). Every manufacturer offering a motor vehicle or item of 
motor vehicle equipment for importation into the United States is 
statutorily required to designate in writing an agent upon whom service 
of all administrative and judicial processes, notices, orders, 
decisions and requirements may be made for and on behalf of the 
manufacturer. (49 U.S.C. 30164) These designations are required to be 
filed with NHTSA.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: NHTSA needs this information in case it needs to advise a 
foreign manufacturer of a safety related defect in its products so that 
the manufacturer can, in turn, notify

[[Page 61724]]

purchasers and correct the defeat. This information also enables NHTSA 
to serve a foreign manufacturer with all administrative and judicial 
processes, notices, orders, decisions and requirements.
    Estimates of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting From the Collection of Information: NHTSA estimates that the 
number of respondents per year is 70. Each respondent provides the 
information once. NHTSA estimates it takes one hour to write the letter 
to NHTSA providing the information. The estimated total burden on all 
respondents for this standard is 70 hours per year.
    Based on an assumed clerical cost of $20.00 per hour, it costs each 
manufacturer $20.00 to write the letter, and postage (on the average 
from a foreign country) of approximately $1.00 per letter. Thus, each 
response costs the manufacturer a total of $21.00. Since NHTSA 
estimates the number of respondents per year is 70, the total cost on 
all respondents per year is approximately $1,470.00.
    There are no recordkeeping costs to the manufacturers.
    Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

    Issued on: September 26, 2002.
Heidi L. Coleman,
Assistant Chief Counsel for Traffic Injury Control and General Law.
[FR Doc. 02-24938 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P