[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65184-65185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26972]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2000-6887]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping 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 December 23, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing to the U.S. Department 
of Transportation's Docket Management Section, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 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. Alternatively, comments may be 
submitted electronically by logging onto the docket management Web site 
at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help'' or ``Electronic Submission'' 
to obtain instructions for filing the document electronically. In the 
submittal, the commenter should refer to the docket number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Mr. 
Joseph Scott, Office of Crash Avoidance Standards, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Scott's telephone number is (202) 366-
8525. His fax number is (202) 493-2739. 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:
    (1) 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;
    (2) 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;
    (3) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    (4) 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: Tires and Rim Labeling.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0503.
    Affected Public: Tire and Rim Manufacturers.
    Form Number: The tires and rims are labeled in accordance with the 
agency's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs) and 
regulations.
    Abstract: Each tire manufacturer and rim manufacturer must label 
their tire or rim with the applicable safety information. These 
labeling requirements ensure that tires are mounted on the appropriate 
rims; and that the rims and tires are mounted on the vehicles for which 
they are intended. This requirement received its latest OMB clearance 
in the year 2000, and has a current expiration date of September 30, 
2003.
    The Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and 
Documentation (TREAD) Act of 2000 mandates a rulemaking proceeding to 
revise and update the safety performance requirements for tires. In 
response, NHTSA proposed a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
requiring all new tires for use on vehicles with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 10,000 pounds or less to meet new and more stringent 
performance requirements. The new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
(FMVSS) No. 139 is titled ``New pneumatic radial tires for motor 
vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less except motorcycles and 
low-speed vehicles.'' Most SUVs, vans, trailers, and pickup trucks will 
be required to comply with the same tire selection and rim requirements 
as passenger cars. FMVSS No. 120 continues to apply to vehicles over 
10,000 pounds GVWR and motorcycles.
    To accommodate the vehicles equipped with tires that comply with 
FMVSS No. 139, FMVSS No. 110 will be re-titled ``Tire selection and 
rims for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less'' and the 
current non-passenger rim marking requirements of FMVSS No. 120 will be 
also be placed in FMVSS No. 110. These rim marking requirements mandate 
that each rim or, at the option of the manufacturer in the case of a 
single-piece wheel, each wheel disc shall be marked with the following: 
(1) The designation that indicates the source of the rim's published 
nominal dimensions, (2) the rim size designation, and in case of 
multipiece rims, the rim type designation, (3) the symbol DOT, 
constituting a certification by the manufacturer of the rim that the 
rim complies with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards, and (4) a designation that identifies the manufacturer of 
the rim by name, trademark, or symbol, and (5) the month, day and year 
or the month and year of manufacture, expressed either numerically or 
by use of a symbol, at the option of the manufacturer.
    Any manufacturer that elects to express the date of manufacture by 
means of a symbol shall notify NHTSA in writing of the full names and 
addresses of all manufacturers and brand name owners utilizing that 
symbol and the name and address of the trademark owner of that symbol, 
if any. The notification shall describe in narrative form and in detail 
how the month, day, and year or the month and year are depicted by the 
symbol. Such description shall include an actual size graphic depiction 
of the symbol, showing and/or explaining the interrelationship of the 
component parts of the symbol as they will appear on the rim or single 
piece wheel disc, including dimensional specifications, and where the 
symbol will be located on the rim or single piece wheel disc. The 
notification shall be received by NHTSA not less than 60 calendar days 
before the first use of the symbol. All information provided to NHTSA 
under this paragraph will be placed in the public docket. Each 
manufacturer of wheels shall provide an explanation of its date of 
manufacture symbol to any person upon request.

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    Based on the facts that these are existing rim labeling 
requirements that they do not affect either the production or quantity 
of rims produced, NHTSA believes that this maintenance effort will not 
result in any net increase in the burden on those parties currently 
covered by existing regulations; therefore, the estimated annual burden 
and estimated number of respondents remains unchanged with estimated 
annual burden of 5,679,585, and estimated number of respondents of 
6,673.

    Issued on: October 18, 2002.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 02-26972 Filed 10-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P