[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48906-48907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18356]



[[Page 48906]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2004-18842]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. 
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 two collections of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 12, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at 
the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management, 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 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 
the collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Mr. 
Michael J. Jordan, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NVS-
216), 400 Seventh Street, SW., (Room 2318), Washington, DC 20590. Mr. 
Jordan's telephone number is (202) 493-0576. 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: Consumer Complaint Information.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0008.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Abstract: Under chapter 301 of title 49 of the United States Code, 
manufacturers of motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment 
must notify owners and provide a free remedy (i.e., a recall) when it 
has been determined that a safety-related defect exists in the 
manufacturer's product. NHTSA investigates possible safety defects and 
may order recalls. NHTSA solicits information from vehicle owners, 
which is used to identify and evaluate possible safety-related defects 
and provide evidence of the existence of such defects.
    Consumer complaint information takes the form of a Vehicle Owner's 
Questionnaire (VOQ), which is a paper, self-addressed mailer that 
consumers complete. This mailer contains owner information, product 
information, failed component information, and incident information. It 
may also take the form of an electronic VOQ containing the same 
information as identified above, which can be submitted via NHTSA's 
Internet Web site or by calling the Department of Transportation's Auto 
Safety Hotline. Or, it may take the form of a consumer letter. All 
consumer complaint information, in addition to other sources of 
available information, is reviewed by NHTSA staff to determine whether 
a safety-related defect trend or catastrophic failure is developing 
that would warrant the opening of a safety defect investigation.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 16,268 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 49,296.
    (2) 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 that motor vehicles 
or items of motor vehicle equipment contain 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 or noncompliance and must provide a remedy 
without charge. Pursuant to 49 CFR part 577, defect and noncompliance 
notification for equipment items, including child restraint systems 
(CRS), must be sent by first class mail to the most recent purchaser 
known to the manufacturer. To increase the likelihood that CRS 
manufacturers will be aware of the identity of purchasers, NHTSA 
adopted S5.8 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, to 
require manufacturers to include a postage-paid form with each CRS so 
the purchaser can register with the manufacturer. In addition to the 
registration form supplied by the manufacturer, NHTSA has implemented a 
CRS registration system to assist those individuals who have either 
lost the registration form that came with the CRS or purchased a 
previously owned CRS. In the absence of a registration system, many 
owners of child passenger safety seats would not be notified of safety 
defects and noncompliances, and would not have the defects and 
noncompliances remedied, because the manufacturer would not be aware of 
their identities.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 283 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 5,665.
    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

[[Page 48907]]

automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

    Issued on: August 5, 2004.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 04-18356 Filed 8-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P