[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8398-8399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-609]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2008-0026]


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 April 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket No. NHTSA-
2008-0026] by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Telephone: 1-800-647-
5527.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.

[[Page 8399]]

    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this proposed collection of information. Note that 
all comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. 
Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for 
collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Markus 
Price, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W43-472 NVS-121, Washington, 
DC 20590. Mr. Markus Price's telephone number is (202) 366-0098. 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: Compliance Labeling of Retroreflective Materials Heavy 
Trailer Conspicuity.
    OMB Number: 2127-0569.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Abstract: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, ``Lamps, 
Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment,'' specifies requirements 
for vehicle lighting for the purposes of reducing traffic accidents and 
their tragic results by providing adequate roadway illumination, 
improved vehicle conspicuity, appropriate information transmission 
through signal lamps, in day, night, and other conditions of reduced 
visibility. For certifications and identification purposes, the 
Standard requires the permanent marking of the letters DOT-C2, DOT-C3, 
or DOT-C4 at least 3 mm high at regular intervals on retroreflective 
sheeting material having adequate performance to provide effective 
trailer conspicuity.
    The manufacturers of new tractors and trailers are required to 
certify that their products are equipped with retroreflective material 
complying with the requirements of the standard. The Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) Office of Motor Carrier Safety enforces this and 
other standards through roadside inspections of trucks. There is no 
practical field test for the performance requirements, and labeling is 
the only objective way of distinguishing trailer conspicuity grade 
material from lower performance material. Without labeling, FHWA will 
not be able to enforce the performance requirements of the standard and 
the compliance testing of new tractors and trailers will be 
complicated. Labeling is also important to small trailer manufacturers 
because it may help them to certify compliance. Because wider stripes 
or material of lower brightness also can provide the minimum safety 
performance, the marking system serves the additional role of 
identifying the minimum stripe width required for retroreflective 
brightness of the particular material. Since the differences between 
the brightness grades of suitable retroreflective conspicuity material 
is not obvious from inspection, the marking system is necessary for 
tractor and trailer manufacturers and repair shops to assure compliance 
and for FHWA to inspect tractors and trailers in use.
    Permanent labeling is used to identify retroreflective material 
having the minimum properties required for effective conspicuity of 
trailers at night. The information enables the FHWA to make compliance 
inspections, and it aids tractor and trailer owners and repairs shops 
in choosing the correct repair materials for damaged tractors and 
trailers. It also aids smaller trailer manufacturers in certifying 
compliance of their products.
    The FHWA will not be able to determine whether trailers are 
properly equipped during roadside inspections without labeling. The use 
of cheaper and more common reflective materials, which are ineffective 
for the application, would be expected in repairs without the labeling 
requirement.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6.

    Issued: February 5, 2008.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 08-609 Filed 2-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M