[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 17415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6627]



[[Page 17415]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements; Agency 
Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collections and their expected 
burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was 
published on February 13, 2008 [73 FR 8399].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Markus Price at the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Rulemaking (NVS-121), 202-366-
0098. 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W43-472, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    Title: Compliance Labeling of Retroreflective Materials Heavy 
Trailer Conspicuity.
    OMB Number: 2127-0569.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    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 both 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 3mm 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 Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
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 objectives way of distinguishing 
trailer conspicuity grade material from lower performance material. 
Without labeling, FMCSA 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 manufactures 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 FMCSA 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 FMCSA 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 FMCSA 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.
    Affected Public: Business or other-for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention NHTSA Desk Officer. 
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. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication.

    Issued: March 26, 2008.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E8-6627 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P