[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 187 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55591-55592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22629]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2008-0129]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on an extension of a currently 
approved collection.

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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 November 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at 
the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management, 
Room W12-140, ground level, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 
20590 by any of the following methods.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the 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.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. 
Telephone: 1-800-647-5527.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public 
Participation heading of the Supplementary Information section of this 
document. 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 the street address listed above. The Internet 
access to the docket will be at http://www.regulations.gov. 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 Carlita 
Ballard, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Room W43-439, NVS-131, 
Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Ballard's telephone number is (202) 366-0846. 
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; and
    (iv.) How to minimize the burden of the collection of information 
on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic,

[[Page 55592]]

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: Insurer Reporting Requirement for 49 CFR Part 544.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0547.
    Form Number: None.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval 
date.
    Abstract: This information collection supports the Department's 
strategic goal of Economic Growth and Trade. The Motor Vehicle Theft 
Law Enforcement Act of 1984, added Title VI to the Motor Vehicle and 
Information Cost Savings Act (recodified as Chapter 331 of Title 49, 
United States Code) which mandated this information collection. The 
1984 Theft Act was amended by the Anti Car Theft Act (ACTA) of 1992 
(Pub. L. 102-519). NHTSA is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 33112, to 
collect this information. This information collection supports the 
agency's economic growth and trade goal through rulemaking 
implementation developed to help reduce the cost of vehicle ownership 
by reducing the cost of comprehensive insurance coverage. 49 U.S.C. 
33112 requires certain passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and 
rental/leasing companies to provide information to NHTSA on 
comprehensive insurance premiums, theft and recoveries and actions 
taken to address motor vehicle theft.
    Estimated Annual Burden: Based on prior years' insurer compilation 
information, the agency estimates that the time to review and compile 
information for the reports will take approximately a total of 63,238 
burden hours (60,004 man-hours for 28 insurance companies and 3,234 
man-hours for 7 rental and leasing companies). Claim Adjusters incur 
separate burden hours from the number of insurers. There is one Claim 
Adjuster assigned to each insurer. There was a decrease in several 
rental and leasing companies that have merged into one entity or have 
been exempted from the reporting requirements since the last reporting 
period. The agency has re-estimated the burden hours to be 63,238 total 
annual hours requested in lieu of 64,610 as the current OMB inventory. 
This is a decrease of 1,376 hours. Most recent year insurer compilation 
information estimates reveal that it takes an average cost of $65.00 
per hour for clerical and technical staff to prepare the annual 
reports. Therefore, the agency estimates the total cost associated with 
the burden hours is $4,110,470.
    The burden hour for rental and leasing companies is significantly 
less than that for insurance companies because rental and leasing 
companies comply with fewer reporting requirements than the insurance 
companies. The reporting burden is based on insurers' salaries, 
clerical and technical expenses, and labor costs.
    Number of Respondents: 35.
    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 19, 2008.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E8-22629 Filed 9-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P