[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54217-54218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22011]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2010-0124]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 reinstatements 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 2, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the docket number in 
the heading of this document, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on 
the electronic docket site by clicking on ``Help'' or ``FAQ.''
     Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Regardless of how you submit comments, you should mention the 
docket number of this document.
    You may call the Docket Management Facility at 202-366-9826.
    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.
    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://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
    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: Kil-Jae Hong, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., W52-232, NPO-520, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Hong's 
telephone number is (202) 493-0524.

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 collection of information for which 
the agency is seeking approval from OMB:
    Title: 49 CFR 575--Consumer Information Regulations (sections 103 
and 105) Qualitative Research.
    OMB Control Number: Not Assigned.
    Form Number: None.
    Affected Public: Passenger vehicle tire consumers and tire 
retailers.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval 
date.

[[Page 54218]]

    Abstract: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), 
enacted in December 2007, included a requirement that the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) develop a national tire 
fuel efficiency program to educate consumers about the effect of tires 
on automobile fuel efficiency, safety and durability. A critical step 
in developing the consumer information program is to conduct proper 
market research to understand consumers' knowledge of tire maintenance 
and performance, understand the tire purchase process from both the 
consumer and retailer's perspectives, evaluate comprehension of 
ratings, exploring the clarity, meaningfulness and the likely resulting 
behaviors, and evaluating the creative and the channels for 
communication. NHTSA proposes a multi-phased research project to gather 
the data and apply analyses and results from the project to develop the 
consumer information program.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 107.
    Number of Respondents: 73.
    NHTSA will conduct two research phases. For the first phase, which 
this notice addresses, NHTSA will conduct two types of qualitative 
research. One research project will consist of two (2) focus groups in 
three (3) cities. Each group will have eight (8) participants and will 
last two (2) hours for a total of 96 participant hours. For the second 
research project in this phase, NHTSA will conduct on-site interviews 
at various tire retailers. NHTSA anticipates 25 respondents with each 
interview taking 25 minutes for a total of approximately 11 participant 
hours. The results of this research phase, as well as comments received 
to a separate notice, that will be published soon, will be used to 
finalize the content of an online survey NHTSA will conduct in the 
second research phase.
    The estimated annual burden hour for the first phase of research is 
107 hours. Based on the Bureau of Labor and Statistics' median hourly 
wage (all occupations) in the May 2009 National Occupational Employment 
and Wage Estimates, NHTSA estimates that it will take an average of 
$15.95 per hour for professional and clerical staff to gather data, 
distribute and print material. Therefore, the agency estimates that the 
cost associated with the burden hours is $1,706.65 ($15.95 per hour x 
107 burden hours).
    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: August 30, 2010.
Gregory A. Walter,
Senior Associate Administrator, Policy and Operations.
[FR Doc. 2010-22011 Filed 9-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P