[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16035-16036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6722]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2011-0022]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits public comments on continuation of the 
requirements for the collection of information on safety standards. 
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 a collection of information with respect to 
the phase-in of the upgraded requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard No. 214, ``Side impact protection,'' for which NHTSA 
intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by the DOT Docket ID 
Number above) 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; M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Rm. W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 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 your comments, you should mention the 
docket number of this document. You may call the Docket at (202) 366-
9324. 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 two copies of the comment be 
provided.
    Note that all comments received will be posted without change to 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. 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).
    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 Mr. Chris 
Wiacek, U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA, Room W43-419, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Wiacek's telephone 
number is (202) 366-4801 and fax number is (202) 366-7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
before a proposed collection of information is submitted to OMB for

[[Page 16036]]

approval, Federal agencies 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 5CFR 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:
    Title: Side Impact Phase-in Reporting Requirements--Part 597.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0558.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from the 
approval date.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: 49 U.S.C. 30111 
authorizes the issuance of Federal motor vehicle safety standards 
(FMVSS) and regulations. The agency, in prescribing a FMVSS or 
regulation, considers available relevant motor vehicle safety data, and 
consults with other agencies, as it deems appropriate. Further, the 
statute mandates that in issuing any FMVSS or regulation, the agency 
considers whether the standard or regulation is ``reasonable, 
practicable and appropriate for the particular type of motor vehicle or 
item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed,'' and 
whether such a standard will contribute to carrying out the purpose of 
the Act.
    The Secretary is authorized to invoke such rules and regulations, 
as deemed necessary to carry out these requirements. Using this 
authority, on September 11, 2007, the agency published a final rule (73 
FR 51908) upgrading the requirements of FMVSS No. 214, ``Side impact 
protection.'' The final rule contained a collection of information 
because of the proposed phase-in reporting requirements. The collection 
of information requires manufacturers of passenger cars and of trucks, 
buses and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight 
rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less, to annually submit a 
report, and maintain records related to the report, concerning the 
number of such vehicles that meet the vehicle-to-pole and moving 
deformable barrier (MDB) test requirements of FMVSS No. 214 during the 
three year phase-in of those requirements. In response to petitions for 
reconsideration the agency published a final rule (73 FR 32473) 
extending the phase-in of both the pole and MDB test requirements to 
four years. The purpose of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
is to assist the agency in determining whether a manufacturer of 
vehicles has complied with the requirements during the phase-in period.
    This notice requests comments on the phase-in reporting 
requirements of FMVSS No. 214.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information): 
NHTSA estimates that there are 21 manufacturers of passenger cars, 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 
kg (10,000 lb) or less. During the phase-in reporting period, this 
information collection requires a simple written report on the 
respondent's annual vehicle production and the percent of that 
production meeting the new vehicle-to-pole and vehicle to MDB test 
requirements of FMVSS No. 214. There is no burden to the general 
public.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information: NHTSA estimates that the 
total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden resulting from the 
collection of information is 1,260 hours and estimates that the total 
annual cost burden, in U.S. dollars, will be $44,100. No additional 
resources will be expended by vehicle manufacturers to gather annual 
production information because they already compile this data for their 
own use.
    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.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.

    Issued on: March 17, 2011.
Joseph S. Carra,
Acting Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2011-6722 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
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