[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52383-52384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21399]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2011-0126]


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 October 21, 2011.

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 and e-mail address is [email protected].

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 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 for which 
the agency is seeking approval from OMB:
    Title: 49 CFR 575--Consumer Information Regulations (sections 103 
and 105) Quantitative Research.
    OMB Control Number: Not Assigned.
    Form Number: None.
    Affected Public: Passenger vehicle consumers.

[[Page 52384]]

    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval 
date.
    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 consumer 
information and education campaign to improve consumer understanding of 
automobile performance with regard to fuel economy, Greenhouse Gases 
(GHG) emissions and other pollutant emissions; of automobile use of 
alternative fuels; and of thermal management technologies used on 
automobiles to save fuel. In order to effectively achieve the 
objectives of the consumer education program and fulfill its statutory 
obligations, 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 and education campaign. NHTSA has 
conducted qualitative research and is now requesting to conduct follow-
up quantitative research with consumers to assess current levels of 
knowledge surrounding these issues, explore current available fuel 
economy-related content for clarity and understanding, evaluate 
potential consumer-facing messages and their potential to encourage 
consumers to seek more fuel economy-related information from NHTSA, and 
explore communications channels in which these messages should be 
present. The research will allow NHTSA to refine the fuel economy-
related content and consumer-facing messaging that will be used 
throughout the consumer education campaign by identifying what relevant 
issues consumers care more about and what information they still need 
to make more informed purchase and driver behavior decisions.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,333.33 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    NHTSA proposed to conduct two research phases. For the first phase, 
NHTSA conducted one type of qualitative research consisting of two (2) 
focus groups in each of four (4) cities. The results of that research 
phase were used to inform the quantitative phase of research which this 
notice addresses. This quantitative research will consist of an online 
survey that will require approximately 20 minutes for each respondent 
to complete, and will require 4,000 participants. NHTSA plans to 
administer this study one time.
    The estimated annual burden hour for the second phase of research 
is 1,333.33 hours (20 minutes x 4,000 participants). Based on the 
Bureau of Labor and Statistics' median hourly wage (all occupations) in 
the May 2010 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, NHTSA 
estimates that it will take an average of $16.27 per hour for 
professional and clerical staff to gather data, develop and distribute 
material. Therefore, the agency estimates that the cost associated with 
the burden hours is $21,693.28 ($16.27 per hour x 1,333.33 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 17, 2011.
Gregory A. Walter,
Senior Associate Administrator, Policy and Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-21399 Filed 8-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P