[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55735-55736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22643]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2011-0130]


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. 
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 November 7, 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: Mike Joyce, Marketing Specialist, 
Office of Communications and Consumer Information (NPO-520), National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE., W52-
238, Washington, DC 20590. Mike Joyce's phone number is 202-366-5600 
and his 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 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: Monroney Label Consumer Research.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval 
date.
    Abstract: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970 (23 U.S.C. 
101) to carry out a Congressional mandate to reduce the mounting number 
of deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle 
crashes on the Nation's highways. In support of this mission, NHTSA 
proposes to conduct a limited number of focus group sessions with 
members of the general public to help inform future revisions to the 
Monroney label and guide the development of a consumer education 
program.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: In this collection of 
information, NHTSA is requesting to explore how consumers evaluate the 
Monroney label, and comprehension of the 5-Star Safety Ratings and 
understand the potential tradeoffs consumers make among the items 
included on the Monroney label. The research will also consider the 
location and size of the safety rating label and compare with other 
areas of the Monroney label and explore adding the advanced crash 
avoidance safety information to the safety rating label. Additional 
areas of exploration will be evaluated, including:

[[Page 55736]]

    (i) Vehicle purchase decision-making criteria;
    (ii) Sources of vehicle safety information;
    (iii) Monroney label content, comprehension and potential 
tradeoffs; and,
    (iv) New changes to the safety rating section of the Monroney label 
to help inform future revisions.
    Description of the Need for the Information and the Proposed Use of 
the Information: NHTSA must explore how safety information impacts 
vehicle purchase decisions, where consumers look for safety information 
and how consumers use safety and other information located on the 
Monroney label in their purchase decisions, which will help inform 
future revisions to the Monroney label. Additionally, NHTSA will use 
this research to discuss potential communication channels in order to 
guide the development of a consumer education program.
    Affected Public: NHTSA will conduct two research phases. For the 
first phase, which this notice addresses, NHTSA will conduct one type 
of qualitative research. This research project will consist of two (2) 
focus groups in five (5) cities for a maximum of ten (10) focus group 
sessions, lasting 120 minutes and will be held with eight (8) 
participants in each session. Participation by all respondents would be 
voluntary, and respondents will receive $75 for their participation. 
For recruiting of these participants, however, a total of 120 potential 
participants (12 per group) will be recruited via telephone screening 
calls, which are estimated to take 10 minutes per call. Based on 
experience, it is prudent to recruit up to 12 people per group in order 
to ensure at least 8 will actually appear at the focus group facility 
at the appointed time. Thus, the total burden per person actually 
participating in the group discussions is estimated to be 130 minutes 
(10 minutes for the screening/recruiting telephone call plus 120 
minutes in the focus group discussion session). Additionally, the total 
burden per person recruited (but not participating in the discussions) 
is 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 180 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 80.
    The results of this research phase will be used to finalize the 
content of a second research phase NHTSA will conduct, which this 
notice does not address.
    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 23, 2011.
Gregory A. Walter,
Senior Associate Administrator, Policy and Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-22643 Filed 9-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P