[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29751-29752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12049]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0059]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: 
Automotive Fuel Economy Reports

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments 
about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval for a renewal of an information collection. The 
collection involves vehicle manufacturers submitting reports to the 
Secretary of Transportation on whether a manufacturer will comply with 
an applicable average fuel economy standard for the model year for 
which the report is made, the actions a manufacturer has taken or 
intends to take to comply with the standard and other information the 
Secretary requires by regulation. The information to be collected will 
be used to and/or is necessary because of the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
32902. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register 
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by July 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. NHTSA-
2012-0059] through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1 (202) 493-2251.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Katz, Fuel Economy 
Division, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer 
Programs, NVS-132, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590. Phone: (202) 366-4936.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0019.
    Title: 49 CFR part 537, Automotive Fuel Economy Reports.
    Type of Review: Renewal of a previously approved information 
collection .
    Background: 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 32907(a) requires a 
manufacturer to submit reports to the Secretary of Transportation on 
whether a manufacturer will comply with an applicable average fuel 
economy standard under 49 U.S.C. 32902 of this title for the model year 
for which the report is made, the actions a manufacturer has taken or 
intends to take to comply with the standard and other information the 
Secretary requires by regulation. Under 49 CFR part 537, NHTSA also 
requires manufacturers to provide data on vehicle footprint so that the 
agency can determine a manufacturer's required fuel economy level and 
its compliance with that level.
    The information collected provides NHTSA with advance indication 
whether automotive manufacturers are complying with the applicable 
average fuel economy standards, furnishes NHTSA with the necessary 
information to prepare its annual update on the Automotive Fuel Economy 
Program, aids NHTSA in responding to general requests concerning 
automotive fuel economy and supplies NHTSA with detailed and current 
technical and economic information that will be used to evaluate 
possible future average fuel economy standards.
    Respondents: Automobile manufacturers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 54; some manufacturers have multiple 
fleets and 49 CFR part 537 requires a separate report for each fleet.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Thirty automotive manufacturers must 
comply with 49 CFR 537. For each current model year, each manufacturer 
is required to submit semi-annual reports: A pre-model year report and 
a mid-model year report. The pre-model year report must be submitted 
during the month of December, and the mid-model year report must be 
submitted during the month of July. The total number of responses 
submitted by automotive manufacturers is 54. We currently have a 
clearance based on

[[Page 29752]]

reports being received from 22 manufacturers with an estimated total 
annual burden of 2,339 hours. Including 8 additional manufacturers, 
results in an additional reporting burden of 850 hours. Adding that 
burden to the existing burden of 2,339 hours, results in a total of 
3,189 hours.
    Estimated Frequency: A pre-model report and a mid-model report are 
required to be submitted by manufacturers once per model year for each 
applicable fleet (domestic passenger car, imported passenger car and 
light trucks).
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the Department's 
performance, (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden, (c) ways for the 
Department to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information collection and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized 
without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency 
will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1:48.

    Dated: Issued on: May 11, 2012.
Christopher J. Bonanti,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2012-12049 Filed 5-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P