[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75255-75257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30621]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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


Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping 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 February 19, 2013.

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.

[[Page 75256]]


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 email 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)),\1\ an agency must ask for public comment on the following:
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    \1\ Available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2012-title5-vol3/pdf/CFR-2012-title5-vol3-sec1320-5.pdf (last accessed Dec. 11, 
2012).
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    (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 Consumer 
Education Program Qualitative Research.
    OMB Control Number: Not Assigned.
    Form Number: None.
    Affected Public: Passenger vehicle consumers and users.
    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 Gas (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 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.
    As NHTSA develops content and materials related to the consumer 
information program, it is important to test these materials to ensure 
they are effective at providing important information about fuel 
economy, GHGs and other emissions and alternative fuels. Although 
previous research provided the data necessary to inform draft 
development of these materials, including relevant knowledge gaps among 
consumers and topics that are most interesting and compelling, this new 
research will be to identify any refinements needed prior to finalizing 
the NPRM content and proposed campaign direction. The purpose of this 
research is to ensure that NHTSA's communication efforts utilize 
materials that are interesting, appealing and easy to comprehend. 
Asking consumers to share their opinions about the concepts, design and 
content will help NHTSA refine materials so that the campaign 
effectively engages and educates consumers, thus fulfilling NHTSA's 
statutory requirements.
    NHTSA is seeking to conduct qualitative focus group research to 
guide the development and refinement of materials that will be used in 
this consumer information program. Specifically, the objectives guiding 
this research include the following:
    1. Understand consumer perceptions of existing information on fuel 
economy, GHGs and other emissions, thermal management technologies and 
alternative fuels.
    2. Determine the most effective and compelling messages that will 
improve understanding about fuel economy, GHGs and other emissions, 
thermal management technologies and alternative fuels.
    3. Test materials and content developed to assess consumer 
comprehension and likelihood to encourage behavior change.
    The materials that NHTSA expects to test in this research include 
the following:

 Key messages
 Interactive infographic blueprint
 YouTube driving video game user experience brief
 Fuel economy video storyboard and script
 Online banner advertisements (as animated GIFs)
    [cir] 5 previously tested that have been adjusted to meet current 
messaging
    [cir] 5 new ads

    Specifically, NHTSA seeks to conduct two (2) focus groups each, 
homogeneous by gender, in three (3) cities (six groups in total). In 
order to obtain consumer feedback in different regions of the country, 
we recommend conducting these groups in one city in each of the 
following regions: Northeast, South or Midwest, and West. With 
consideration to the cities previously used for this research we plan 
to conduct these groups in the following metro areas:
     Philadelphia, PA (high-congestion Northeast market)
     Portland, OR (``green'' West Coast market)
     St. Louis, MO (general consumer Midwest market)

For the purposes of this study, the recommended screening criteria are 
broad enough to include a cross-section of all vehicle drivers and 
purchasers throughout the U.S. Potential subjects will be asked several 
questions to determine their eligibility to participate in the focus 
groups. Respondents will be screened based on the following criteria:
     Participants must be 18 years or older.
     Participants must currently possess a valid driver's 
license.
     Participants must currently own or lease a vehicle.
     Participants must be the primary or a shared decision 
maker for vehicle purchases in their household.
    Respondents in each city will be split into one of two groups: (1) 
Females; and (2) Males. It is our experience that in mixed-gender focus 
groups that cover technical or vehicle information, males will dominate 
the conversation and the females in the room will defer to their 
opinions. Splitting the groups in each city based on gender will allow 
us to collect information and feedback from both genders to inform the 
communications campaign.
    Each focus group will last approximately two hours, and will 
include eight participants. Trends heard throughout various 
conversations will inform the consumer education plan and will be 
tested quantitatively

[[Page 75257]]

through additional research. Throughout these groups, there will be 
opportunities to include quantitative aspects; however, strategic 
recommendations will be based on an analysis of conversations that 
explore whether or not consumers understand the fuel economy-related 
content being communicated and whether or not the messages provide 
consumers with the information they require and encourage them to seek 
out additional relevant information.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 96 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 48.
    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.

Public Participation

How do I prepare and submit comments?

    Your comments must be written and in English. To ensure that your 
comments are filed correctly in the Docket, please include the docket 
number of this document in your comments. Your comments must not be 
more than 15 pages long (see 49 CFR 553.21). We established this limit 
to encourage you to write your primary comments in a concise fashion. 
However, you may attach necessary additional documents to your 
comments. There is no limit on the length of the attachments.
    If you are submitting comments in hard copy, please submit two 
copies of your comments, including the attachments, to DOT's Docket 
Management at the address given under ADDRESSES.
    You may also submit your comments to the docket electronically by 
logging onto http://www.regulations.gov. Click on ``Help'' at the top 
of the screen to obtain instructions for filing the document 
electronically.

How can I be sure that my comments were received?

    If you wish DOT's Docket Management to notify you upon its receipt 
of your comments, enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in the 
envelope containing your comments. Upon receiving your comments, Docket 
Management will return the postcard by mail.

How do I submit confidential business information?

    If you wish to submit any information under a claim of 
confidentiality, you should submit three copies of your complete 
submission, including the information you claim to be confidential 
business information, to the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the address given 
above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. In addition, you should 
submit two copies, from which you have deleted the claimed confidential 
business information, to Docket Management at the address given above 
under ADDRESSES. When you send a comment containing information claimed 
to be confidential business information, you should include a cover 
letter setting forth the information specified in our confidential 
business information regulation (49 CFR part 512).

Will the agency consider late comments?

    We will consider all comments that Docket Management receives 
before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated 
above under DATES. To the extent possible, we also will consider 
comments that Docket Management receives after that date. If Docket 
Management receives a comment too late for us to consider it, we will 
consider that comment as an informal suggestion for future rulemaking 
action.

How can I read the comments submitted by other people?

    You may read the comments received by Docket Management at the 
address given under ADDRESSES. The hours of the Docket are indicated 
above in the same location. You also may see the comments on the 
Internet. To read the comments on the Internet, go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the instructions for accessing the 
Docket.
    Please note that even after the comment closing date, we will 
continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it becomes 
available. Further, some people may submit late comments. Accordingly, 
we recommend that you periodically check the Docket for new material.

Gregory A. Walter,
Senior Associate Administrator, Policy and Operations.
[FR Doc. 2012-30621 Filed 12-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P