05-550. Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register document with a 60-day comment period was published on September 29, 2004 (69 FR 58219).

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before February 11, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deborah Mazyck at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs, (NVS-131), 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5320, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Mazyck's telephone number is 202-366-4809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Title: Consolidated Labeling Requirements for 49 CFR Parts 565, 541, and 567.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0510.

Type of Request: Request for public comment on a previously approved collection of information.

Abstract: NHTSA's statute at 15 U.S.C. 1392,1397,1401,1407, and 1412 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 authorizes the issuance of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) and the collection of data which support their implementation. The agency, in prescribing an FMVSS, is to consider available relevant motor vehicle safety data and to consult with other agencies as it deems appropriate. Further, the Act mandates, that in issuing any FMVSS, the agency should consider whether the standard 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 standards will contribute to carrying out the purpose of the Act. The Secretary is authorized to revoke such rules and regulations as deemed necessary to carry out this subchapter. Using this authority, the agency issued the initial FMVSS No. 115, Vehicle Identification Number, specifying requirements for vehicle identification numbers to aid the agency in achieving many of its safety goals.

The standard was amended in August 1978 by extending its applicability to additional classes of motor vehicles and by specifying the use of a 30-year, 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for worldwide use. The standard was amended in May 1983 by deleting portions of FMVSS No. 115 and reissuing those portions as a general agency regulation, Part 565. Subsequently, the standard was amended again in June 1996 transferring the text of the FMVSS No. 115 to Part 565, without making any substantive changes to the VIN requirements as a result of the proposed consolidation. The provision of the Part 565 (amended) regulation requires vehicle manufacturers to assign a unique VIN to each new vehicle and to inform NHTSA of the code used in forming the VIN. These regulations apply to all vehicles: passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, incomplete vehicles, and motorcycles.

Part 541

The Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act was amended by the Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 (Pub.L. 102-519.) The enacted Theft Act requires specified parts of high-theft vehicle to be marked with vehicle identification numbers. In a final rule published on April 6, 2004, the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard was extended to include all passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less, and to light duty trucks with major parts that are interchangeable with a majority of the covered major parts of multipurpose passenger vehicles. Each major component part must be either labeled or affixed with the VIN and its replacement component part must be marked with the DOT symbol, the letter (R) and the manufacturers' logo. The final rule becomes effective September 1, 2006.

Part 565

This part specifies the format, content and physical requirements for a VIN system and its installation to simplify vehicle identification information retrieval and to increase the accuracy and efficiency of vehicle recall campaigns.

Part 567

This part specifies the content and location of, and other requirements for, the certification label or tag to be affixed to motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. Specifically, the VIN is required to appear on the certification label. Additionally, this certificate will provide the consumer with information to assist him or her in determining which of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are applicable to the vehicle or equipment, and its date of manufacturer.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: Hour burden: 1,079,037. Cost burden: $75,680,000.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: NHTSA Desk Officer.

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.

A Comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

Issued in Washington, DC, on: January 6, 2005.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.