E9-565. Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

AGENCY:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

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 regarding: the passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and rental/leasing companies comply with 49 CFR Part 544, Insurer Reporting Requirement, 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 Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on September 25, 2008 (73 FR 55591). The agency received no comments.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before February 13, 2009.

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 Departments' 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carlita Ballard at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs (NVS-131), 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., West Building, Room W43-439, NVS-131, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Ballard's telephone number is [phone]. Please identify the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Title: 49 CFR Part 544; Insurer Reporting Requirement.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0547.

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

Abstract: This information collection supports the Department's strategic goal of Economic Growth and Trade. The Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act of 1984, added Title VI to the Motor Vehicle and Information Cost Savings Act (recodified as Chapter 331 of Title 49, United States Code) which mandated this information collection. The 1984 Theft Act was amended by the Anti Car Theft Act (ACTA) of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-519). NHTSA is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 33112, to collect this information. This information collection supports the agency's economic growth and trade goal through rulemaking implementation developed to help reduce the cost of vehicle ownership by reducing the cost of comprehensive insurance coverage. 49 U.S.C. 33112 requires certain passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and rental/leasing companies to provide information to NHTSA on comprehensive insurance premiums, theft and recoveries and actions taken to address motor vehicle theft

Affected Public: Business or other for profit.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: Based on prior years' insurer compilation information, the agency estimates that the time to review and compile information for the reports will take approximately a total of 63,238 burden hours (60,004 man-hours for 28 insurance companies and 3,234 man-hours for 7 rental and leasing companies). Claim Adjusters incur separate burden hours from the number of insurers. There is one Claim Adjuster assigned to each insurer. There was a decrease in several rental and leasing companies that have merged into one entity or have been exempted from the reporting requirements since the last reporting period. The agency has re-estimated the burden hours to be 63,238 total annual hours requested in lieu of 64,610 as the current OMB inventory. This is a decrease of 1,372 hours. Most recent year insurer compilation information estimates reveal that it takes an average cost of $65.00 per hour for clerical and technical staff to prepare the annual reports. Therefore, the agency estimates the total cost associated with the burden hours is $4,110,470.

The burden hour for rental and leasing companies is significantly less than that for insurance companies because rental and leasing companies comply with fewer reporting requirements than the insurance companies. The reporting burden is based on insurers' salaries, clerical and technical expenses, and labor costs.

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 on: January 8, 2009.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.