02-307. Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 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 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 Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on August 16, 2001 [66 FR 43037-43039].

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before February 6, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jonathan White at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects & Recall Information Analysis (NSA-11), 202-366-5226. 400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 5319, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Title: 49 CFR Part 576, Record Retention.

OMB Number: 2127-0042.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: Under 49 U.S.C. 30166(e), NHTSA “reasonably may require a manufacturer of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment to keep records, and a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to make reports, to enable (NHTSA) to decide whether the manufacturer, distributor or dealer has complied or is complying with this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.”

49 U.S.C. 30118(c) requires manufacturers to notify NHTSA and owners, purchasers, and dealers if the manufacturer (1) “learns” that any vehicle or equipment manufactured by it contains a defect and decides in good faith that the defect relates to motor vehicle safety, or (2) “decides in good faith” that the vehicle or equipment does not comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard. The only way for the agency to decide if and when a manufacturer “learned” of a safety-related defect or “decided in good faith” that some products did not comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard is for the agency to have access to the information available to the manufacturer.

Affected Public: Business or other-for-profit, individuals or households.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 40,000.

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 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.

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 31, 2001.

Delmas Johnson,

Acting Associate Administrator for Administration.