01-26156. 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 document with a 60-day comment period was published on February 28, 2001 [66 FR 12829-12830].

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before November 16, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Walter Culbreath at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Administration (NAD-40), 202-366-1566. 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 6132, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Title: Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS).

OMB Number: 2127-0006.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Under both the Highway Safety Act of 1966 and the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the responsibility to collect accident data that support the establishment and enforcement of motor vehicle regulations and highway safety programs. These regulations and programs are developed to reduce the severity of injury and the property damage associated with motor vehicle accidents. The Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) is a major system that acquires national fatality information directly from existing State files and documents. Since FARS is an on-going data acquisition system, reviews are conducted yearly to determine whether the data acquired are responsive to the total user population needs. The total user population includes Federal and State agencies and the private sector. Annual changes in the forms are minor in terms of operation and method of data acquisition, and do not affect the reporting burden of the respondent (State employees utilize existing State accident files). The changes usually involve clarification adjustments to aid statisticians in conducting more precise analyses and to remove potential ambiguity for the respondents.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Estimated Annual Burden: 79,550 hours.

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 September 27, 2001.

Herman L. Simms,

Associate Administrator for Administration.