[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52178-52180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26375]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-073; No. 2]
Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collections of
information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document describes three collections of information for
which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval. Under new procedures
established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB
approval to collect information from the public, Federal agencies must
solicit public comment on proposed collections of information,
including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved
collections. Each of the collections for which this document requests
comment has been previously approved.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 5, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket and notice numbers cited
at the beginning of this notice and be submitted to NHTSA's new Docket
Management Facility, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building
at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-01, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Please identify the proposed
collection of information for which a comment is provided, by
referencing its OMB Clearance Number. The DOT Docket is open to the
public from 10 am to 5 pm, Mondays through Fridays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for
collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Mr. Ed
Kosek, NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, NHTSA, 400
Seventh Street, SW, Room 6123, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Kosek's
telephone number is (202) 366-2589. Please identify the relevant
collection of information by referring to its OMB Clearance Number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB
for approval, it must 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 regulations (at 5 CFR
1320.8(d)), an agency must ask for public comment on the following:
(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; and
(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 public comment on
the following proposed collections of information:
Names and Addresses of First Purchasers of Motor Vehicles, 49 U.S.C.
30117(b)
Type of request--Reinstatement of clearance.
OMB Clearance Number--2127-0044.
Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval--Three years after date of
expiration of existing clearance.
Summary of the Collection of Information--By statute (49 U.S.C.
30117 (b) Maintaining Purchaser Records and Procedures), motor vehicle
manufacturers are required to collect and retain the names and
addresses of first purchasers of new motor vehicles, so that the
manufacturer can directly notify those persons in the event the vehicle
is recalled.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information--If there is a safety-related recall of the motor vehicle,
the vehicle manufacturer needs to identify the first purchaser of the
motor vehicle. Thus, the vehicle manufacturers will use the names and
addresses to inform the first purchaser of the recall, and to explain
what actions the purchaser should take.
Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
The respondents are vehicle dealers which collect the information, and
vehicle manufacturers which store the information. Since this practice
of
[[Page 52179]]
recording and storing the names and addresses of first purchasers was
followed by vehicle manufacturers for their commercial purposes before
the requirement was enacted, NHTSA does not believe that any added
costs result from this requirement.
There are approximately 14.25 million new vehicles sold each year.
There are approximately 19,000 dealers. The agency estimates that each
dealer takes approximately three minutes to record the name and address
of the first purchaser of the motor vehicle. The dealer collects the
information once. The dealer forwards the information to the vehicle
manufacturer, which retains the information.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that the
total time spent recording names and addresses of purchasers of 14.25
million new vehicles per year would be no more than 712,500 hours.
Assuming a value of $10 per hour, this time can be valued at
$7,125,000. Dealers without computer access to the vehicle
manufacturers generally return their sales cards once a month. With
19,000 dealers making twelve mailings each year, and paying $2.00
postage for each mailing, the annual postage costs would equal
$456,000.
NHTSA estimates that each vehicle manufacturer spends 238 hours
each year appropriately handling the information received from the
dealers. Again, assuming a value of $10 per hour, this results in
handling costs of $2,380. Total costs per annum could then be estimated
as $7,958,380. NHTSA acknowledges that this estimate is imprecise, but
knows of no way to develop a more precise cost estimate without
conducting a separate information collection just to answer this
question.
Summary:
REPORTING................................................. $7,500,000
MAILING................................................... 456,000
RECORDKEEPING............................................. 2,380
-------------
TOTAL Annual Cost....................................... 7,958,380
49 CFR Part 556--Petitions for Inconsequentiality
Type of Request--Reinstatement of clearance.
OMB Control Number--2127-0045.
Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval--Three years after date of
expiration of existing clearance.
Summary of the Collection of Information--This collection of
information allows NHTSA to receive petitions from manufacturers to
excuse inconsequential defects or noncompliances with the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards. The procedures for petitioning are
established at 49 CFR part 556, Petitions for Inconsequentiality. This
regulation establishes the procedures for manufacturers to submit such
petitions to the agency, the contents of such petitions, and the
criteria the agency will use in evaluating those petitions.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information--In a petition, the vehicle manufacturer provides
information in order to obtain relief from NHTSA. Without NHTSA's
determination that a defect or noncompliance is inconsequential, a
manufacturer of motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment is required
to notify all distributors, dealers, and purchasers of every defect or
noncompliance that is determined to exist in its products, and to
remedy that defect or noncompliance. Part 556 sets forth the form and
content of petitions for relieving manufacturers from the statutory
notice and remedy requirements for those defects or noncompliances the
manufacturer believes are inconsequential as they relate to safety.
There are two possible consequences if this collection of
information were not conducted. First, it is possible that the agency
would not receive the information it needs to make a determination that
a defect or noncompliance is inconsequential. In this case,
manufacturers would be statutorily required to follow the notice and
remedy provisions for every defect or noncompliance.
Second, it is possible that the agency would have to conduct a full
public hearing whenever a manufacturer claimed a defect or
noncompliance was inconsequential. Whether the claim of
inconsequentiality were ultimately determined to be spurious or
meritorious, a full hearing would impose a burden on both the agency
and the petitioning manufacturer.
Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--
NHTSA estimates that approximately 15 petitions are filed per year.
Petitions are filed entirely at the discretion of the manufacturer.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden
Resulting from the Collection of Information--Annual costs to the
petitioners can be estimated as follows: about 15 petitions for
inconsequential noncompliance are filed each year. Based on the length
of the petitions (usually 3-4 typewritten pages) and the amount of
documentation included, NHTSA estimates that it would take a petitioner
about 2 hours to prepare one of these petitions. Multiplying this two
hour burden by the 15 petitions filed annually yields an estimated
annual burden of 30 hours for the petitioners under Part 556.
If we assume a value of $20 per hour, the annual cost of preparing
these petitions is about $60. Adding in the postage cost of $4.80 (15
petitions, at a cost of 32 cents to mail each one), we estimate that it
costs petitioners about $605 annually to prepare and submit these
inconsequentiality petitions.
There are no recordkeeping costs to the manufacturers.
49 CFR Part 566--Manufacturers' Identification
Type of Request--Reinstatement of clearance.
OMB Control Number--2127-0043.
Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.
Requested Expiration Date of Approval--Three years from date of
approval.
Summary of the Collection of Information--This collection of
information requires every manufacturer of motor vehicles and/or
replacement equipment to file with NHTSA on a one-time basis, the
company name, address, and description of the motor vehicle type or of
covered equipment manufactured.
Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the
Information--NHTSA needs this information because under 49 U.S.C.
30118, manufacturers must determine if any motor vehicle or item of
replacement equipment contains a defect related to motor vehicle safety
or fails to comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard. Following such a determination, the manufacturer is required
to notify the Secretary of Transportation, owners, purchasers and
dealers of motor vehicles or replacement equipment, of the defect or
noncompliance and to remedy the defect or noncompliance without charge
to the owner.
If the information was not reported, the agency would not be able
to locate the manufacturer promptly if a defect or noncompliance in a
motor vehicle or equipment was found.
Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden
Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that the
number of respondents per year is 100.
[[Page 52180]]
Each respondent provides the information once. NHTSA estimates it takes
15 minutes to prepare the information. The estimated total burden on
all respondents for this standard is 25 hours per year.
Based on an assumed clerical cost of $20.00 per hour, it costs each
manufacturer $5.00 to prepare the information. Some of the vehicle and
equipment manufacturers are outside of the United States, and postage
(on the average from a foreign country) is approximately $1.00 per
letter. Thus, each response costs the manufacturer a total of $6.00.
(NHTSA knows the total is overstated; the majority of vehicle and
equipment manufacturers are in the United States, and postage would be
32 cents.) Since NHTSA estimates the number of respondents per year is
100, the total cost on all respondents per year is approximately
$600.00.
Since they are not required to keep copies of the information
provided to NHTSA, there are no recordkeeping costs to the
manufacturers.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR
1.50.
Issued: September 30, 1997.
John Womack,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 97-26375 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
