[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28277]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 18, 1994]
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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Labeling Requirements for Alternative Fuels and Alternative
Fueled Vehicles
AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice of Application to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) for information collection requirements
contained in the Commission's proposed rule that would establish
uniform labeling requirements for alternative fuels and alternative
fueled vehicles.
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SUMMARY: The FTC is seeking OMB clearance for information collection
requirements contained in the Commission's proposed rule that would
establish uniform labeling requirements for alternative fuels and
alternative fueled vehicles.
Section 406(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 directs the
Commission to establish uniform labeling requirements, to the greatest
extent possible, for alternative fuels and alternative fueled vehicles.
The Commission has proposed the disclosure of certain information on
labels posted on fuel dispensers for non-liquid alternative fuels and
on labels on alternative fueled vehicles (``AFVs''). The purpose of
these labeling requirements is to enable consumers to make reasonable
choices and comparisons among competing products. The Commission is
also proposing substantiation, certification, and recordkeeping
requirements for importers, producers, refiners and distributors of
non-liquid alternative fuels (other than electricity), manufacturers
and distributors of electric vehicle fuel dispenser systems, and retail
sellers of non-liquid alternative fuels (including electricity). These
industry members would be required to maintain, for a period of one
year, records that would substantiate the accuracy of fuel ratings for
non-liquid alternative fuels.
In addition, the Commission is proposing separate recordkeeping
requirements for AFV manufacturers. These industry members would be
required to maintain, for a period of three years, records that would
substantiate estimated cruising ranges and emission certification
standards for alternative fueled vehicles.
These records would be available for inspection by Commission staff
or by persons authorized by the Commission to ensure the accuracy of
the information contained on the labels. Without such recordkeeping
requirements, the Commission's labeling rule could be rendered
ineffective, and the intent of Congress could be frustrated.
(a) Non-Liquid Alternative Fuels
Commission staff estimates that approximately 1,300 industry
members would be covered by the recordkeeping requirements that apply
to the proposed rule's non-liquid alternative fuel labeling
disclosures. Of these, staff estimates that approximately 1,000
industry members import, produce, refine, distribute or retail
compressed natural gas to the public for use in alternative fueled
vehicles. The Commission estimates that approximately 50 industry
members manufacture or distribute electric vehicle fuel dispensing
systems and that no more than 250 companies retail electricity to the
public through electric vehicle fuel dispensing systems. Staff
estimates that approximately six minutes per year per industry member
will be required to comply with the proposed recordkeeping
requirements, for a total yearly burden of 130 hours (six minutes per
year times 1,300 industry members). This burden estimate is small
because records that are likely to be retained by industry members
during the normal course of business are excluded from the ``burden''
for OMB purposes. See 5 CFR 1320.7(b)(1).
(b) Alternative Fueled Vehicles
Commission staff estimates that approximately 58 industry members
would be covered by the proposed rule's cruising range and emission
standard three year recordkeeping requirement. Staff bases this number,
in part, on recent Environmental Protection Agency estimates for clean-
fuel vehicle programs. Under the proposed Commission rule, AFV
manufacturers would be required to determine cruising ranges and
emission standards for different models of alternative fueled vehicles.
Staff estimates that it would take each of the 58 industry members
thirty minutes per year to comply with this requirement, for a total
yearly burden of 29 hours (thirty minutes per year times 58 industry
members). This estimate is small because, similar to the records that
would be retained for non-liquid alternative fuels, the records at
issue here are likely to be developed and retained by the industry in
the ordinary course of business.
(c) Total Burden
Based on these figures, Commission staff estimates the total burden
associated with complying with the proposed rule's recordkeeping
requirements to be 159 hours per year for all affected industry members
(130 hours plus 29 hours).
DATES: Comments on this application must be submitted on or before
December 19, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Send comments both to Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office
Building, Room 3228, Washington, D.C. 20503, ATN: Desk Officer for the
Federal Trade Commission and to the Office of the General Counsel,
Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580. Copies of the
submission to OMB, including the application, may be obtained from the
Public Reference Section, Room 130, Federal Trade Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20580.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kent C. Howerton, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Federal Trade
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580, (202) 326-3013.
By Direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-28277 Filed 11-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M
