2014-27890. Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

AGENCY:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation.

ACTION:

Request for public comment on extension of a currently approved collection of information.

SUMMARY:

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes an existing collection of information for motor vehicle tire and rim labeling requirements for which NHTSA intends to seek renewed OMB approval.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before January 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Comments must refer to the docket number cited at the beginning of this notice, and may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Telephone: [phone].

Instructions: All submissions must include the docket number for this document. Please identify the collection of information for which a comment is provided by referencing the OMB Control Number, 2127-0503. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.

Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Abigail Morgan, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W43-467, NVS-122, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before an agency submits a proposed collection of information to OMB for approval, it must first 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 regulation (at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)), an agency must ask for public comment on the following:

(1) 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;

(2) 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;

(3) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(4) 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 for public comments on the following collection of information:

Title: Tires and Rims Labeling.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0503.

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

Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard form.

Abstract: The labeling of motor vehicle tires and rims with the information required by the regulations and standards benefits motor vehicle manufacturers and consumers. Primarily, these labeling requirements help ensure that tires are mounted on appropriate rims and that the rims and tires are mounted on vehicles for which they were intended. If tires and rims were not labeled, mismatching of tire and rim sizes would likely occur, often resulting in poor tire performance. The absence of the vehicle label specifying vehicle loads, axle loads, and recommended tire inflation pressure would likely result in improper tire selection by a tire dealer or vehicle owner. Mismatching of rims and tires can greatly reduce the performance of tires, may cause tire and rim failure, and may result in vehicle handling and stability problems, which could result in loss of vehicle control.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Nos. 109, 117, 119, 129, and 139 establish a fixed format for the labeling requirements to be placed into or onto both sidewalls of tires manufactured for use on motor vehicles. Each new tire manufacturer, brand name owner, and retreader must use these guidelines to label each tire manufactured by engraving tire and retreaded tire molds with the appropriate labeling information.

FMVSS Nos. 110 and 120 specify a fixed format for the placard labeling requirements to be placed on each motor vehicle. In addition, FMVSS Nos. 110 and 120 require that additional information be labeled onto the finished rim used on vehicles covered by this standard.

Affected Public: Business or other for profit.

Estimated Annual Burden: 274,491 hours.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,800.

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.

R. Ryan Posten,

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.