E6-20106. Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Request for public comment on proposed 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 one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before January 29, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Please identify the proposed collection of information for which a comment is provided, by referencing its OMB clearance number. It is requested, but not required, that 2 copies of the comment be provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Complete copies of each request for collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Mr. Kevin Ball, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 2334, NPO-400, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Ball telephone number is [phone]. His fax number is [phone]. Please identify the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control 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 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:

(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;

(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 for public comments on the following proposed collections of information:

(1) Title: Air Bag Deactivation.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0588.

Affected Public: Private individuals, fleet owners and lessees, motor vehicle dealers, repair business.

Abstract: If a private individual or lessee wants to install an air bag on-off switch to turn-off either or both frontal air bags, they must complete Form OMB 2127-0588 to certify certain statements regarding use of the switch. The dealer or business must, in turn, submit the completed forms to NHTSA within seven days. The submission of the completed forms by the dealers and repair business to NHTSA, as required, will serve the agency several purposes. They will aid the agency in monitoring the number of authorization requests submitted and the pattern in claims of risk group membership. The completed forms will enable the agency to determine whether the dealers and repair business are complying with the terms of the exemption, which include a requirement that the dealers and repair businesses accept only fully completed forms. Finally, submission of the completed forms to the agency will promote honesty and accuracy in the filling out of the forms by vehicle owners. The air bag on-off switches are installed only in vehicles in which the risk of harm needs to be minimized on a case-by-case basis.

Estimated Annual Burden: 7,500 hours.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,000.

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.

Issued on: November 21, 2006.

Kevin Mahoney,

Director, Corporate Customer Services.