E8-6627. 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 Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on February 13, 2008 [73 FR 8399].

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Markus Price at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Rulemaking (NVS-121), 202-366-0098. 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W43-472, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Title: Compliance Labeling of Retroreflective Materials Heavy Trailer Conspicuity.

OMB Number: 2127-0569.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, “Lamps Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment,” specifies requirements for vehicle lighting for the purposes of reducing traffic accidents and their tragic results by providing adequate roadway illumination, improved vehicle conspicuity, appropriate information transmission through signal lamps, in both day, night, and other conditions of reduced visibility. For certifications and identification purposes, the Standard requires the permanent marking of the letters DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 at least 3mm high at regular intervals on retroreflective sheeting material having adequate performance to provide effective trailer conspicuity. The manufacturers of new tractors and trailers are required to certify that their products are equipped with retroreflective material complying with the requirements of the standard. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces this and other standards through roadside inspections of trucks. There is no practical field test for the performance requirements, and labeling is the only objectives way of distinguishing trailer conspicuity grade material from lower performance material. Without labeling, FMCSA will not be able to enforce the performance requirements of the standard and the compliance testing of new tractors and trailers will be complicated. Labeling is also important to small trailer manufactures because it may help them to certify compliance. Because wider stripes or material of lower brightness also can provide the minimum safety performance, the marking system serves the additional role of identifying the minimum stripe width required for retroreflective brightness of the particular material. Since the differences between the brightness grades of suitable retroreflective conspicuity material is not obvious from inspection, the marking system is necessary for tractor and trailer manufacturers and repair shops to assure compliance and for FMCSA to inspect tractors and trailers in use.

Permanent labeling is used to identify retroreflective material having the minimum properties required for effective conspicuity of trailers at night. The information enables the FMCSA to make compliance inspections, and it aids tractor and trailer owners and repairs shops in choosing the correct repair materials for damaged tractors and trailers. It also aids smaller trailer manufacturers in certifying compliance of their products. The FMCSA will not be able to determine whether trailers are properly equipped during roadside inspections without labeling. The use of cheaper and more common reflective materials, which are ineffective for the application, would be expected in repairs without the labeling requirement.

Affected Public: Business or other-for-profit organizations.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1.

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 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. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

Issued: March 26, 2008.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.