2011-14995. Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

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 March 3, 2011 (76 FR 11848). No comments were received.

This document describes the collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval. The collection of information described is the “Consolidated Child Restraint System Registration, Labeling and Defect Notification.” (OMB Control Number: 2127-0576)

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before July 18, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mrs. Cristina Echemendia at U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Room W43-447, NVS-113, Washington, DC 20590. Mrs. Cristina Echemendia's telephone number is [phone] and fax number is [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Title: Consolidated Child Restraint System Registration, Labeling and Defect Notifications”.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0576.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Child restraint manufacturers are required to provide an owner's registration card for purchasers of child safety seats in accordance with title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 571.213, “Child restraint systems.” The registration card is perforated into two-parts (see Figures 1 and 2). The top part contains a message and suitable instructions to be retained by the purchaser. The bottom part is to be returned to the manufacturer by the purchaser. The bottom part includes prepaid return postage, the pre-printed name/address of the manufacturer, the pre-printed model and date of manufacture, and spaces for the purchaser to fill in his/her name and address. Optionally, child restraint manufacturers are permitted to add to the registration form: (a) Specified statements informing CRS owners that they may register online; (b) the Internet address for registering with the company; (c) revisions to statements reflecting use of the Internet to register; and (d) a space for the consumer's e-mail address. For those CRS owners with access to the Internet, online registration may be a preferred method of registering a CRS.

In addition to the registration card supplied by the manufacturer, NHTSA has implemented a CRS registration system to assist those individuals who have either lost the registration card that came with the CRS or purchased a previously owned CRS. Upon the owner's request, NHTSA provides a substitute registration form that can be obtained either by mail or from the Internet ^[1] (see Figure 3). When the completed registration is returned to the agency, it is then submitted to the CRS manufacturers. In the absence of a substitute registration system, many owners of child passenger safety seats, especially any second-hand owners, might not be notified of safety defects and noncompliances, and would not have the defects and noncompliances remedied.

Child seat owner registration information is retained in the event that owners need to be contacted for defect recalls or replacement campaigns. Chapter 301 of title 49 of the United States Code specifies that if either NHTSA or a manufacturer determines that motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment contain a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety or fail to comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard, the manufacturer must notify owners and purchasers of the defect or noncompliance and must provide a remedy without charge. In title 49 of the CFR, part 577, defect and noncompliance notification for equipment items, including child restraint systems, must be sent by first class mail to the most recent purchaser known to the manufacturer.

Child restraint manufacturers are also required to provide a printed instructions brochure with step-by-step information on how the restraint is to be used. Without proper use, the effectiveness of these systems is greatly diminished. Each child restraint system must also have a permanent label. A permanently attached label gives “quicklook” information on whether the restraint meets the safety requirements, recommended installation and use, and warnings against misuse.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 39,247 hours.

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 Departments 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 on: June 10, 2011.

Christopher J. Bonanti,

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.

Footnotes

1.  http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/​cars/​problems/​recalls/​register/​childseat/​csregfrm.pdf.