[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 142 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39927-39928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19795]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information
Collection Activity Under OMB Review
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 approval. The ICRs
describe the nature of the information collections and their expected
burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on the following information collection was
published on April 28, 1998 [63 FR 23337].
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 24, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Robinson, NHTSA Information
Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 366-9456.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Title: 49 CFR Part 576 Record Retention.
OMB Control Number: 2127-0042.
Type Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
Abstract: Under 49 U.S.C. Section 30166(e), NHTSA ``reasonably may
require a manufacturer of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment to
keep records, and a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to make
reports, to enable [NHTSA] to decide whether the manufacturer,
distributor or dealer has complied or is complying with this chapter or
a regulation prescribed under this chapter.'' 49 U.S.C. Section
30118 requires manufacturers to notify NHTSA and owners,
purchasers, and dealers if the manufacturer (1) ``learns'' that any
vehicle or equipment manufactured by it contains a defect and decides
in good faith that the defect relates to motor vehicle safety, or (2)
``decides in good faith'' that the vehicle or equipment does not comply
with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard. The only way
for the agency to decide if and when a manufacturer ``learned'' of a
safety-related defect or ``decided in good faith'' that some products
did not comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard
is for the agency to have access to the information available to the
manufacturer. Further, 49 U.S.C. Section 30118(a) requires NHTSA to
immediately notify a manufacturer if the agency determines that some of
the manufacturer's products either do not comply with an applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standard or contain a safety-related
defect, and provide the manufacturer with all the information on which
the determination is based. Agency determinations of noncompliance are
generally based upon actual testing conducted by or for the agency.
However, defect determinations depend heavily upon review of consumer
complaints submitted to the manufacturer, communications between
manufacturers and suppliers, and the manufacturers' analyses of field
problems and/or warranty claims. Without these complaints and
manufacturer documents, NHTSA would have only limited access to
information about vehicle or equipment problems. To ensure that NHTSA
will have access to this type of information, the agency exercised the
authority granted in 49 U.S.C. Section 30166(e) and promulgated 49 CFR
Part 576, Record Retention. This regulation requires manufacturers of
motor vehicles to retain one copy of all records that contain
information concerning malfunctions that may be related to motor
vehicle safety, for a period of five years after the record is
generated or acquired by the manufacturer.
Estimated Annual Burden: 40,000 hours.
Number of Respondents: At least 1,000 vehicle manufacturers of all
types.
ADDRESS: 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 DOT 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 best assured of having its full effect if OMB
receives it within 30 days of publication.
[[Page 39928]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 20, 1998.
Vanester M. Williams,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 98-19795 Filed 7-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P
