03-22568. Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Financial Responsibility for Motor Carriers of Passengers and Motor Carriers of Property

AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The FMCSA announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described in this notice is being sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. On May 30, 2003, the FMCSA published a “Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information Collection: Financial Responsibility for Motor Carriers of Passengers and Motor Carriers of Property” in the Federal Register. Comments on the proposed information collection burden were solicited. No comments regarding the ICR were received.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before October 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: DOT Desk Officer. We particularly request your comments on whether the collection of information is necessary for the FMCSA to meet its goals of reducing truck crashes, including whether the information is useful to this goal; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms on information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Marian Lee, [phone], Insurance Compliance Division (MC-ECI), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Financial Responsibility for Motor Carrier of Passengers and Motor Carriers of Property.

OMB Control Number: 2126-0008.

Background: The Secretary of Transportation is responsible for implementing regulations which establish minimal levels of financial responsibility for: (1) Motor carriers of property to cover public liability, property damage, and environmental restoration, and (2) for-hire motor carriers of passengers to cover public liability and property damage. The Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurance for Public Liability (Form MCS-90/90B) and the Motor Carrier Public Liability Surety Bond (Form MCS-82/82B) contain the minimum amount of information necessary to document that a motor carrier has obtained, and has in effect, the minimum levels of financial responsibility as set forth in applicable regulations (motor carriers of property—49 CFR 387.9; and motor carrier of passengers—49 CFR 387.33). FMCSA and the public can verify that a motor carrier of property or passengers has obtained, and has in effect, the required minimum levels of financial responsibility, by use of the information embraced within these documents.

Respondents: Insurance and surety companies of motor carriers of property (Form MCS-90 and Form MCS-82) and motor carriers of passengers (Form MCS-90B and Form MCS-82B).

Average Burden Per Response: Two minutes to complete the Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurances for Public Liability or the Motor Carrier Public Liability Surety Bond; one minute to file the Motor Carrier Public Liability Surety Bond; one minute to have either document on board the vehicle (foreign-domiciled motor carriers only). These endorsements are maintained at the motor carrier's principal place of business (49 CFR 387.7(iii)(d)).

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5,285 hours.

Frequency: Upon creation, change, or replacement of an insurance policy or surety bond.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.73.

Issued on: August 8, 2003.

Warren E. Hoemann,

Deputy Administrator.