03-28141. Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements; FMVSS No. 106, Brake Hoses

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Request for public comment on extension of a currently approved 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 an existing collection of information for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 106, for which NHTSA intends to seek renewed OMB approval.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before January 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments [identified by DOT DMS Docket Number NHTSA-2003-16060] by any of the following methods:

• Web site: <http://dms.dot.gov>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <http://www.regulations.gov>. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at the beginning of this notice. Please identify the proposed collection of information for which a comment is provided, by referencing OMB Control Number, 2127-0052.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this collection. It is requested, but not required, that two copies of the comments be provided. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov,, including any personal information provided.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Jeff Woods, Office of Crash Avoidance Standards (NVS-122), 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington DC 20590. Mr. Woods' telephone number is [phone]. His FAX number is [phone]. Please identify the relevant collection of information by referring to the OMB Control Number, 2127-0052.

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:

(1) 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;

(2) 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;

(3) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(4) 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 collection of information:

Title: Brake Hose Manufacturing Identification, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 106.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0052.

Type of Request: Request for public comment on extension of a currently approved collection of information.

Affected Public: Business or other for profit.

Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 30101 et seq., as amended (“the Safety Act”), authorizes NHTSA to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The Safety Act mandates that in issuing any Federal motor vehicle safety standards, the agency is to consider whether the standard is reasonable and appropriate for the particular type of motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed. Using this authority, FMVSS No. 106, Brake Hoses, was issued. This standard specifies labeling and performance requirements for all motor vehicle brake hose assemblers, brake hose and brake hose end fittings manufacturers for automotive vehicles. Prior to selling brake hoses, these entities must register their identification marks with NHTSA to comply with the labeling requirements of this standard. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the agency must obtain OMB approval to continue collecting labeling information. The agency prepared a Supporting Statement in conjunction with this proposed extension of a currently approved collection of information.^[1]

Currently, there are 1,114 manufacturers of hoses and assemblies registered with NHTSA. However, only approximately 20 respondents annually request to have their symbol added to or removed from the NHTSA database. To comply with this standard, each brake hose manufacturer or assembler must contact NHTSA and state that they want to be added to or removed from the NHTSA database of registered brake hose manufacturers. This action is usually initiated by the manufacturer with a brief written request via U.S. mail, facsimile, an e-mail message, or a telephone call. Currently, a majority of the requests are received via U.S. mail and the follow-up paperwork is conducted via facsimile, U.S. mail, or electronic mail. The estimated cost for complying with this regulation is $100 per hour. Therefore, the total annual cost is estimated to be $3,000 (time burden of 30 hours × $100 cost per hour).

Estimated Annual Burden: 30 hours.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.

Issued on: November 4, 2003.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.

Footnotes

1.  See Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16060.