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###### Department of Transportation

###### National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

          - [Docket No. NHTSA-2011-0022]

# AGENCY:

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

# ACTION:

Request for extension of a currently approved collection of information.

# SUMMARY:

This notice solicits public comments on continuation of the requirements for the collection of information on safety standards. 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 a collection of information with respect to the phase-in of the upgraded requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214, “Side impact protection,” for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

# DATES:

Comments must be received on or before May 23, 2011.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments (identified by the DOT Docket ID Number above) by any of the following methods:
      -  Federal eRulemaking Portal:                          Go to                          http://www.regulations.gov.                          Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.                    
      -  Mail:                          Docket Management Facility; M-30, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Rm. W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.                    
      -  Hand Delivery or Courier:                          West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.                    
      -  Fax:                          (202) 493-2251.                    

Regardless of how you submit your comments, you should mention the docket number of this document. You may call the Docket at (202) 366-9324. Please identify the proposed collection of information for which a comment is provided, by referencing its OMB clearance number. It is requested, but not required, that two copies of the comment be provided.

                        Note that all comments received will be posted without change to                         *http://www.regulations.gov,*                         including any personal information provided. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union,                        *etc.*). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the                         **Federal Register**                         published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).                    

*Docket:*                         For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         or the street address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Complete copies of each request for collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Mr. Chris Wiacek, U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA, Room W43-419, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Wiacek's telephone number is (202) 366-4801 and fax number is (202) 366-7002.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

                    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before a proposed collection of information is submitted to OMB for                           ( print page 16036)                        approval, Federal agencies 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 5CFR 1320.8(d)), an agency must ask for public comment on the following:                

(i) 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;

(ii) 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;

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

                    (iv) 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:*                     Side Impact Phase-in Reporting Requirements—Part 597.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     2127-0558.                

*Requested Expiration Date of Approval:*                     Three years from the approval date.                

*Type of Request:*                     Extension of a currently approved collection.                

*Affected Public:*                     Businesses.                

*Summary of the Collection of Information:*49 U.S.C. 30111 authorizes the issuance of Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and regulations. The agency, in prescribing a FMVSS or regulation, considers available relevant motor vehicle safety data, and consults with other agencies, as it deems appropriate. Further, the statute mandates that in issuing any FMVSS or regulation, the agency considers whether the standard or regulation is “reasonable, practicable and appropriate for the particular type of motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment for which it is prescribed,” and whether such a standard will contribute to carrying out the purpose of the Act.                

The Secretary is authorized to invoke such rules and regulations, as deemed necessary to carry out these requirements. Using this authority, on September 11, 2007, the agency published a final rule (73 FR 51908) upgrading the requirements of FMVSS No. 214, “Side impact protection.” The final rule contained a collection of information because of the proposed phase-in reporting requirements. The collection of information requires manufacturers of passenger cars and of trucks, buses and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less, to annually submit a report, and maintain records related to the report, concerning the number of such vehicles that meet the vehicle-to-pole and moving deformable barrier (MDB) test requirements of FMVSS No. 214 during the three year phase-in of those requirements. In response to petitions for reconsideration the agency published a final rule (73 FR 32473) extending the phase-in of both the pole and MDB test requirements to four years. The purpose of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements is to assist the agency in determining whether a manufacturer of vehicles has complied with the requirements during the phase-in period.

This notice requests comments on the phase-in reporting requirements of FMVSS No. 214.

*Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information):*                     NHTSA estimates that there are 21 manufacturers of passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less. During the phase-in reporting period, this information collection requires a simple written report on the respondent's annual vehicle production and the percent of that production meeting the new vehicle-to-pole and vehicle to MDB test requirements of FMVSS No. 214. There is no burden to the general public.                

*Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden Resulting from the Collection of Information:*                     NHTSA estimates that the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden resulting from the collection of information is 1,260 hours and estimates that the total annual cost burden, in U.S. dollars, will be $44,100. No additional resources will be expended by vehicle manufacturers to gather annual production information because they already compile this data for their own use.                

*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.                

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Issued on: March 17, 2011.

Joseph S. Carra,

Acting Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.

[FR Doc. 2011-6722 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]

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