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[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58219-58221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21831]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2004-18737]

Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on an extension of a currently 
approved collection.

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SUMMARY: Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from 
the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget

[[Page 58220]]

(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 one collection of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 29, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket No. NHTSA-
2004-18737] 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: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
     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.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this proposed collection of information. 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: Complete copies of each request for 
collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Deborah 
Mazyck, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5320, NVS-131, Washington, 
DC 20590. Ms. Mazyck's telephone number is (202) 366-4809. Please 
identify the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB 
Control Number.

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 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 collections of information:
    Title: Consolidated Vehicle Identification Number Requirements and 
Motor Vehicle Theft.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0510.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard forms.
    Abstract: NHTSA's statute at 15 U.S.C. 1392, 1397, 1401, 1407, and 
1412 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 
authorizes the issuance of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
(FMVSS) and the collection of data which support their implementation. 
The agency, in prescribing an FMVSS, is to consider available relevant 
motor vehicle safety data and to consult with other agencies as it 
deems appropriate. Further, the Act mandates, that in issuing any 
FMVSS, the agency should consider whether the standard 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 standards will contribute to carrying out the purpose of 
the Act. The Secretary is authorized to revoke such rules and 
regulations as deemed necessary to carry out this subchapter. Using 
this authority, the agency issued the initial FMVSS No. 115, Vehicle 
Identification Number, specifying requirements for vehicle 
identification numbers to aid the agency in achieving many of its 
safety goals.
    The standard was amended in August 1978 by extending its 
applicability to additional classes of motor vehicles and by specifying 
the use of a 30-year, 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 
for worldwide use. The standard was amended in May 1983 by deleting 
portions of FMVSS No. 115 and reissuing those portions as a general 
agency regulation, part 565. Subsequently, the standard was amended 
again in June 1996 transferring the text of the FMVSS No. 115 to part 
565, without making any substantive changes to the VIN requirements as 
a result of the proposed consolidation. The provision of the part 565 
(amended) regulation requires vehicle manufacturers to assign a unique 
VIN to each new vehicle and to inform NHTSA of the code used in forming 
the VIN. These regulations apply to all vehicles: passenger cars, 
multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, incomplete 
vehicles, and motorcycles.

Part 541

    The Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act was amended by 
the Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 (Pub.L. 102-519.) The enacted Theft Act 
requires specified parts of high-theft vehicle to be marked with 
vehicle identification numbers. In a final rule published on April 6, 
2004, the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard was extended 
to include all passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles with 
a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less, and to light 
duty trucks with major parts that are interchangeable with a majority 
of the covered major parts of multipurpose passenger vehicles. Each 
major component part must be either labeled or affixed with the VIN and 
its replacement component part must be marked with the DOT symbol, the 
letter (R) and the manufacturers' logo. The final rule becomes 
effective September 1, 2006.

Part 567

    This part specifies the content and location of, and other 
requirements for, the certification label or tag to be affixed to motor 
vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. Specifically, the VIN is required 
to appear on the certification label. Additionally, this certificate 
will provide the consumer with information to assist him or her in 
determining which of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are 
applicable to the

[[Page 58221]]

vehicle or equipment, and its date of manufacturer.
    Estimated Annual Burden: For part 565 and part 567, NHTSA estimates 
the vehicle manufacturers will incur a total annual hour burden of 
388,750 and cost burden of $5,053,750. For Part 541, NHTSA estimates 
the vehicle manufacturers will incur a total annual hour burden of 
607,878 and cost burden of $75.68 million.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    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.

    Issued on: September 23, 2004.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 04-21831 Filed 9-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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