[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74564-74566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27305]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2004-19844]


Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection of 
information.

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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 (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 February 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at 
the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management, 
Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 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 2 copies of the comment be provided. The Docket 
Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Culbreath, NHTSA 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Rm. 2404, NPO-400,Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Culbreath's 
telephone number is (202) 366-1566. 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 5 CFR 
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;

[[Page 74565]]

    (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:

    (1) Title: 49 CFR Part 566, Manufacturers' Identification.
    OMB Number: 2127-0043.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Abstract: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 
statute at 49 U.S.C. 30118: Notification of defect and noncompliance 
requires manufacturers to determine if the motor vehicle or item or 
replacement equipment contains a defect related to motor vehicle safety 
or fails to comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard. Following such a determination, the manufacturer is required 
to notify the Secretary of Transportation, owners, purchasers, and 
dealers of motor vehicles or replacement equipment, of the defect or 
noncompliance and to remedy the defect or noncompliance without charge 
to the owner. With this determination, NHTSA issued 49 CFR Part 566, 
manufacturer identification. Part 566requires every manufacturer of 
motor vehicles and/or replacement equipment to file with the agency on 
a one times basis, the required information specified in Part 566.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 33.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    (2) Title: 49 CFR 571.125, Warning Devices.
    OMB Number: 2127-0506.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 30111, 30112, and 30117 (Appendix 1) of the 
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1996, authorizes the 
issuance of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The 
Secretary is authorized to issue, amend, and revoke such rules and 
regulations as she/he deems necessary.
    Using this authority, the agency issued FMVSS no. 125, ``Warning 
Devices'' (Appendix 2), which applies to devices, without self 
contained energy sources, that are designed to be carried mandatory in 
buses and trucks that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater 
than 10,000 pounds and voluntarily in other vehicles. These devices are 
used to warn approaching traffic of the presence of a stopped vehicle, 
except for devices designed to be permanently affixed to the vehicles.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.

    (3) Title: 49 CFR 571.218, Motorcycle Helmets (Labeling).
    OMB Number: 2127-0518.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Federal, Local, State, and Tribal Government, 
Business, or other for-profit organizations.
    Abstract: The National Traffic Vehicle Safety statute at 49 U.S.C. 
subchapter II standards and compliance, sections 30111 and 30117 
authorizes the issuance of Federal motor vehicle safety standards 
(FMVSS). The Secretary is authorized to issue, amend, and revoke such 
rules and regulations as he/she deems necessary. The Secretary is also 
authorized to require manufacturers to provide information to first 
purchasers or motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment when the 
vehicle equipment is purchased, in a printed matter placed in the 
vehicle or attached to our accompanying the equipment. Using this 
authority, the agency issued the initial FMVSS No. 218, Motorcycle 
Helmets, in 1974. Motorcycle helmets are the devices used for 
protecting motorcyclists and other motor vehicle users in motor vehicle 
accidents. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 requires that 
each helmet shall be labeled permanently and legibly (S5.6), in a 
manner such that the label(s) can be read easily without removing 
padding or any other permanent part.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5,333.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 32.

    (4) Title: Replaceable Light Source Dimensional Information 
Collection, 49 CFR Part 564.
    OMB Number: 2127-0563.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Abstract: The information to be collected is in response to 49 CFR 
Part 564, ``Replaceable Light Source Dimensional Information.'' Persons 
desiring to use newly designed replaceable headlamp light sources are 
required to submit interchangeability and performance specifications to 
the agency. After a short agency review to assure completeness, the 
information is placed in a public docket for use by any person who 
would desire to manufacture headlamp light sources for highway motor 
vehicles. In Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, Lamps, 
reflective devices and associated equipment,'' Part 564 submission are 
referenced as being the source of information regarding the performance 
and interchangeability information for legal headlamp light sources, 
whether original equipment or replacement equipment. Thus, the 
submitted information about headlamp light sources becomes the basis 
for certification of compliance with safety standards.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 28.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.

    (5) Title: Compliance Labeling of Retroreflective Materials heavy 
Trailer Conspicuity.
    OMB Number: 2127-0569.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Abstract: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, ``Lamps 
Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment,'' specifies requirements 
for vehicle lighting for the purposes of reducing traffic accidents and 
their tragic results by providing adequate roadway illumination, 
improved vehicle conspicuity, appropriate information transmission 
through signal lamps, in both day, night, and other conditions of 
reduced visibility. For certifications and identification purposes, the 
Standard requires the permanent marking of the letters ``DOT-C2,'' DOT-
C3'', or DOT ``C4'' at least 3 mm high at regular intervals on 
retroreflective sheeting material having adequate performance to 
provide effective trailer conspicuity.
    The manufacturers of new tractors and trailers are required to 
certify that their products are equipped with retroreflective material 
complying with the requirements of the standard. The Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) Office of Motor Carrier Safety enforces this and 
other standards through roadside inspections of trucks. There is no 
practical field test for the performance requirements, and labeling is 
the only objectives way of distinguishing trailer conspicuity grade 
material from lower performance material. Without labeling, FHWA will 
not be able to enforce the performance requirements of the standard and 
the compliance testing of new tractors and trailers will be 
complicated. Labeling is also important to small trailer manufactures 
because it may help them to certify compliance. Because wider stripes 
or material of lower brightness

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also can provide the minimum safety performance, the marking system 
serves the additional role of identifying the minimum stripe width 
required for retroreflective brightness of the particular material. 
Since the differences between the brightness grades of suitable 
retroreflective conspicuity material is not obvious from inspection, 
the marking system is necessary for tractor and trailer manufacturers 
and repair shops to assure compliance and for FHWA to inspect tractors 
and trailers in use.
    Permanent labeling is used to identify retroreflective material 
having the minimum properties required for effective conspicuity of 
trailers at night. The information enables the FHWA to make compliance 
inspections, and it aids tractor and trailer owners and repairs shops 
in choosing the correct repair materials for damaged tractors and 
trailers. It also aids smaller trailer manufacturers in certifying 
compliance of their products.
    The FHWA will not be able to determine whether trailers are 
properly equipped during roadside inspections without labeling. The use 
of cheaper and more common reflective materials, which are ineffective 
for the application, would be expected in repairs without the labeling 
requirement.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.

    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: December 3, 2004.
Susan White,
Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-27305 Filed 12-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P