27354 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 15, 2007 / Notices 

criteria given in § 388.4 of MARAD’s 

regulations at 46 CFR part 388. 

DATES: Submit comments on or before 

June 14, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to 

docket number MARAD–2007–28105. 

Written comments may be submitted by 

hand or by mail to the Docket Clerk, 

U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL–401, 

Department of Transportation, 400 7th 

St., SW., Washington, DC. 20590–0001. 

You may also send comments 

electronically via the Internet at http:// 

dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All comments 

will become part of this docket and will 

be available for inspection and copying 

at the above address between 10 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through 

Friday, except federal holidays. An 

electronic version of this document and 

all documents entered into this docket 

is available on the World Wide Web at 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Joann Spittle, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Maritime 

Administration, MAR–830 Room 7201, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC 20590. Telephone 202–366–5979. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As 

described by the applicant the intended 

service of the vessel STARS & STRIPES 

II is: 

Intended Use: ‘‘Taking passengers for 

day sails.’’

Geographic Region: New York, New 

Jersey, Connecticut. 

Privacy Act 

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 (Volume 

65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78) or you 

may visit http://dms.dot.gov. 

Dated: May 2, 2007. 

By order of the Maritime Administrator. 

Daron T. Threet, 

Secretary, Maritime Administration. 

[FR Doc. E7–9225 Filed 5–14–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–81–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. NHTSA–2007–28056] 

Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping 

Requirements 

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Request for public comment on 

proposed 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 the proposed collection of 

information. 

This document describes a proposed 

collection of information under 

regulations in 49 CFR parts 591, 592, 

and 593 that pertain to the importation 

of motor vehicles and items of motor 

vehicle equipment that are subject to the 

Federal motor vehicle safety, bumper, 

and theft prevention standards. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before July 16, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to 

the docket number and notice number, 

and be submitted to: Docket 

Management, Room PL–401, 400 

Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 

20590. [Docket hours are from 9 a.m. to 

5 p.m.]. 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 (Volume 

65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78) or you 

may visit http://dms.dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle Safety 

Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–3151). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Prior Approval 

On May 4, 2004, NHTSA submitted to 

OMB a request for the extension of the 

agency’s approval (assigned OMB No. 

2127–0002) of the information 

collection that is incident to NHTSA’s 

administration of the vehicle 

importation regulations at 49 CFR parts 

591, 592, and 593. On July 26, 2004, 

OMB notified NHTSA that it had 

approved this extension request through 

July 31, 2007. That approval was based 

on NHTSA submissions identifying 

information being collected on an 

annual basis from 838,000 respondents, 

expending 72,860 hours of effort, at a 

cost of $317,000. NHTSA wishes to file 

with OMB a request for that agency to 

extend its approval for an additional 

three years. 

Changes in Program 

Since the information collection 

associated with NHTSA’s importation 

program was last approved by OMB, 

profound changes have taken place that 

impact the information collection and 

the assessment of its burden on affected 

members of the public. These are 

principally attributable to the 

continuing weakening of the U.S. dollar 

against foreign currencies. The focus of 

NHTSA’s importation program is on 

vehicles that were not originally 

manufactured to comply with all 

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 

standards (FMVSS). These vehicles 

must be imported by a registered 

importer (RI) under bond to ensure that 

the vehicles are brought into 

compliance with applicable standards 

following importation. Nonconforming 

vehicles are entered under Box 3 on the 

HS–7 Declaration form. In calendar year 

2002, 212,210 nonconforming vehicles 

were imported under Box 3. Over 97 

percent of those vehicles were imported 

from Canada. In 2003, after the U.S. 

dollar began to weaken against the 

Canadian dollar, the volume of 

nonconforming vehicle imports under 

Box 3 was reduced by more than half, 

to 97,337 vehicles. The trend 

accelerated over the next three years, 

with 43,648 vehicles imported under 

Box 3 in 2004, 12,642 imported in 2005, 

and 10,953 imported in 2006. 

When NHTSA last requested OMB 

approval for the information collection 

associated with the vehicle importation 

program, the agency estimated that 

163,000 nonconforming vehicles would 

be imported on an annual basis under 

Box 3, for which HS–7 Declaration 

forms and HS–474 DOT Conformance 

bonds would have to be furnished. The 

agency estimated that it would take five 

minutes to complete each HS–7 

Declaration form, and six minutes to 

complete each HS–474 DOT 

Conformance bond, for a total 

expenditure of 29,882 hours to complete 

these forms. Given the profound 

reduction in nonconforming vehicle 

imports under Box 3 in recent years, 

future projections should assume an 

average of 11,000 vehicle imports per 

year. Relying on this figure, the hour 

burden associated with the completion 

of paperwork for these vehicles would 


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be close to 2,017 hours (0.08333 hours 

to complete each HS–7 × 11,000 

vehicles = 915.53 hours; 0.1 hours to 

complete each HS–474 × 11,000 

vehicles = 1,100 hours; 915.53 + 1,100 

= 2,016.53 hours). This represents more 

than a 93 percent reduction in burden 

hours in comparison to the figures used 

when OMB approval was last obtained. 

Increased Scope of Accounting for 

Burdens 

In this document, the agency has not 

focused exclusively on vehicles 

imported under the RI program, but has 

instead made a concerted effort to 

quantify the hour burden associated 

with the completion of paperwork for 

vehicles and equipment items imported 

in any legitimate way under NHTSA’s 

regulations. As a consequence, we are 

providing more particular information 

than we have in the past on the 

paperwork burden associated with the 

importation of conforming motor 

vehicles; the temporary importation of 

nonconforming vehicles for personal 

use by nonresidents and by foreign 

diplomatic and military personnel; the 

temporary importation of 

nonconforming vehicles for purposes of 

research, investigations, demonstrations 

or training, and other similar purposes; 

the importation of vehicles that are not 

primarily manufactured for on-road use; 

and other entry categories permitted 

under the agency’s regulations. In 

addition, we have attempted to account 

for all forms, whether required or 

optional, and other types of information 

solicitations associated with vehicle and 

equipment importation that appear on 

the agency’s Web site and in newsletters 

and other informational media that we 

employ to inform RIs and others of our 

requirements. Accounting for all 

paperwork burdens in this more 

particularized manner, we project that a 

total of 42,413 hours will be expended 

each year to complete paperwork 

associated with all aspects of NHTSA’s 

program that regulates the importation 

of motor vehicles and equipment items 

subject to the FMVSS. 

Issues for Comments To Address 

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act 

of 1995 (PRA), before an agency submits 

a proposed collection of information to 

OMB for approval, it must 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 

regulations (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; 

(iii) How to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and 

(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. 

Solicitation of Comments 

In compliance with these 

requirements, NHTSA is requesting 

public comment on the following 

proposed collection of information: 

Title: Importation of Vehicles and 

Equipment Subject to the Federal Motor 

Vehicle Safety, Bumper, and Theft 

Prevention Standards. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

Currently Approved Collection. 

OMB Control Number: 2127–0002. 

Affected Public: Importers of vehicles 

and regulated items of motor vehicle 

equipment. 

Requested Expiration Date of 

Approval: July 31, 2010. 

Summary of Collection of Information 

1. Declaration requirement for the 

importation of motor vehicles and 

regulated items of motor vehicle 

equipment: NHTSA’s regulations at 49 

CFR part 591 provide that no person 

shall import a motor vehicle or 

regulated item of motor vehicle 

equipment (e.g., tires, rims, brake hoses, 

brake fluid, seat belt assemblies, lighting 

equipment, glazing, motorcycle helmets, 

child restraints, compressed natural gas 

containers, warning devices, rear impact 

guards, and platform lift systems) unless 

the importer files a declaration. See 49 

CFR 591.5. This declaration is filed with 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

(Customs) on a paper copy of the HS–

7 Declaration form, or, if the entry is 

made by a Customs House Broker, it can 

be made electronically using Customs’

Automated Broker Interface (ABI) 

system. The HS–7 Declaration form has 

14 boxes, each of which identifies a 

lawful basis for the importation of a 

motor vehicle or equipment item into 

the United States. 

a. Importation of vehicles at least 25 

years old or equipment not subject to 

the safety standards under Box 1: A 

motor vehicle at least 25 years old can 

be lawfully imported without regard to 

its compliance with the FMVSS. So too 

can an equipment item manufactured on 

a date when no applicable FMVSS was 

in effect. These vehicles and equipment 

items are declared under Box 1 on the 

HS–7 Declaration form. In calendar year 

2004, 8,811 vehicles were imported 

under Box 1. In 2005, 10,146 vehicles 

were imported, and in 2006, the volume 

of imports increased to 15,445 vehicles. 

Based on an average of these figures, the 

agency projects that roughly 12,000 

vehicles will be imported each year 

under Box 1 over the next three years. 

Assuming that an HS–7 Declaration 

form is filed for each of these vehicles, 

and that it will take five minutes to 

complete each of these forms, the 

agency estimates the hour burden 

associated with completing the 

paperwork for these vehicles to be 

approximately 1,000 hours per year 

(0.083333 hours × 12,000 = 1,000 

hours). 

b. Importation of conforming vehicles 

and equipment under Box 2A: Vehicles 

and equipment that are originally 

manufactured to comply with all 

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety, 

bumper, and theft prevention standards, 

and that bear a label or tag certifying 

such compliance that is permanently 

affixed by the original manufacturer, are 

declared under Box 2A on the HS–7 

Declaration form. In 2004, 2,767,839 

vehicles were imported under Box 2A. 

In 2005, the figure increased to 

3,898,152 vehicles, and increased again 

in 2006, to 4,372,442. Based on an 

average of these figures, the agency 

projects that roughly 3,700,000 vehicles 

will be imported each year under Box 

2A for the next three years. The 

overwhelming majority of vehicles 

entered under Box 2A are imported by 

original manufacturers. As a rule, 

manufacturers do not file a separate HS–

7 Declaration form for each conforming 

vehicle they import under Box 2A. 

Instead, the manufacturers furnish 

NHTSA with a single declaration form, 

on a monthly basis, to which they attach 

a list of all vehicles, identified by make, 

model, model year, and vehicle 

identification number (VIN), that were 

imported under Box 2A during that 

month. In this manner, it is not unusual 

for a single HS–7 Declaration form to be 

filed with the agency to cover the entry 

of many thousands of vehicles. 

Assuming that manufacturers account 

for 90 percent of the vehicles imported 

under Box 2A, and that a manufacturer 


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will, on average, report the entry of 

5,000 vehicles on a single Declaration 

form, and that all other vehicles 

imported under Box 2A are declared 

individually, the agency projects the 

hour burden associated with completing 

the paperwork for the entry of these 

vehicles to be 30,832 hours per year 

(3,700,000 vehicles × .9 = 3,330,000 

vehicles imported by original 

manufacturers; 3,330,000 vehicles ÷ 

5,000 vehicles per declaration forms 

filed = 666 declaration forms being filed 

per year by manufacturers; assuming 

that a separate declaration is filed for 

each other vehicle imported under Box 

2A yields 370,000 declarations being 

filed per year for these vehicles; 370,000 

+ 666 = 370,666 declarations per year; 

0.08333 hours to complete each 

declaration × 370,666 declarations = 

30,832 hours). 

c. Importation of conforming 

Canadian-market vehicles for personal 

use under Box 2B: A motor vehicle that 

is certified by its original manufacturer 

as complying with all applicable 

Canadian motor vehicle safety standards 

can be imported by an individual for 

personal use under Box 2B. To 

accomplish the entry, the importer must 

furnish Customs with a letter from the 

vehicle’s original manufacturer 

confirming that the vehicle conforms to 

all applicable U.S. Federal motor 

vehicle safety, bumper, and theft 

prevention standards, or that it 

conforms to all such standards except 

for the labeling requirements of 

Standard Nos. 101 Controls and 

Displays and 110 or 120 Tire Selection 

and Rims, and/or the requirements of 

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective 

Devices, and Associated Equipment 

relating to daytime running lamps. 

NHTSA received from Customs a total 

of 2012 HS–7 Declaration forms for 

vehicles imported under Box 2B in 

calendar year 2005. In addition, 

declarations were filed electronically for 

546 vehicles imported under Box 2B in 

2005. Combining these figures yields a 

total of 2,558 vehicles imported under 

Box 2B in that calendar year. NHTSA 

received from Customs a total of 1,330 

HS–7 Declaration forms for vehicles 

imported under Box 2B in 2006. In 

addition, electronic entries were made 

for 612 vehicles imported under Box 2B 

in that calendar year. Combining these 

figures yields a total of 1,942 vehicles 

imported under Box 2B in 2006. 

Assuming these figures represent a fair 

approximation of the volume of vehicles 

imported under Box 2B in those two 

calendar years, the agency projects that 

roughly 2,250 vehicles will be imported 

under Box 2B in each of the next three 

calendar years. Assuming that a separate 

HS–7 Declaration form is filed for each 

of these vehicles, the hour burden 

associated with completing the 

paperwork for the entry of these 

vehicles will be 188 hours per year 

(2,250 vehicles × 0.08333 hours per 

entry = 188 hours). 

d. Importation of nonconforming 

vehicles by registered importers under 

Box 3: 

Statutory and Regulatory Background 

Section 30112(a) of Title 49, U.S. 

Code prohibits, with certain exceptions, 

the importation into the United States of 

a motor vehicle manufactured after the 

date an applicable Federal motor 

vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) takes 

effect, unless the motor vehicle was 

manufactured in compliance with the 

standard and was so certified by its 

original manufacturer. Under one of the 

exceptions to this prohibition, found at 

49 U.S.C. 30141, a nonconforming 

vehicle can be imported into the United 

States provided (1) NHTSA decides that 

it is eligible for importation, based on its 

capability of being modified to conform 

to all applicable FMVSS, and (2) it is 

imported by a registered importer (RI), 

or by a person who has a contract with 

an RI to bring the vehicle into 

conformity with all applicable standards 

following importation. Regulations 

implementing this statute are found at 

49 CFR parts 591 and 592. 

HS–7 Declaration Form 

The regulations require a declaration 

to be filed (on the HS–7 Declaration 

Form) at the time a vehicle is imported 

that identifies, among other things, 

whether the vehicle was originally 

manufactured to conform to all 

applicable FMVSS, and if it was not, to 

state the basis for the importation of the 

vehicle. 

A nonconforming vehicle that NHTSA 

has decided to be eligible for 

importation can be imported by an RI, 

or by a person who has a contract with 

an RI to modify the vehicle so that it 

conforms to all applicable FMVSS, 

under Box 3 on the HS–7 Declaration 

form. As previously noted, the volume 

of imports under Box 3 has steadily 

declined in recent years. In 2005, 12,642 

vehicles were imported under Box 3 and 

in 2006, 10,953 vehicles were imported. 

Based on these figures, the agency 

projects that 11,000 vehicles will be 

imported each year under Box 3. 

Assuming that volume, the hour burden 

associated with the completion of the 

HS–7 Declaration form for these 

vehicles will be 916 hours (0.08333 

hours to complete each HS–7 × 11,000 

vehicles = 915.53 hours). 

HS–474 Conformance Bond 

NHTSA’s regulations also require an 

RI, among other things, to furnish a 

bond (on the HS–474 Conformance 

Bond form) at the time of entry for each 

nonconforming vehicle it imports, to 

ensure that the vehicle will be brought 

into conformity with all applicable 

safety and bumper standards within 120 

days of entry or will be exported from, 

or abandoned to, the United States. A 

HS–474 Conformance Bond has to be 

furnished for each nonconforming 

vehicle imported under Box 3. 

Assuming an importation volume of 

11,000 vehicles per year, the hour 

burden associated with the completion 

of the HS–474 will be 1,100 hours (0.1 

hours to complete each HS–474 × 

11,000 vehicles = 1,100 hours). 

Conformity Statement 

After modifying the vehicle to 

conform to all applicable standards, the 

RI submits a statement of conformity (on 

a suggested form) to NHTSA, which 

issues a letter permitting the bond to be 

released if the agency is satisfied that 

the vehicle has been modified in the 

manner stated by the RI. The statement 

of conformity contains a check off list 

on which the RI identifies the FMVSS 

and other agency requirements to which 

the vehicle conforms as originally 

manufactured and the FMVSS and other 

requirements to which the vehicle was 

modified to conform. The RI also 

attaches to the statement of conformity 

documentary and photographic 

evidence of the modifications that it 

made to the vehicle to achieve 

conformity with applicable standards. 

Collectively, these documents are 

referred to as a ‘‘conformity package.’’

A conformity package must be 

submitted for each nonconforming 

vehicle imported under Box 3. Because 

the Canadian motor vehicle safety 

standards are identical in most respects 

to the FMVSS, there are relatively few 

modifications that need to be performed 

on a Canadian-certified vehicle to 

conform it to the FMVSS and the 

conformity packages that are submitted 

on these vehicles are considerably less 

comprehensive than those submitted for 

vehicles from Europe, Japan, and other 

foreign markets. The agency estimates 

that it would take the average RI no 

more than 30 minutes to collect 

information for, and assemble, a 

conformity package for a Canadiancertified vehicle. 

Generally, more modifications are 

needed to conform a non-Canadian 

vehicle to the FMVSS. To properly 

document these modifications, more 

information must be included in the 


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conformity package for a non-Canadian 

vehicle than is required for a Canadiancertified vehicle. The agency estimates 

that it would take an RI approximately 

twice as long, or roughly one hour, to 

compile information for, and assemble, 

a conformity package for a typical nonCanadian vehicle. 

Of the 43,684 nonconforming vehicles 

imported under Box 3 in 2004, 43,357, 

or over 99 percent, were Canadian 

market and 327, or under one percent, 

were from markets other than Canada. 

Of the 12,668 nonconforming vehicles 

imported under Box 3 in 2005, 12,496, 

or roughly 98.5 percent, were Canadian 

market and 192, or roughly 2.5 percent, 

were from markets other than Canada. 

Assuming this trend continues in future 

years, the agency estimates the hour 

burden associated with the submission 

of conformity packages on Canadiancertified vehicles to be 5,390 hours per 

year (11,000 vehicles × 98 percent or 

0.98 = 10780 vehicles; 10780 vehicles × 

0.5 hours per vehicle = 5,390 hours). 

The agency estimates the hour burden 

associated with the submission of 

conformity packages for non-Canadian 

vehicles to be 220 hours per year 

(11,000 vehicles × 2 percent or 0.02 = 

220 vehicles; 220 vehicles × 1.0 hours 

per vehicle = 220 hours. Adding these 

figures yields an estimated burden of 

5,610 hours per year for the entire RI 

industry to compile and submit 

conformity packages to NHTSA on 

nonconforming vehicles imported under 

Box 3 (5,390 hours + 220 hours = 5,610 

hours). 

Import Eligibility Petition 

As previously noted, a motor vehicle 

that was not originally manufactured to 

comply with all applicable FMVSS 

cannot be lawfully imported into the 

United States on a permanent basis 

unless NHTSA decides that the vehicle 

is eligible for importation, based on its 

capability of being modified to conform 

to those standards. Under 49 U.S.C. 

30141, the eligibility decision can be 

based on the nonconforming vehicle’s 

substantial similarity to a vehicle of the 

same make, model, and model year that 

was manufactured for importation into, 

and sale in the United States, and 

certified as complying with all 

applicable FMVSS by its original 

manufacturer. Where there is no 

substantially similar U.S.-certified 

vehicle, the eligibility decision must be 

predicated on the vehicle having safety 

features that are capable of being 

modified to conform to the FMVSS, 

based on destructive crash test data or 

such other evidence that the agency may 

deem adequate. The agency makes 

import eligibility decisions either on its 

own initiative, or in response to 

petitions filed by RIs. Only a small 

number of RIs (currently about 14 out of 

the 73 RIs registered with the agency) 

ever submit import eligibility petitions. 

Many of these businesses have, over, the 

years, submitted multiple petitions to 

the agency. The agency estimates that it 

would take the typical RI that petitions 

the agency roughly two hours to 

complete the paperwork associated with 

the submission of a petition for a 

vehicle that has a substantially similar 

U.S.-certified counterpart, and roughly 

twice as long, or four hours, to complete 

the paperwork associated with the 

submission of a petition for a vehicle 

that lacks a substantially similar U.S.- 

certified counterpart. In 2004, 37 import 

eligibility petitions were submitted to 

the agency. Of these, 33, or 89 percent, 

were for vehicles with substantially 

similar U.S.-certified counterparts and 

4, or 11 percent, were for vehicles for 

which there were no substantially 

similar U.S. certified counterparts. 

In 2005, 24 import eligibility petitions 

were submitted to the agency. Of these, 

16, or 67 percent, were for vehicles with 

substantially similar U.S.-certified 

counterparts, and 8, or 33 percent, were 

for which there were no substantially 

similar U.S.-certified counterparts. 

Assuming this trend continues in future 

years, the agency estimates that roughly 

30 import eligibility petitions will be 

submitted each year, 80 percent of 

which, or 24 petitions, will be for 

vehicles with substantially similar U.S.- 

certified counterparts, and 20 percent of 

which, or 6 petitions, will be for 

vehicles lacking substantially similar 

U.S.-certified counterparts. Based on 

these figures, the agency estimates that 

the hour burden for the paperwork 

associated with the submission of 

import eligibility petitions to be 72 

hours per year (24 petitions × 2 hours 

per petition = 48 hours; 6 petitions × 4 

hours per petition = 24 hours; 48 hours 

+ 24 hours = 72 hours). 

e. Importation of vehicles or 

equipment intended solely for export 

under Box 4: A nonconforming vehicle 

or equipment item that is intended 

solely for export, and bears a tag or label 

to that effect, can be entered under Box 

4 on the HS–7 Declaration form. In 

2005, 12,977 vehicles were imported 

under Box 4. In 2006, 18,800 vehicles 

were imported under that box. The 

majority of these vehicles were 

imported by original manufacturers that 

did not file individual declaration forms 

with the agency for each vehicle 

imported, but instead included those 

vehicles in the monthly count supplied 

to the agency along with conforming 

vehicles imported under Box 2A. The 

agency received only 147 HS–7 

Declaration forms for vehicles imported 

under Box 4 in 2006. Assuming this 

represents the share of vehicles 

imported under Box 4 by parties other 

than original manufacturers, the agency 

projects that HS–7 Declaration forms 

will be filed for no more than one 

percent of the vehicles imported under 

Box 4 in future years. Averaging the 

volume of those imports over the past 

two years yields an estimate of slightly 

less than 16,000 vehicles being 

imported on an annual basis in the next 

three years, and 160 HS–7 Declaration 

forms being filed in each of those years. 

Based on that figure, the hour burden 

associated with the completion of the 

HS–7 Declaration form for these 

vehicles will be under 14 hours 

(0.08333 hours to complete each HS–7 

× 160 vehicles = 13.33 hours). 

f. Temporary importation of 

nonconforming vehicles by 

nonresidents of the United States under 

Box 5: Under an international 

convention to which the United States 

is a signatory, a nonresident of the 

United States can import a 

nonconforming vehicle for personal use, 

for a period of up to one year, provided 

the vehicle is not sold while in the 

United States and is exported no later 

than one year from its date of entry. 

These vehicles are entered under Box 5 

on the HS–7 Declaration form. To enter 

a vehicle under Box 5, the importer 

must also furnish Customs with the 

importer’s passport number and the 

name of the country that issued the 

passport. In 2005, a total of 427 vehicles 

were imported under Box 5. In 2006, 

354 vehicles were imported under that 

box. Based on these figures, the agency 

estimates that roughly 400 vehicles will 

be imported under Box 5 in each of the 

next three years. Assuming that volume, 

the hour burden associated with the 

completion of the HS–7 Declaration 

form for these vehicles will be under 34 

hours (0.08333 hours to complete each 

HS–7 × 400 vehicles = 33.33 hours). 

g. Temporary importation of 

nonconforming vehicles by foreign 

diplomat under Box 6: A member of a 

foreign government on assignment in 

the United States, or a member of the 

secretariat of a public international 

organization so designated under the 

International Organizations Immunities 

Act, and within the class of persons for 

whom free entry of motor vehicles has 

been authorized by the Department of 

State, can temporarily import a 

nonconforming vehicle for personal use 

while in the United States. These 

vehicles are entered under Box 6 on the 

HS–7 Declaration form. The importer 

must attach to the declaration a copy of 


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the importer’s official orders and supply 

Customs with the name of the embassy 

to which the importer is attached. In 

2005, a total of 82 vehicles were 

imported under Box 6. In 2006, 70 

vehicles were imported under that box. 

Based on these figures, the agency 

estimates that roughly 75 vehicles will 

be imported under Box 6 in each of the 

next three years. Assuming that volume, 

the hour burden associated with the 

completion of the HS–7 Declaration 

form for these vehicles will be under 7 

hours (0.08333 hours to complete each 

HS–7 × 75 vehicles = 6.25 hours). 

h. Temporary importation of 

nonconforming vehicles and equipment 

under Box 7: Under 49 U.S.C. 30114, 

NHTSA is authorized to exempt a motor 

vehicle or item of motor vehicle 

equipment from the importation 

restriction in 49 U.S.C. 30112(a), on 

such terms the agency decides are 

necessary, for purposes of research, 

investigations, demonstrations, training, 

competitive racing events, show, or 

display. Regulations implementing this 

provision are found at 49 CFR part 591. 

Under those regulations, written 

permission from NHTSA is needed to 

temporarily import a nonconforming 

motor vehicle or equipment item for one 

of the specified purposes unless the 

importer is a manufacturer of motor 

vehicles that are certified to the FMVSS. 

An application form that can be used to 

obtain the letter of permission is posted 

to the agency’s Web site at 

www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import. If 

NHTSA grants it permission, the 

nonconforming motor vehicle or 

equipment item can be temporarily 

imported under Box 7 on the HS–7 

Declaration form. In 2005, 5,416 

vehicles were imported under Box 7. In 

2006, 4,344 vehicles were imported 

under that box. Permission letters were 

requested from NHTSA for 283 of those 

vehicles, representing less than seven 

percent of the total number of vehicles 

imported under Box 7 in 2006. The 

remaining vehicles were imported by 

original manufacturers of vehicles that 

are certified to the FMVSS, who can 

temporarily import nonconforming 

vehicles for any of the specified 

purposes under Box 7 without the need 

for a NHTSA permission letter. 

Averaging the volume of imports over 

the past two years, the agency projects 

that roughly 5,000 vehicles will be 

imported under Box 7 in each of the 

next three years. Assuming that 

applications for NHTSA permission 

letters will be submitted for ten percent 

of those vehicles, and that a single 

application will be filed for each 

vehicle, the agency estimates that 500 

applications will be filed in each of the 

next three years. Based on the estimate 

that it will take roughly five minutes to 

complete each of those applications, the 

agency projects that under 42 hours will 

be expended on an annual basis to 

submit applications for permission from 

NHTSA to import vehicles under Box 7 

(0.0833 hours per application × 500 

applications = 41.66 hours). Assuming 

that a single HS–7 Declaration form is 

filed for each vehicle imported under 

Box 7, the agency projects that under 

420 hours will be expended on an 

annual basis in completing the 

declaration for vehicles imported under 

Box 7 (0.0833 hours per declaration × 

5000 vehicles = 416.66 hours). 

i. Importation of off-road vehicles 

under Box 8: NHTSA regulates the 

importation of ‘‘motor vehicles,’’ which 

are defined (at 49 U.S.C. 30102) as 

vehicles that are driven or drawn by 

mechanical power and manufactured 

primarily for use on public streets, 

roads, and highways. Vehicles that are 

not primarily manufactured for on-road 

use do not qualify as ‘‘motor vehicles’’

under this definition, and may therefore 

be imported without regard to their 

compliance with the FMVSS. These 

vehicles are entered under Box 8 on the 

HS–7 Declaration form. Vehicles that 

can be entered in this fashion include 

those that are originally manufactured 

for closed circuit racing. Although 

approval from NHTSA is not needed to 

import a vehicle that was originally 

manufactured for racing purposes, the 

agency will issue a letter recognizing a 

particular vehicle as having been so 

manufactured if the importer requests 

the agency to do so. An application form 

that can be used to obtain such a letter 

is also posted to the agency’s Web site 

at www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import. In 

2005, applications were submitted to 

NHTSA for 60 vehicles imported under 

Box 8. In 2006, 69 applications were 

filed. Based on these figures, the agency 

projects that 65 applications to import 

vehicles for racing purposes under Box 

8 will be submitted in each of the next 

three years. Assuming that it will take 

five minutes to complete each of these 

applications, the agency estimates that 

under 6 hours will be expended in 

completing these applications (0.08333 

hours × 65 applications = 5.41 hours). 

In 2005, a total of 88,528 vehicles 

were imported under Box 8. In 2006, 

105,609 vehicles were imported under 

that box. Averaging those figures, the 

agency projects that roughly 100,000 

vehicles will be imported under Box 8 

in each of the next three years. The vast 

majority of these vehicles were off-road 

motorbikes or all-terrain vehicles that 

were imported in bulk shipments for 

which a single declaration was filed. 

NHTSA received only 117 HS–7 

Declaration forms for vehicles imported 

under Box 8 in 2006. The remainder of 

the entries were made electronically. 

Based on the assumption that each entry 

covers 100 vehicles, the agency 

estimates that approximately 10,000 Box 

8 entries will be made on an annual 

basis over the next three years. Relying 

on this assumption, the agency projects 

that under 840 hours will be expended 

on an annual basis in completing the 

declaration for vehicles imported under 

Box 8 (0.0833 hours per declaration × 

10000 vehicles = 833.33 hours). 

j. Importation of vehicles or 

equipment requiring further 

manufacturing operations under Box 9: 

A motor vehicle or equipment item that 

requires further manufacturing 

operations to perform its intended 

function, other than the addition of 

readily attachable components such as 

mirrors or wipers, or minor finishing 

operations such as painting, can be 

entered under Box 9 on the HS–7 

Declaration form. Documents from the 

manufacturer must be furnished for 

these entries. In 2005, 6,454 vehicles 

were imported under Box 9. In 2006, 

7,697 vehicles were imported under that 

box. Averaging those figures, the agency 

projects that roughly 7,000 vehicles will 

be imported under Box 9 in each of the 

next three years. Assuming that a 

separate HS–7 Declaration form is filed 

for each of those vehicles, the agency 

projects that under 584 hours will be 

expended on an annual basis in 

completing the declaration for vehicles 

imported under Box 9 (0.0833 hours per 

declaration × 7000 vehicles = 583.31). 

k. Importation of vehicles for show or 

display under Box 10: Vehicles that are 

deemed by NHTSA to have sufficient 

technological or historical significance 

that they would be worthy of being 

exhibited in car shows if they were 

brought to the United States are eligible 

for importation for purposes of show or 

display under Box 10 on the HS–7 

Declaration form. Written permission 

from NHTSA is also needed to import 

a vehicle for that purpose. An 

application form that can be used to 

request the agency to decide that a 

particular make, model, and model year 

vehicle is eligible for importation for 

purposes of show or display is posted to 

the agency’s Web site at www.nhtsa.gov/ 

cars/rules/import. In 2005, the agency 

received eleven applications to 

determine vehicles eligible for 

importation for purposes of show or 

display. In 2006, the agency received 

eight such applications. Averaging these 

figures, the agency projects that it will 

receive ten applications to determine 


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vehicles eligible for importation for 

purposes of show or display in each of 

the next three years. Assuming that it 

will take the typical applicant up to ten 

hours to compile and assemble the 

materials needed to support each 

application, the agency estimates that 

up to 100 hours will be expended in this 

activity in each of those years. 

Also on the agency’s Web site is an 

application form that can be used to 

request NHTSA to permit a particular 

vehicle to be imported for purposes of 

show or display once the agency has 

decided that the vehicle is of a make, 

model, and model year that is eligible 

for importation for those purposes. 

Certain restrictions apply to vehicles 

that are imported for purposes of show 

or display. Among those is a 

requirement that the vehicle not be 

driven in excess of 2,500 miles per year. 

The application specifies the terms of 

the importation and makes provision for 

the applicant to agree to those terms. In 

2005, the agency received 22 

applications to import specific vehicles 

for purposes of show or display. In 

2006, the agency received 30 such 

applications. Averaging those figures, 

the agency estimates that it will receive 

roughly 26 applications in each of the 

next three years. Assuming that it will 

take the typical applicant up to one 

hour to compile and assemble the 

materials needed to support each 

application, the agency estimates that 

up to 26 hours will be expended in this 

activity in each of those years. 

l. Importation of equipment subject to 

the Theft Prevention Standard under 

Box 11: Items of motor vehicle 

equipment that are marked in 

accordance with the Theft Prevention 

Standard in 49 CFR part 541 are entered 

under Box 11 on the HS–7 Declaration 

form. In 2005, there were 2,696 entries 

under Box 11. In 2006, there were 7,542 

such entries. Averaging these figures, 

the agency estimates that 5,000 entries 

will be made under Box 11 in each of 

the next three years. Virtually all of 

these entries are made electronically. 

This is evidenced by the fact that the 

agency received only eleven HS–7 

Declaration forms for Box 11 entries 

made in 2006. Assuming that it will take 

five minutes to complete each of these 

entries, the agency projects that under 

420 hours will be expended on an 

annual basis in making these entries for 

vehicles imported under Box 11 (0.0833 

hours per declaration × 5000 vehicles = 

416.66 hours). 

m. Temporary importation of 

nonconforming vehicles by foreign 

military personnel under Box 12: A 

member of the armed forces of a foreign 

country on assignment in the United 

States can temporarily import a 

nonconforming vehicle for personal use 

during the member’s tour of duty under 

Box 12 on the HS–7 Declaration form. 

In 2005, a total of 284 vehicles were 

imported under Box 12. In 2006, 130 

such vehicles were imported. Averaging 

these figures, the agency projects that 

roughly 200 vehicles will be imported 

under Box 12 in each of the next three 

years. Assuming that volume, the hour 

burden associated with the completion 

of the HS–7 Declaration form for these 

vehicles will be under 17 hours 

(0.08333 hours to complete each HS–7 

× 200 vehicles = 16.666 hours). 

n. Importation of vehicles to prepare 

import eligibility petitions under Box 

13: A nonconforming vehicle imported 

by an RI for the purpose of preparing a 

petition for NHTSA to decide that a 

particular make, model, and model year 

vehicle is eligible for importation is 

entered under Box 13 on the HS–7 

Declaration form. A letter from NHTSA 

granting the importer permission to 

import the vehicle for that purpose must 

be filed with the declaration. NHTSA 

has issued guidance to inform RIs that 

it will permit no more than two vehicles 

to be imported for the purpose of 

preparing an import eligibility petition. 

Box 13 was incorporated into the HS–

7 Declaration form when that form was 

last revised in May, 2006. Since that 

time, the agency has received requests 

to permit the importation of 17 vehicles 

under Box 13. As previously noted, the 

agency projects that roughly 30 import 

eligibility petitions will be submitted in 

each of the next three years. The agency 

permits an RI to import up to two 

vehicles for the purpose of preparing an 

import eligibility petition. Assuming 

that each petitioning RI imports two 

vehicles, the agency estimates that it 

will receive up to 60 requests per year 

for letters permitting those vehicles to 

be imported under Box 13. Estimating 

that it will take five minutes to complete 

each of those requests, the hour burden 

associated with this activity will be 

under 5 hours (0.08333 hours to 

complete each request × 60 vehicles = 

4.99 hours). 

2. Information collected from 

applicants for RI status and existing RIs 

seeking to renew their registrations: 

Under 49 U.S.C. 30141, a motor vehicle 

that was not originally manufactured to 

comply with all applicable FMVSS 

cannot be lawfully imported into the 

United States on a permanent basis 

unless (1) NHTSA decides it is eligible 

for importation, based on its capability 

of being modified to conform to all 

applicable FMVSS and (2) it is imported 

by an RI or by a person who has a 

contract with an RI to modify the 

vehicle so that it complies with all 

applicable FMVSS following 

importation. NHTSA is authorized by 49 

U.S.C. 30141(c) to establish, by 

regulation, procedures for registering 

RIs. Those regulations are found in 49 

CFR part 592. 

a. Information collected from 

applicants: Under the terms of the 

regulations in part 592, an applicant for 

RI status must submit to the agency 

information that identifies the 

applicant, specifies the manner in 

which the applicant’s business is 

organized (i.e., sole proprietorship, 

partnership, or corporation), and, 

depending on the form of organization, 

identifies the principals of the business. 

The application must also state that the 

applicant has never had a registration 

revoked and identify any principal 

previously affiliated with another RI. 

The application must also provide the 

street address and telephone number in 

the United States of each facility for the 

conformance, storage, and repair of 

vehicles that the applicant will use to 

fulfill its duties as an RI, including 

records maintenance, and the street 

address in the United States that it 

designates as its mailing address. The 

applicant must also furnish a business 

license or other similar document 

issued by a State or local authority 

authorizing it to do business as an 

importer, seller, or modifier of motor 

vehicles, or a statement that it has made 

a bona fide inquiry and is not required 

by any State or local authority to 

maintain such a license. The application 

must also set forth sufficient 

information to allow the Administrator 

to conclude that the applicant (1) is 

technically able to modify 

nonconforming vehicles to conform to 

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 

and bumper standards, (2) owns or 

leases one or more facilities sufficient in 

nature and size to repair, conform, and 

store the vehicles for which it furnishes 

statements of conformity to NHTSA, (3) 

is financially and technically able to 

provide notification of and a remedy for 

a noncompliance with an FMVSS or a 

defect related to motor vehicle safety 

determined to exist in the vehicles it 

imports, and (4) is able to acquire and 

maintain information on the vehicles 

that it imports and the owners of those 

vehicles so that it can notify the owners 

if a safety-related defect or 

noncompliance is determined to exist in 

such vehicles. The application must 

also contain a statement that the 

applicant will abide by the duties of an 

RI and attesting to the truthfulness and 

correctness of the information provided 

in the application. A brochure 


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containing sample documents that an 

applicant may use in applying to 

become an RI is posted to the agency’s 

Web site at www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/ 

import. In 2005, NHTSA received five 

applications for RI status. In 2006, the 

agency received four applications of this 

kind. Based on these figures, the agency 

anticipates that it will receive five 

applications for RI status in each of the 

next three years. Assuming that it will 

take up to ten hours to compile and 

assemble the material needed to support 

a single application, the agency 

estimates that 50 hours will be 

expended in this activity for each of the 

next three years (5 applications × 10 

hours = 50 hours). 

b. Information collected from existing 

RIs: To maintain its registration, an RI 

must file an annual statement affirming 

that all information it has on file with 

the agency remains correct and that it 

continues to comply with the 

requirements for being an RI. Formats 

that existing RIs may use to renew their 

registrations are included in a 

newsletter sent electronically to each RI 

before the renewal is due and posted to 

the agency’s Web site at www.nhtsa.gov/ 

cars/rules/import. The number of RI 

renewals has been steadily declining in 

recent years on account of the continual 

weakening of the U.S. dollar against the 

Canadian dollar, and the concomitant 

reduction in the volume of vehicles 

imported from Canada. In 2005, NHTSA 

received renewal packages from 94 RIs. 

In 2006, the agency received only 69 

renewal packages. Based on these 

figures, the agency anticipates that it 

will receive an average of 65 renewal 

packages in each of the next three years. 

Assuming that it will take up to two 

hours to compile and assemble the 

material needed to support a single 

application for renewal, the agency 

estimates that 130 hours will be 

expended in this activity for each of the 

next three years (65 renewal 

applications × 2 hours = 130 hours). 

3. Information to be retained by RIs: 

The agency’s regulations at 49 CFR 

592.6(b) require an RI to maintain and 

retain certain specified records for each 

motor vehicle for which it furnishes a 

certificate of conformity to NHTSA, for 

a period of 10 years from the vehicle’s 

date of entry. As described in the 

regulations, those records must consist 

of ‘‘correspondence and other 

documents relating to the importation, 

modification, and substantiation of 

certification of conformity to the 

Administrator.’’ The regulations further 

specify that the records to be retained 

must include (1) a copy of the HS–7 

Declaration Form furnished for the 

vehicle at the time of importation, (2) all 

vehicle or equipment purchase or sales 

orders or agreements, conformance 

agreements with importers other than 

RIs, and correspondence between the RI 

and the owner or purchaser of each 

vehicle for which the RI furnishes a 

certificate of conformity to NHTSA, (3) 

the last known name and address of the 

owner or purchaser of each vehicle for 

which the RI furnishes a certificate of 

conformity, and the vehicle 

identification number (VIN) of the 

vehicle, and (4) records, both 

photographic and documentary, 

reflecting the modifications made by the 

RI, which were submitted to NHTSA to 

obtain release of the conformance bond 

furnished for the vehicle at the time of 

importation. See 49 CFR 592.6(b)(1) 

through (b)(4). 

The latter records are referred to as a 

‘‘conformity package.’’ Most conformity 

packages submitted to the agency 

covering vehicles imported from Canada 

are comprised of approximately six 

sheets of paper (including a check-off 

sheet identifying the vehicle and the 

standards that it was originally 

manufactured to conform to and those 

that it was modified to conform to, a 

statement identifying the recall history 

of the vehicle, a copy of the HS–474 

conformance bond covering the vehicle, 

and a copy of the mandatory service 

insurance policy obtained by the RI to 

cover its recall obligations for the 

vehicle). In addition, most conformity 

packages include photographs of the 

vehicle, components that were modified 

or replaced to conform the vehicle to 

applicable standards, and the 

certification labels affixed to the 

vehicle. 

Approximately 120 conformity 

packages can be stored in a cubic foot 

of space. Based on projected imports of 

10,000 nonconforming vehicles per 

year, 83.3 cubic feet of space will be 

needed on an industry-wide basis to 

store one year’s worth of conformity 

packages. Assuming an annual cost of 

$20 per cubic foot to store the 

information, NHTSA estimates the 

aggregate cost to industry for storing a 

year’s worth of conformity packages to 

be $1,666.40 per year. Over a ten-year 

retention period, a member of the 

industry would be required to retain 55 

annual units of records (assuming that 

one annual unit was stored in the first 

year, two annual units in the second 

year, and so on). The aggregate cost to 

industry of the ten-year record retention 

requirement will therefore be $91.652 

(55 × $1,666.40). 

RIs are also required under 49 CFR 

592.6(b) to retain a copy of the HS–7 

Declaration Form furnished to Customs 

at the time of entry for each 

nonconforming vehicle for which they 

submit a conformity package to NHTSA. 

Paper HS–7 Declaration Forms are only 

filed for a small fraction of the 

nonconforming vehicles imported into 

the United States. Customs brokers file 

entries for most nonconforming vehicles 

electronically by using the Automated 

Broker Interface (ABI) system. For 

example, in calendar year 2006, 10,953 

ABI entries were made for 

nonconforming vehicles imported into 

the United States under Box 3, and only 

440 paper HS–7 Declaration Forms 

(representing less than four percent of 

the total) were filed for such vehicles. 

Because HS–7 Declaration Forms are 

filed for only a small fraction of the 

nonconforming vehicles that are 

imported by RIs, the storage 

requirement for those records can have 

no more than a negligible cost impact on 

the industry. Because the remaining 

records that RIs are required to retain 

under 49 CFR 592.6(b) may be stored 

electronically, the costs incident to the 

storage of those records should also be 

negligible. 

RIs who conduct recall campaigns to 

remedy a safety-related defect or a 

noncompliance with an FMVSS 

determined to exist in a vehicle they 

import must report the progress of those 

campaigns to NHTSA. The agency 

estimates that it should take each RI that 

is required to conduct a safety recall 

campaign approximately one hour to 

compile information for and prepare 

each of the two reports it would be 

required to submit to the agency 

detailing the progress of the recall 

campaign. Since vehicle manufacturers 

in most cases include vehicles imported 

by RIs in their own recall campaigns, it 

is likely that very few of these reports 

would have to be prepared or submitted 

by RIs. 

Description of the Need for the 

Information and Proposed Use of the 

Information: The information collection 

detailed above is necessary to ensure 

that motor vehicles and items of motor 

vehicle equipment subject to the Federal 

motor vehicle safety, bumper and theft 

prevention standards are lawfully 

imported into the United States. To be 

lawfully imported, the vehicle or 

equipment item must be covered by one 

of the boxes on the HS–7 Declaration 

form and the importer must declare, 

subject to penalty for making false 

statements, that the vehicle or 

equipment item is entitled to entry 

under the conditions specified on the 

form, including the provision of any 

supporting information or materials that 

may be required. 

NHTSA relies on the information 

provided by RIs and applicants for RI 


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status to obtain and renew their 

registrations so that it can better ensure 

that RIs are meeting their obligations 

under the statutes and regulations 

governing the importation of 

nonconforming vehicles and can make 

more informed decisions in conferring 

RI status on applicants and in 

permitting RI status to be retained by 

those currently holding registrations. In 

this manner, those lacking the capability 

to responsibly provide RI services, or 

who have committed or are associated 

with those who have committed past 

violations of the vehicle importation 

laws, can be more readily denied 

registration as an RI, or if they already 

hold such a registration, have that 

registration suspended or revoked when 

circumstances warrant such action. 

Description of the Likely Respondents 

(Including Estimated Number and 

Proposed Frequency of Responses to the 

Collection of Information): With regard 

to the HS–7 Declaration form, likely 

respondents include any private 

individual or commercial entity 

importing into the United States a 

vehicle or item of motor vehicle 

equipment subject to the Federal motor 

vehicle safety standards. It is difficult to 

estimate, with reliability, the absolute 

number of such respondents; however, 

that number would include: 

• The 73 RIs who are currently 

registered with NHTSA and import 

nonconforming vehicles under Boxes 3 

and 13; 

• The roughly 2,000 individuals who 

import each year Canadian-certified 

vehicles for personal use under Box 2B; 

• The several hundred original 

manufacturers who import conforming 

motor vehicles and equipment items 

under Box 2A; nonconforming vehicles 

or equipment intended for export under 

Box 4; nonconforming vehicles and 

equipment on a temporary basis for 

purposes of research, investigations, or 

other reasons specified under Box 7; 

vehicles and equipment requiring 

further manufacturing operations under 

Box 9; and equipment subject to the 

Theft Prevention Standard under Box 

11. 

• The several hundred dealers, 

distributors, and individuals who 

import off-road vehicles such as dirt 

bikes and all-terrain vehicles or ATVs, 

as well as other vehicles that are not 

primarily manufactured for on-road use 

under Box 8. 

• The several hundred nonresidents 

of the United States and foreign 

diplomatic and military personnel who 

temporarily import nonconforming 

vehicles for personal use under Boxes 5, 

6, and 12. 

Estimate of the Total Annual 

Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden of 

the Collection of Information in the 

Amended Regulations: Adding together 

the burden hours detailed above yields 

a total of 42,413 hours expended on an 

annual basis for all paperwork 

associated with the filing of the HS–7 

Declaration form and other aspects of 

the vehicle importation program. 

Estimate of the Total Annual Costs of 

the Collection of Information: Other 

than the cost of the burden hours, the 

only additional costs associated with 

this information collection are those 

incident to the storage, for a period of 

ten years, of records pertaining to the 

nonconforming vehicles that each RI 

imports into the United States. 

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of 

authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8(f). 

Issued on: May 8, 2007. 

Daniel Smith, 

Associate Administrator for Enforcement. 

[FR Doc. E7–9234 Filed 5–14–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Finance Docket No. 35022] 

New Hampshire Central Railroad, 

Inc.—Lease and Operation 

Exemption—Line of the New 

Hampshire Department of 

Transportation 

New Hampshire Central Railroad, Inc. 

(NHCR), a Class III rail carrier, has filed 

a verified notice of exemption under 49 

CFR 1150.41 to acquire by lease and to 

operate approximately 8.47 miles of rail 

line owned by the State of New 

Hampshire Department of 

Transportation on the Mountain 

Division corridor, between Engineering 

Station 5060+25, Valuation Section 17 

NH Map 53, in Whitefield, NH, and 

Station 5503, Valuation Section 18 VT 

Map 3, in Lunenburg, VT. 

NHCR certifies that its projected 

revenues as a result of this transaction 

will not result in the creation of a Class 

II or a Class I rail carrier and will not 

exceed $5 million. 

The earliest this transaction may be 

consummated is June 1, 2007, the 

effective date of the exemption (30 days 

after the exemption was filed). 

If the notice contains false or 

misleading information, the exemption 

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the 

exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) 

may be filed at any time. The filing of 

a petition to revoke will not 

automatically stay the transaction. 

Petitions for stay must be filed no later 

than May 25, 2007 (at least 7 days before 

the exemption becomes effective). 

An original and 10 copies of all 

pleadings, referring to STB Finance 

Docket No. 35022, must be filed with 

the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E 

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423–

0001. Also, a copy of each pleading 

must be served on Jack E. Dodd, P.O. 

Box 28, Saint Albans, VT 05478. 

Board decisions and notices are 

available on our Web site at http:// 

www.stb.dot.gov. 

Decided: May 8, 2007. 

By the Board, David M. Konschnik, 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Vernon A. Williams, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E7–9203 Filed 5–14–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Fiscal Service 

Financial Management Service; 

Proposed Collection of Information: 

Authorization Agreement for 

Preauthorized Payment (SF 5510) 

AGENCY: Financial Management Service, 

Fiscal Service, Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Financial Management 

Service, as part of its continuing effort 

to reduce paperwork and respondent 

burden, invites the general public and 

other Federal agencies to take this 

opportunity to comment on a 

continuing information collection. By 

this notice, the Financial Management 

Service solicits comments concerning 

the Form 5510, ‘‘Authorization 

Agreement for Preauthorized Payment’’. 

DATES: Written comments should be 

received on or before July 16, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments 

to Financial Management Service, 3700 

East West Highway, Records and 

Information Management Branch, Room 

135, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information 

should be directed to Mike Burnum, 

Director, Settlement Services Division, 

Room 426, 401–14th Street, SW., 

Washington, DC 20227 (202) 874–6430. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 

to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), the Financial 

Management Service solicits comments 

on the collection of information 

described below: 


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