[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 142 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39927-39928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19795]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information 
Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICRs 
describe the nature of the information collections and their expected 
burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following information collection was 
published on April 28, 1998 [63 FR 23337].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 24, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Robinson, NHTSA Information 
Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 366-9456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

    Title: 49 CFR Part 576 Record Retention.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0042.
    Type Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Abstract: Under 49 U.S.C. Section 30166(e), NHTSA ``reasonably may 
require a manufacturer of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment to 
keep records, and a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to make 
reports, to enable [NHTSA] to decide whether the manufacturer, 
distributor or dealer has complied or is complying with this chapter or 
a regulation prescribed under this chapter.'' 49 U.S.C. Section 
30118<Copyright> requires manufacturers to notify NHTSA and owners, 
purchasers, and dealers if the manufacturer (1) ``learns'' that any 
vehicle or equipment manufactured by it contains a defect and decides 
in good faith that the defect relates to motor vehicle safety, or (2) 
``decides in good faith'' that the vehicle or equipment does not comply 
with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard. The only way 
for the agency to decide if and when a manufacturer ``learned'' of a 
safety-related defect or ``decided in good faith'' that some products 
did not comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard 
is for the agency to have access to the information available to the 
manufacturer. Further, 49 U.S.C. Section 30118(a) requires NHTSA to 
immediately notify a manufacturer if the agency determines that some of 
the manufacturer's products either do not comply with an applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standard or contain a safety-related 
defect, and provide the manufacturer with all the information on which 
the determination is based. Agency determinations of noncompliance are 
generally based upon actual testing conducted by or for the agency. 
However, defect determinations depend heavily upon review of consumer 
complaints submitted to the manufacturer, communications between 
manufacturers and suppliers, and the manufacturers' analyses of field 
problems and/or warranty claims. Without these complaints and 
manufacturer documents, NHTSA would have only limited access to 
information about vehicle or equipment problems. To ensure that NHTSA 
will have access to this type of information, the agency exercised the 
authority granted in 49 U.S.C. Section 30166(e) and promulgated 49 CFR 
Part 576, Record Retention. This regulation requires manufacturers of 
motor vehicles to retain one copy of all records that contain 
information concerning malfunctions that may be related to motor 
vehicle safety, for a period of five years after the record is 
generated or acquired by the manufacturer.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 40,000 hours.
    Number of Respondents: At least 1,000 vehicle manufacturers of all 
types.

ADDRESS: Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. 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.
    A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication.


[[Page 39928]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 20, 1998.
Vanester M. Williams,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 98-19795 Filed 7-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P