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###### Department of Transportation

###### National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

          - [U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2009-0048]

# AGENCY:

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

# 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 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 May 19, 2009.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket No. NHTSA-2009-0048] 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: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
      - Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between       ( print page 11995)                              9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Telephone: 1-800-647-5527.                    
      - Fax: 202-493-2251.

*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://www.regulations.gov,*                         including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.                    

*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 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit                         *http://DocketInfo.dot.gov.*

*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 this request for collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Dennis Flemons, NHTSA 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W53-448 NVS-412, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Flemons telephone number is (202) 366-5389. 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:*                     Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).                

*OMB Control Number:*                     2127-0006.                

*Form Number:*                     HS214, HS 214A, HS214B, HS 214C.                

*Affected Public:*                     State, Local, or Tribal Government.                

*Abstract:*                     Under both the Highway Safety Act of 1966 and the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the responsibility to collect accident data that support the establishment and enforcement of motor vehicle regulations and highway safety programs. These regulations and programs are developed to reduce the severity of injury and the property damage associated with motor vehicle accidents. The Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) is a major system that acquires national fatality information directly from existing State files and documents. Since FARS is an on-going data acquisition system, reviews are conducted yearly to determine whether the data acquired are responsive to the total user population needs. The total user population includes Federal and State agencies and the private sector.                

Changes in the forms usually involve clarification adjustments to aid the user population in conducting more precise analyses, to remove ambiguity for the respondents and to differentiate data by data collection year. These changes are annual and do not affect the reporting burden of the respondent (State employees utilize existing State highway safety related files).

Other changes may involve removing outdated data elements introducing new data elements or redesigning data elements to capture higher quality data and to respond more to the needs of the user population. These changes are less frequent and affect burden very gradually. Advances in technology and systems design are incorporated to minimize the burden on the respondents.

*Estimated Annual Burden:*                     82,407 hours.                

*Number of Respondents:*                     53.                

*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.                

Marilena Amoni,

Associate Administrator, National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

[FR Doc. E9-6040 Filed 3-19-09; 8:45 am]

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