[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21816-21817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10844]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket Number NHTSA-2001-9356]


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 (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 July 2, 2001.

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: 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, NPS-32,Washington, DC 
20590. Ms. Deborah Mazyck's telephone number is (202) 366-0846. 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;
    (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 Prevention Standards (49 CFR 571.115, and Parts 
565, 541 and 567).
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0510.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard forms.
    Abstract: 49 CFR Parts 571.115 and 565.
    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

[[Page 21817]]

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 
states that passenger motor vehicles, multipurpose passenger vehicles, 
and light-duty trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 
pounds or less be covered under the Theft Prevention Standard. 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.

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 vehicle or equipment, and its date of manufacturer.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 456,212.
    Number of Respondents: 1,000.

    Issued on: April 26, 2001.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety, Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-10844 Filed 4-30-01; 8:45 am]
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