33606 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 121 / Friday, June 22, 2001 / Notices

1On June 8, 2001, UP and BNSF filed a petition

for exemption in STB Finance Docket No. 34053

(Sub-No. 1), Union Pacific Railroad Company—

Trackage Rights Exemption—The Burlington

Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company, wherein

UP and BNSF request that the Board permit the

proposed overhead trackage rights arrangement

described in the present proceeding to expire on

November 30, 2001. That petition will be addressed

by the Board in a separate decision.

unless the shift lever is in the ‘‘Park’’

position preventing movement of the

shift lever until the key is turned in the

lock.

The battery for BMW’s MINI vehicle

line will be covered and inaccessibly

located. Therefore, if a thief does

manage to penetrate and disconnect the

battery, it will not unlock the doors.

However, in the event of a crash, an

inertia switch will automatically unlock

all the doors.

BMW also stated that its antitheft

device does not incorporate any audible

or visual alarms. However, based on the

declining theft rate experience of other

vehicles equipped with devices that do

not have an audio or visual alarm for

which NHTSA has already exempted

from the parts-marking requirements,

the agency has concluded that the data

indicate that lack of a visual or audio

alarm has not prevented these antitheft

devices from being effective protection

against theft.

BMW compared the device proposed

for its new line with devices which

NHTSA has previously determined to be

as effective in reducing and deterring

motor vehicle theft as would

compliance with the parts-marking

requirements of Part 541, and has

concluded that the antitheft device

proposed for this line is no less effective

than those devices in the lines for which

NHTSA has already granted exemptions

from the parts-marking requirements.

The antitheft system that BMW intends

to install on its MINI vehicle line for

MY 2002 is exactly the same system that

is currently installed on its Carline 3,

Carline 5, Carline 7 and X5 vehicle

lines. The agency granted BMW’s

petition for modification of its Carline 7

beginning with MY 1995 (See 59 FR

47973, September 19, 1994); and its

petitions for exemptions granted in full

for Carline 5 beginning with MY 1997,

Carline 3 beginning with MY 1999 and

its X5 vehicle line beginning with MY

2000. (See 61 FR 6292, February 16,

1996, 62 FR 62800, November 25, 1997

and 64 FR 33947, June 24, 1999,

respectively).

In order to ensure reliability and

durability of the device, BMW

conducted performance tests based on

its own specified standards. BMW

provided a detailed list of the following

tests conducted: climatic tests, high

temperature endurance run,

thermoshock test in water, chemical

resistance, vibrational load, electrical

ranges, mechanical shock tests, and

electromagnetic field compatibility.

Additionally, BMW stated that its

immobilizer system fulfills the

requirements of the European vehicle

insurance companies which became

standard as of January 1995. The

requirements prescribe that the vehicle

must be equipped with an electronic

vehicle immobilizing device which

works independently from the

mechanical locking system and prevents

the operation of the vehicle through the

use of coded intervention in the engine

management system. In addition, the

device must be self-arming (passive),

become effective upon leaving the

vehicle, or not later than the point at

which the vehicle is locked, and allow

deactivation of the vehicle by electronic

means and not by use of the mechanical

key.

Based on evidence submitted by

BMW, the agency believes that the

antitheft device for the MINI vehicle

line is likely to be as effective in

reducing and deterring motor vehicle

theft as compliance with the partsmarking requirements of the theft

prevention standard (49 CFR part 541).

The agency believes that the device

will provide four of the five types of

performance listed in 49 CFR

543.6(a)(3): Promoting activation;

preventing defeat or circumvention of

the device by unauthorized persons;

preventing operation of the vehicle by

unauthorized entrants; and ensuring the

reliability and durability of the device.

The device lacks the ability to attract

attention to the efforts of unauthorized

persons to enter or operate a vehicle by

a means other than a key

(§ 541.6(a)(3)(ii).

As required by 49 U.S.C. 33106 and

49 CFR 543.6(a)(4) and (5), the agency

finds that BMW has provided adequate

reasons for its belief that the antitheft

device will reduce and deter theft. This

conclusion is based on the information

BMW provided about its antitheft

device. For the foregoing reasons, the

agency hereby grants in full BMW of

North America’s petition for an

exemption for the MY 2002 MINI

vehicle line from the parts-marking

requirements of 49 CFR part 541. If

BMW decides not to use the exemption

for this line, it must formally notify the

agency, and, thereafter, the line must be

fully marked as required by 49 CFR

541.5 and 541.6 (marking of major

component parts and replacement

parts).

NHTSA notes that if BMW wishes in

the future to modify the device on

which this exemption is based, the

company may have to submit a petition

to modify the exemption. Section

543.7(d) states that a part 543 exemption

applies only to vehicles that belong to

a line exempted under this part and

equipped with the anti-theft device on

which the line’s exemption is based.

Further, § 543.9(c)(2) provides for the

submission of petitions ‘‘to modify an

exemption to permit the use of an

antitheft device similar to but differing

from the one specified in that

exemption.’’ The agency wishes to

minimize the administrative burden that

§ 543.9(c)(2) could place on exempted

vehicle manufacturers and itself.

The agency did not intend in drafting

part 543 to require the submission of a

modification petition for every change

to the components or design of an

antitheft device. The significance of

many such changes could be de

minimis. Therefore, NHTSA suggests

that if the manufacturer contemplates

making any changes the effects of which

might be characterized as de minimis, it

should consult the agency before

preparing and submitting a petition to

modify.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33106; delegation of

authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Issued on: June 18, 2001.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Safety,

Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 01–15698 Filed 6–21–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34053]

Union Pacific Railroad Company—

Trackage Rights Exemption—The

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Company

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Company (BNSF) has agreed to

grant overhead trackage rights to Union

Pacific Railroad Company (UP) over

BNSF’s rail lines between BNSF

milepost 885.2 near Bakersfield, CA,

and BNSF milepost 1120.54 near

Stockton, CA, a distance of

approximately 235 miles.1

The transaction is scheduled to be

consummated on June 17, 2001.

The purpose of the trackage rights is

to permit UP to use the BNSF trackage

when UP’s trackage is out of service for

scheduled maintenance.

As a condition to this exemption, any

employees affected by the trackage

rights will be protected by the

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 121 / Friday, June 22, 2001 / Notices 33607

conditions imposed in Norfolk and

Western Ry. Co.—Trackage Rights—BN,

354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in

Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.-Lease and

Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980).

This notice is filed under 49 CFR

1180.2(d)(7). If it 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.

An original and 10 copies of all

pleadings, referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 34053 must be filed with the

Surface Transportation Board, Office of

the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423–

0001. In addition, one copy of each

pleading must be served on Robert T.

Opal, 1416 Dodge Street, Room 830,

Omaha, NE 68179.

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at

‘‘WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.’’

Decided: June 13, 2001.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–15434 Filed 6–21–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping

Requirements; Activity Under OMB

Review; Airline Service Quality

Performance

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation

Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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

extension of currently approved

collections. The ICR describes the

nature of the information collection and

its expected burden. The Federal

Register notice with a 60-day comment

period soliciting comments on the

following collection of information was

published on September 22, 2000 (65 FR

57426).

DATES: Written comments should be

submitted by July 23, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline

Information, K–25, Room 4125, Bureau

of Transportation Statistics, 400 Seventh

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590–

0001, Telephone Number (202) 366–

4387, Fax Number (202) 366–3383 or

EMAIL bernard.stankus@bts.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

(BTS)

Title: Airline Service Quality

Performance.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

OMB Control Number: 2138–0041.

Forms: Part 234.

Affected Public: U.S. air carriers that

provide scheduled passenger service

and account for at least one percent of

U.S. domestic schedule passenger

revenues.

Consumer Information

Part 234 gives air travelers

information concerning their chances of

on-time flights and the rate of

mishandled baggage by the eleven

largest scheduled domestic passenger

carriers and Aloha Airlines. This

information is made available to the

public in the Air Travel Consumer

Report and on the web at

http:www.dot.gov/airconsumer. The Air

Travel Consumer Report is also sent to

newspapers, magazines, and trade

journals. Other on-time data is available

on the web at http:www.bts.gov.

Reducing and Identifying Traffic Delays

The Federal Aviation Administrations

uses part 234 data to pinpoint and

analyze air traffic delays. Wheels-up

and wheels-down times are used in

conjunction with departure and arrival

times to show the extent of ground

delays. Actual elapsed flight time,

wheels-down minus wheels-up time, is

compared to scheduled elapsed flight

time to identify airborne delays. The

reporting of aircraft tail number allows

the FAA to track an aircraft through the

air network, which enables the FAA to

study the ripple effects of delays at hub

airports. The data can be analyzed for

airport design changes, new equipment

purchases, the planning of new runways

or airports based on current and

projected airport delays, and traffic

levels.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours:

1,728 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, 725–17th Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20503, Attention BTS

Desk Officer.

Comments

Comments are invited on: whether the

proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the Department

concerning consumer protection.

Comments should address 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 in Washington, DC, on June 18,

2001.

Donald W. Bright,

Assistant Director, Office of Airline

Information.

[FR Doc. 01–15697 Filed 6–21–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–FE–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900–0495]

Proposed Information Collection

Activity: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits

Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits

Administration (VBA), Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an

opportunity for public comment on the

proposed collection of certain

information by the agency. Under the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of

1995, Federal agencies are required to

publish notice in the Federal Register

concerning each proposed collection of

information, including each

reinstatement, without change, of a

previously approved collection for

which approval has expired, and allow

60 days for public comment in response

to the notice. This notice solicits

comments on the information needed to

determine whether a surviving spouse is

still entitled to dependency and

indemnity compensation benefits.

DATES: Written comments and

recommendations on the proposed

collection of information should be

received on or before August 21, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

on the collection of information to

Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits