Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Transportation

###### National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

          - [U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2008-0129]

# AGENCY:

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

# ACTION:

Request for public comment on an extension of a currently approved collection.

# 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 November 24, 2008.

# ADDRESSES:

Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management, Room W12-140, ground level, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590 by any of the following methods.
      -  Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the 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.                    
      -  Hand Delivery/Courier:                          1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.                          Telephone:                          1-800-647-5527.                    
      -  Fax:                          (202) 493-2251.                    

*Instructions:*                         For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public Participation heading of the                         **Supplementary Information**                         section of this document. 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 the street address listed above. The Internet access to the docket will be at                         *http://www.regulations.gov*. Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Complete copies of each request for collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Carlita Ballard, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Room W43-439, NVS-131, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Ballard'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; 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,                           ( print page 55592)                        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:*                     Insurer Reporting Requirement for 49 CFR Part 544.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     2127-0547.                

*Form Number:*                     None.                  

*Affected Public:*                     Business or other for-profit.                

*Requested Expiration Date of Approval:*                     Three years from approval date.                

*Abstract:*                     This information collection supports the Department's strategic goal of Economic Growth and Trade. The Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act of 1984, added Title VI to the Motor Vehicle and Information Cost Savings Act (recodified as Chapter 331 of Title 49, United States Code) which mandated this information collection. The 1984 Theft Act was amended by the Anti Car Theft Act (ACTA) of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-519). NHTSA is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 33112, to collect this information. This information collection supports the agency's economic growth and trade goal through rulemaking implementation developed to help reduce the cost of vehicle ownership by reducing the cost of comprehensive insurance coverage. 49 U.S.C. 33112 requires certain passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and rental/leasing companies to provide information to NHTSA on comprehensive insurance premiums, theft and recoveries and actions taken to address motor vehicle theft.                

*Estimated Annual Burden:*                     Based on prior years' insurer compilation information, the agency estimates that the time to review and compile information for the reports will take approximately a total of 63,238 burden hours (60,004 man-hours for 28 insurance companies and 3,234 man-hours for 7 rental and leasing companies). Claim Adjusters incur separate burden hours from the number of insurers. There is one Claim Adjuster assigned to each insurer. There was a decrease in several rental and leasing companies that have merged into one entity or have been exempted from the reporting requirements since the last reporting period. The agency has re-estimated the burden hours to be 63,238 total annual hours requested in lieu of 64,610 as the current OMB inventory. This is a decrease of 1,376 hours. Most recent year insurer compilation information estimates reveal that it takes an average cost of $65.00 per hour for clerical and technical staff to prepare the annual reports. Therefore, the agency estimates the total cost associated with the burden hours is $4,110,470.                

The burden hour for rental and leasing companies is significantly less than that for insurance companies because rental and leasing companies comply with fewer reporting requirements than the insurance companies. The reporting burden is based on insurers' salaries, clerical and technical expenses, and labor costs.

*Number of Respondents:*                     35.                

*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.                

Issued on: September 19, 2008.

Stephen R. Kratzke,

Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.

[FR Doc. E8-22629 Filed 9-24-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P