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[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1369-1371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-433]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket Number NHTSA-2000-8273]

Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collections of 
information.

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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 reinstatements of previously approved collections.
    This document describes two collections of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket and notice number cited at 
the beginning of this notice and be submitted to U.S. Department of 
Transportation Dockets, 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 
Control Number. It is requested, but not required, that one original 
plus two copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open 
on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for

[[Page 1370]]

collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Ms. 
Henrietta L. Spinner, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, Southwest, Room 5320, 
NPS-32, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Spinner's telephone number is (202) 
366-0846. Please identify the relevant collection of information by 
referring to its OMB clearance 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 
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. 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, 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 
comment on the following current collections of information for which 
the agency is seeking extension of their approval from OMB:
    Title: 49 CFR 537--Automotive Fuel Economy Reports.
    OMB Control No.: 2127-0019.
    Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard form.
    Abstract: Part 537 requires automobile manufacturers to submit 
semi-annual reports to NHTSA regarding their efforts to improve fuel 
economy.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affect Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Requested Expiration Date: Three years from approval date.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: NHTSA ensures that 
automobile manufacturers comply with 49 CFR part 537--Automotive Fuel 
Economy Reports. Part 537 requires that automobile manufacturers submit 
reports to NHTSA regarding their efforts to improve automotive fuel 
economy.
    Section 32907 of Chapter 329 of title 49 of the United States Code 
requires each automobile manufacturer (other than those low volume 
manufacturers which were granted an alternative fuel economy standard 
under section 32902 (d)) to submit semi-annual reports to the agency 
relating to that manufacturers' efforts to comply with average fuel 
economy standards. One report is due during the 30-day period preceding 
the beginning of each model year (the ``pre-model year report'') and 
the other is due during the 30-day period beginning on the 180th day of 
the model year (the ``mid-model year report'').
    Section 32907 (a)(1) of Chapter 329 provides that each report must 
contain a statement as to whether the manufacturer will comply with 
average fuel economy standards for that year, a plan describing the 
steps the manufacturer took or will take to comply with the standards, 
and any other information the agency may require. Whenever a 
manufacturer determines that a plan it has submitted in one of its 
reports is no longer adequate to assure compliance, it must submit a 
revised plan.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: This information assists NHTSA in evaluating automobile 
manufacturers' plans for complying with average fuel economy standards 
and in preparing an annual review of the average fuel economy 
standards. The information is collected by NHTSA by having the 
automobile manufacturers mail their semi-annual automotive fuel economy 
reports and/or submit a copy on computer diskette to the agency. The 
required information is used for four basic purposes. These purposes 
are: (a) To give NHTSA advance indication if any manufacturer will fail 
to comply with the applicable average fuel economy standards; (b) to 
give NHTSA necessary information to prepare fuel economy reports; (c) 
to assist NHTSA in responding to general information requests 
concerning automotive fuel economy, which are routinely received from 
Congress, other parts of the Executive branch, and the public; and (d) 
to provide NHTSA with detailed and accurate technical and economic 
information used to evaluate possible future average fuel economy 
standards which may be established by NHTSA.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information): 
NHTSA anticipates that no more than 17 vehicle manufacturers will be 
affected by the reporting requirements. NHTSA does not believe any of 
these 17 manufacturers are a small business (i.e., one that employs 
less than 500 persons). NHTSA anticipates a total of about 40 responses 
may be filed by these 17 manufacturers. Most manufacturers will respond 
semiannually; however, a few manufacturers may respond more frequently.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information: NHTSA estimates that the 
vehicle manufacturers will incur a total annual reporting and cost 
burden of 3,300 hours and $645,000.
    Title: 49 CFR 583--Automobile Parts Content Labeling.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0573.
    Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard form.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval 
date.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: NHTSA ensures that 
automobile manufacturers comply with 49 CFR Part 583--Automobile Parts 
Content Labeling. Part 583 establishes requirements for the disclosure 
of information relating to the countries of origin of the equipment of 
new passenger motor vehicles.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: This information will be used by NHTSA to determine 
whether manufacturers are complying with the American Automobile 
Labeling Act (49 United States Code 32304). The American Automobile 
Labeling Act requires all new passenger motor vehicles (including 
passenger cars, certain small buses, all light trucks and multipurpose 
passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds 
or less), to bear labels providing information about domestic and 
foreign content of their equipment. With the affixed label on the new 
passenger motor vehicle, it serves as an aid to potential purchasers in 
the selection of new passenger motor vehicles by providing them with 
information about the value of the U.S./Canadian and foreign parts of 
each vehicle, the countries of origin of the engine and transmission, 
and the site of the vehicle's final assembly.
    Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number, 
and Proposed Frequency of Response to the

[[Page 1371]]

Collection of Information): NHTSA anticipates that no more than 17 
vehicle manufacturers will be affected by these reporting requirements. 
NHTSA does not believe any of these 17 manufacturers are a small 
business (i.e., one that employs less than 500 persons). Manufacturers 
of new passenger motor vehicles, including passenger cars, certain 
small buses, and light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 
8,500 pounds or less, must file a report annually.
    Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden 
Resulting from the Collection of Information: NHTSA estimates that the 
vehicle manufacturers will incur a total annual reporting and cost 
burden of 6,066 hours and $4,700,000. The amount includes annual burden 
hours incurred by multi-stage manufacturers and motor vehicle equipment 
suppliers.

    Issued on: January 2, 2001.
Noble N. Bowie,
Acting Associate Administrator for Safety, Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-433 Filed 1-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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