Document ID: NHTSA-2021-0086-0002
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies
Posted Date: 2022-04-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23314-23318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08275]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0086]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Investigation-
Based Crash Data Studies

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on an extension with 
modification of a currently approved information collection.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) 
abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden. This document 
describes a currently approved collection of information for which 
NHTSA intends to seek approval from OMB for extension with modification 
on NHTSA's Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies: Crash Investigation 
Sampling System (CISS), Special Crash Investigation (SCI) and Special 
Study Data Collection. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following information collection was 
published on January 26, 2022. No comments were received.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection, including

[[Page 23315]]

suggestions for reducing burden, should be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. To find 
this particular information collection, select ``Currently under 
Review--Open for Public Comment'' or use the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access 
to background documents, contact Dinesh Sharma, Crash Investigation 
Division (NSA-110), (202) 366-2333, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, W53-493, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Please identify the relevant 
collection of information by referring to its OMB Control Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), a 
Federal agency must receive approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) before it collects certain information from the public and 
a person is not required to respond to a collection of information by a 
Federal agency unless the collection displays a valid OMB control 
number. In compliance with these requirements, this notice announces 
that the following information collection request will be submitted to 
OMB.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
public comments on the following information collection was published 
on January 26, 2022.
    Title: Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0706.
    Form Number: Form 1278 and 1280.
    Type of Request: Request for extension with modification of a 
currently approved information collection.
    Type of Review Requested: Regular.
    Length of Approval Requested: Three years from date of approval.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: NHTSA is authorized, 
under 49 U.S.C. 30182 and 23 U.S.C. 403 to collect data on motor 
vehicle traffic crashes to aid in the identification of issues and the 
development, implementation, and evaluation of motor vehicle and 
highway safety countermeasures. For decades, NHTSA has been 
investigating crashes and collecting crash data through its 
Investigation-Based Crash Data Studies, namely the Crash Investigation 
Sampling System (CISS), Special Crash Investigation (SCI), and specific 
issue-based Special Study data collection studies. Although each of 
these systems satisfy different purposes and collect data in different 
manners, they all utilize the same core variables (e.g. forms), 
procedures and protocols for data collection.
    On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
(Pub. L. 117-58), also referred to as the Bipartisan infrastructure Law 
(BIL), was signed into law. The Crash Data section (section 24108) of 
the BIL authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by 
delegation) to use funds to enhance the collection of data under CISSS 
by, among other things, including additional data collection sites.
    NHTSA is seeking approval to modify the existing information 
collection to: (a) Increase the number of crashes investigated by the 
crash technicians for 2021 and future years, (b) add Special Study 
cases into this package, and (c) add Special Crash Investigation cases 
into this package. NHTSA has also adjusted estimates to include the 
burden incurred by tow yards, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies 
in responding to the collections. The combined impact is an increase of 
6,458 burden hours to NHTSA's overall total.
    The CISS is a nationally representative sample of passenger vehicle 
crashes which focus on detailed investigation of passenger vehicle 
crashes. It provides nationally representative data on fatal and 
nonfatal motor vehicle crashes for use in developing and evaluating 
federal motor vehicle safety standards and other safety 
countermeasures. The CISS began implementation in 2015 and by 2018 was 
collecting crash data from thirty-two (32) fully operational sites. As 
a result of the BIL, the CISS data collection sites will be expanded 
from 32 to 56 sites. The CISS collects data at both the crash level 
through scene analysis and vehicle level through vehicle damage 
assessment together with injury source evidence and standardized 
coding.
    The SCI Program is used to provide NHTSA with the most in-depth and 
detailed level of crash investigation data collected by the Agency. 
Generally, SCI investigations are conducted for crashes of special 
interest, such as those involving new or emerging safety technologies 
(e.g., those involving vehicles equipped with crash avoidance 
technologies or Automated Driving Systems (ADS)), school buses, 
motorcoaches, alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, adaptive control 
equipped vehicles, fires, child restraints, and those relevant to 
safety defect investigations. The crash investigations are conducted to 
document crash circumstances, identify injury sources, evaluate safety 
countermeasure effectiveness and support Agency rulemaking actions. 
Investigations are also conducted to provide early detection of alleged 
or potential vehicle safety defects. Reports are generated from 
investigations and all are made available to the public. The crashes 
chosen for SCI investigation may be chosen throughout the year as they 
arise or be part of a planned effort to look into a particular type of 
crash (such as crashes involving air bag deployment-related fatalities 
and injuries).
    In addition to the above-referenced CISS and SCI data collections, 
NHTSA also conducts investigation-based special studies using the CISS 
and SCI infrastructure to answer questions on a specific topical aspect 
of vehicle and highway safety. In the special study cases, data is 
typically gathered remotely where documents and investigation details 
are requested from investigating agencies and the data is compiled, 
coded, and reported on collectively in a summary report detailing the 
issue. These special studies will utilize the same infrastructure CISS 
and SCI, as well as the same core variables (e.g., forms) and 
procedures and protocols. The cases may be selected from an agency's 
data set (i.e., CISS, SCI, or Fatality Analysis Reporting System 
(FARS)) or through other means (i.e., internet searches, news articles, 
and public notification). The cases may or may not be selected to 
provide a nationally-representative sample of crashes. In the past, 
using the National Automotive Sampling System-Crashworthiness Data 
System (NASS-CDS) infrastructure, NHTSA conducted several 
investigation-based special studies, including studies on child 
occupant protection, air bag effectiveness, and pedestrian safety among 
others. NASS-CDS, operated from 1979 through 2015, and was the 
predecessor to CISS. Three currently planned special studies will 
collect information on crashes that involve medium-duty trucks (trucks 
between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs.), pedestrians or pedalcyclists, and 
first responders or construction or maintenance workers struck while 
performing official duties on the road.
    NHTSA will also use the information collected through the CISS 
infrastructure to support NHTSA's Non-Traffic Surveillance (NTS). CISS 
Technicians review over a hundred and fifty thousand crash reports each 
year, and some of these reports are not applicable to the CISS program, 
but they may be applicable to the NTS data collection. NTS is a virtual 
data collection system designed to provide

[[Page 23316]]

counts and details regarding fatalities and injuries that occur in non-
traffic crashes and in non-crash incidents. Non-traffic motor vehicle 
crashes are a class of crashes that occur off the public trafficways. 
These crashes, subsequently referred to as ``non-traffic crashes,'' are 
mostly single-vehicle crashes on private roads, two vehicle crashes in 
parking facilities, or collisions with pedestrians in driveways. In 
addition, there are non-traffic incidents such as a vehicle falling on 
a person underneath or an unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning 
inside the vehicle. Non-traffic crash data is obtained through NHTSA's 
CISS, SCI, Crash Reporting Sampling System (CRSS), and FARS.
    For the standard investigation-based crash data studies acquisition 
process, once a crash has been selected for investigation, crash 
technicians locate, visit, measure, and photograph the crash scene; 
locate, visit, inspect, and photograph involved vehicle(s); conduct a 
telephone or personal interview with the involved individuals or a 
surrogate (another person who can provide occupant or crash 
information, such as parents for a minor or parent or spouse for a 
deceased individual); and obtain and record crash injury information 
received from various medical data sources. These data are used to 
describe and analyze circumstances, mechanisms, and consequences of a 
cross section of towed, light passenger motor vehicle crashes in the 
United States. The collection of interview data aids in this effort.
    For the special studies, the data is typically gathered following 
similar procedures, but is targeted to a specific issue (e.g., child 
occupant protection, crash causation factors) as opposed to an entire 
investigation. Special Studies investigations also typically only 
involve obtaining information from law enforcement, who provide access 
to and a copy of the crash report where the data is not electronic. 
They do not involve interviewing people involved in crashes, obtaining 
medical records or inspecting the vehicles. Each special study has 
specific requirements (i.e., types of crashes and/or data collected); 
however, the gathering of crash reports for these studies is similar to 
the gathering of crash reports in the CISS and SCI programs.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: NHTSA investigates real-world crashes and collects 
detailed crash data through CISS, SCI, and Special Studies data 
collection programs to identify the primary factors related to the 
source of crashes and their injury outcomes. These detailed factors are 
utilized to develop and evaluate effective safety countermeasures 
including the establishment and enforcement of motor vehicle 
regulations that reduce the severity of injury and property damage 
caused by motor vehicle crashes. The data collected also give motor 
vehicle researchers an opportunity to specify areas in which 
improvements may be possible, design countermeasure programs, and 
evaluate the effects of existing and proposed safety measures.
    60-Day Notice: NHTSA published a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register on January 26, 2022 (87 FR 4099). NHTSA received no comments. 
However, NHTSA is revising burden estimates as a result of additional 
funding for CISS data collection. In the 60-day notice, NHTSA estimated 
that there would be 32 data collection sites in each of the next three 
years. As a result of the additional funding provided by the BIL, NHTSA 
now plans to phase in 24 additional data collection sites in CISS over 
the next 3 years. This 30 day notice increases the burden hours for 
interviewees, Police, Tow Yards and Medical Facilities for an 
additional 24 data collection sites. The total data collection sites 
will incrementally increase from 32 to 56 over the next three years. 
The increase in burden hours and cost for these additional data 
collection sites are reflected in the Burden to Respondent section of 
this document.
    Burden to Respondents: NHTSA has provided a description of the 
affected public, estimated number of respondents, description of 
frequency, and estimates of the total burden hours and costs for each 
of the three Investigation-Based Crash Data Acquisition Systems (CISS, 
SCI, and Special Studies) below. In aggregate, NHTSA estimates that the 
total annual burden is 12,063 hours and $0.
    Program: CISS.
    Affected Public: People involved in select motor vehicle crashes, 
law enforcement jurisdictions that provide access to and a copy of the 
crash report where the data is not electronic; hospitals that provide a 
copy of the injured occupant's medical treatment of injuries; and tow 
or salvage lot facilities that provide access to the storage facility 
to inspect the vehicle.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 24,186.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,787 hours (6,956 + 822 + 
298 + 2,783 + 928).
    The CISS crash data acquisition system includes 5 information 
collections. The first information collection covers the collection of 
information from individuals involved in crashes via interview. The 
estimated number of interview respondents is obtained by multiplying 
the approximate number of crashes investigated each year by the average 
number of interviews per crash. Based on existing data, each CISS crash 
involves an average of approximately 2.25 individuals. NHTSA estimates 
that CISS conducts investigations on 9,275 crashes per year. Therefore, 
NHTSA estimates that there will be 20,869 respondents per year (9,275 
crashes x 2.25 respondents per crash).
    The respondents are contacted only once; however, in rare 
circumstances follow-up questions may be needed to clarify data. The 
interview requires approximately 20 minutes of a respondent's time on 
average. CISS conducts interviews for approximately 9,275 crashes per 
year, which NHTSA estimates takes about 45 minutes per crash (2.25 
respondents x 20 minutes). Therefore, the estimated total annual burden 
hours for the collection of information from individuals involved in 
crashes for CISS is 6,956 hours ((9,275 crashes x 45 minutes) / 60 
minutes/hour).
    In addition to interviews, crash technicians and investigators must 
obtain official records to initiate and complete the cases. These 
records include police crash reports and medical records. The second 
information collection under CISS is for the collection of crash 
records from sampled police jurisdictions. NHTSA estimates that there 
are 316 sample police jurisdictions annually. To estimate the burden to 
sampled police jurisdictions, NHTSA multiplied the average number of 
visits per year by the average burden per visit and the number of 
police jurisdictions. On average, each of the 316 sampled police 
jurisdictions are queried weekly (or 52 times per year) and each query 
is estimated to take 3 minutes. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total 
annual burden for sampled police jurisdictions to be 2.6 hours per 
respondent (3 minutes x 52 visits) and 822 hours for all respondents 
(2.6 hours x 316 police jurisdictions = 821.6 hours).
    The third information collection under CISS is for the collection 
of crash records from non-sampled police jurisdictions. Based on 
existing CISS data, there are 340 non-sampled jurisdictions annually. 
To estimate the burden to non-sample police jurisdictions, NHTSA 
multiplied the average number of visits per year by the average burden 
per visit and the number of non-sampled police jurisdictions. On

[[Page 23317]]

average, each of the 595 non-sampled police jurisdictions are visited 
twice annually and each query is estimated to take 15 minutes. 
Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total burden for non-sampled police 
jurisdictions to be 30 minutes per respondent (15 minutes x 2 visits) 
and 289 hours for all respondents ((30 minutes x 595 non-sampled police 
jurisdictions) / 60 minutes/hour) = 298 hours).
    The fourth information collection under CISS is for the collection 
of medical records from hospitals. Based on existing data, CISS 
collects an average of 16,695 records each year from an average of 481 
hospitals. NHTSA estimates that a hospital spends 10 minutes for each 
record requested. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual burden 
to be 2,783 hours ((16,695 records x 10 minutes) / 60 minutes/hour) and 
estimates that each hospital will, on average, spend 5.78 hours 
providing the requested information each year (2,783 hours / 481 
hospitals).
    The fifth information collection under CISS is for the collection 
from tow yards necessary to gain access to and locate a vehicle that 
was involved in a crash. Typically, a tow facility operator just needs 
to give the crash technician permission to enter the yard to inspect 
the vehicle and involves approximately 5 minutes of staff time. CISS 
data shows an average of 11,130 visits to tow facilities per year, and 
NHTSA estimates 1,926 tow facilities will be visited annually. 
Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual burden to be 928 hours 
((11,130 visits x 5 minutes) / 60 minutes/hour) and estimates that each 
tow facility will, on average, spend 28.90 minutes providing the 
requested information each year ((928 hours x 60 minutes) / 1,926 
facilities).
    Accordingly, NHTSA estimates that the total burden associated with 
the CISS data acquisition system is 11,787 hours (6,956 + 822 + 298 + 
2,783 + 928).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
    There are no capital, start-up, or annual operation and maintenance 
costs involved in this collection of information. The respondents would 
not incur any reporting costs from the information collection beyond 
the opportunity or labor costs associated with the burden hours. The 
respondents also would not incur any recordkeeping burden or 
recordkeeping costs from the information collection.

Program: Special Crash Investigation (SCI)

    Affected Public: People involved in select motor vehicle crashes, 
law enforcement jurisdictions that provide access to and a copy of the 
crash report where the data is not electronic; hospitals that provide a 
copy of the injured occupant's medical treatment of injuries; and tow 
or salvage lot facilities that provide access to the storage facility 
to inspect the vehicle.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.
    Frequency: On occasion (typically once per year).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 109 hours (67 + 17 + 17 + 8).
    The SCI crash data acquisition system includes 4 information 
collections. The first information collection covers the collection of 
information from individuals involved in crashes via interview. The 
estimated number of interview respondents is obtained by multiplying 
the approximate number of crashes investigated each year by the average 
number of interviews per crash. Based on existing data, each SCI crash 
involves an average of approximately 2 individuals. NHTSA estimates 
that SCI conducts investigations on approximately 100 crashes per year. 
Therefore, NHTSA estimates that there will be 200 respondents per year 
(100 crashes x 2 respondents per crash).
    The respondents are contacted only once; however, in rare 
circumstances follow-up questions may be needed to clarify data. The 
interview requires approximately 20 minutes of a respondent's time on 
average. SCI conducts interviews for approximately 100 crashes per 
year, which NHTSA estimates takes about 40 minutes per crash (2 
respondents x 20 minutes). Therefore, the estimated total annual burden 
hours for the collection of information from individuals involved in 
crashes for SCI is approximately 67 hours ((100 crashes x 40 minutes) / 
60 minutes/hour = 66.67).
    In addition to interviews, crash technicians and investigators must 
obtain official records to initiate and complete the cases. These 
records include police crash reports and medical records. The second 
information collection under SCI is for the collection of crash records 
from police jurisdictions. The SCI investigators contact an estimated 
100 police jurisdictions once per year and require approximately 10 
minutes of staff time per police jurisdiction. To estimate the burden 
to these police jurisdictions, NHTSA multiplied the average number of 
visits per year by the average burden per visit and the number of 
police jurisdictions. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual 
burden for police jurisdictions to be 10 minutes per respondent (10 
minutes x 1 query per year) and 17 hours for all respondents ((10 
minutes x 100 police jurisdictions) / 60 minutes/hour = 16.67 hours).
    The third information collection under SCI is for the collection of 
medical records from hospitals. Based on existing data, SCI collects an 
average of 100 records each year from 100 hospitals (1 request per 
hospital per year). NHTSA estimates that a hospital spends 10 minutes 
for each record requested. Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total 
annual burden to be 17 hours ((100 records x 10 minutes) / 60 minutes/
hour = 16.67 hours) and estimates that each hospital will, on average, 
spend 10 minutes providing the requested information each year (10 
minutes x 1 record request per year).
    The fourth information collection under SCI is for the collection 
from tow yards necessary to gain access to and locate a vehicle that 
was involved in a crash. Typically, a tow facility operator just needs 
to give the crash technician permission to enter the yard to inspect 
the vehicle and involves approximately 5 minutes of staff time. SCI 
conducts approximately 100 visits to tow facilities per year, and NHTSA 
estimates that 100 tow facilities will be visited annually (1 request 
per facility per year). Accordingly, NHTSA estimates the total annual 
burden to be 8 hours ((100 visits x 5 minutes) / 60 minutes/hour = 8.33 
hours) and estimates that each tow facility will, on average, spend 5 
minutes providing the requested information each year.
    Accordingly, NHTSA estimates that the total burden associated with 
the SCI data acquisition system is 109 hours (67 + 17 + 17 + 8).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
    There are no capital, start-up, or annual operation and maintenance 
costs involved in this collection of information. The respondents would 
not incur any reporting costs from the information collection beyond 
the opportunity or labor costs associated with the burden hours. The 
respondents also would not incur any recordkeeping burden or 
recordkeeping costs from the information collection.

Special Studies

    Affected Public: Law enforcement jurisdictions that provide access 
to and a copy of the crash report where the data is not electronic.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Frequency: On occasion (typically once per year).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 167 hours.

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    There is only one information collection for Special Studies in 
this ICR. This ICR only covers special studies involving remote-level 
investigations.\1\ Accordingly, these remote-level investigations do 
not involve interviews of individuals involved in crashes, collection 
of medical records from hospitals, or visits to tow facilities. 
Instead, these special studies only involve the collection of 
information from police jurisdictions.
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    \1\ If NHTSA intends to conduct a special study that is not 
remote, it will seek separate clearance.
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    NHTSA estimates that the special studies will involve, on average, 
1,000 police jurisdictions each year and require approximately 10 
minutes of staff time per police jurisdiction. The total annual hour 
burden on jurisdictions for special studies information is estimated to 
be 167 hours (1 visit x 10 minutes x 1,000 jurisdictions / 60 minutes/
hour = 166.67).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost: $0.
    There are no capital, start-up, or annual operation and maintenance 
costs involved in this collection of information. The respondents would 
not incur any reporting costs from the information collection beyond 
the labor costs associated with the burden hours. The respondents also 
would not incur any recordkeeping burden or recordkeeping costs from 
the information collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours All Programs: 12,063 hours.
    The total estimated annual burden hours to all respondents for this 
ICR is 12,063 hours. The table below provides a summary of the 
estimated annual burden hours.

                                                        Table 2--Summary of Burden Hour Estimates
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                                                                                               Burden per                                         Total
      Information collection title          Number of         Number of  responses  (per        response          Burden per  respondent         burden
                                           respondents               respondent)                (minutes)                                        (hours)
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CISS: Interviews with Individuals                20,869  20,869 (1).........................            20  20 minutes........................     6,956
 Involved in Crashes.
CISS: Collection of Police Records from             316  16,432 (52)........................             3  156 minutes.......................     821.6
 Sampled Jurisdictions.                                                                                     (2.6 hours).......................       822
CISS: Collection of Police Records from             595  1,190 (2)..........................            15  30 minutes........................       298
 Non-Sampled Jurisdictions.
CISS: Collection of Medical Records....             480  16,695 (34.76).....................            10  5.78 hours........................     2,783
CISS: Access to Tow Yards..............           1,960  11,130 (5.68)......................             5  28.39 minutes.....................       928
SCI: Interviews with Individuals                    200  200 (1)............................            20  20 minutes........................        67
 Involved in Crashes.
SCI: Collection of Police Records......             100  100 (1)............................            10  10 minutes........................        17
SCI: Collection of Medical Records.....             100  100 (1)............................            10  10 minutes........................        17
SCI: Access to Tow Yards...............             100  100 (1)............................             5  5 minutes.........................         8
Special Studies: Collection of Police             1,000  1,000 (1)..........................            10  10 minutes........................       167
 Records.
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..............................  ..............  ...................................  ............  ..................................    12,063
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Cost All Programs: $0.
    NHTSA estimates that there are no costs to respondents other than 
costs associated with burden hours.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of 
this information collection, including (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, 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.
    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 
35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29.

Chou Lin Chen,
Associate Administrator, National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2022-08275 Filed 4-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P