Document ID: NHTSA-2008-0021-0001
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: U.S. DOT Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements
Posted Date: 2008-01-31T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 31, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 21)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5905-5906]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31ja08-122]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket Number NHTSA-2008-0021]

 
U.S. DOT Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 March 31, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket No. NHTSA-
2008-0021] by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 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 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Telephone: 1-800-647-
5527.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this proposed collection of information. 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 http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of this request for 
collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Dennis

[[Page 5906]]

Flemons, NHTSA 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W53-448 NVS-412, 
Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Flemons telephone number is (202) 366-5389. 
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:
    (1) Title: Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS).
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0006.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Abstract: Under both the Highway Safety Act of 1966 and the 
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the responsibility to 
collect accident data that support the establishment and enforcement of 
motor vehicle regulations and highway safety programs. These 
regulations and programs are developed to reduce the severity of injury 
and the property damage associated with motor vehicle accidents. The 
Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) is a major system that acquires 
national fatality information directly from existing State files and 
documents. Since FARS is an on-going data acquisition system, reviews 
are conducted yearly to determine whether the data acquired are 
responsive to the total user population needs. The total user 
population includes Federal and State agencies and the private sector.
    Changes in the forms usually involve clarification adjustments to 
aid the user population in conducting more precise analyses, to remove 
ambiguity for the respondents and to differentiate data by data 
collection year. These changes are annual and do not affect the 
reporting burden of the respondent (State employees utilize existing 
State highway safety related files).
    Other changes may involve removing outdated data elements 
introducing new data elements or redesigning data elements to capture 
higher quality data and to respond more to the needs of the user 
population. These changes are less frequent and affect burden very 
gradually. Advances in technology and systems design are incorporated 
to minimize the burden on the respondents.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 82,407 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    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.

Joseph S. Carra,
Associate Administrator, National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
[FR Doc. E8-1766 Filed 1-30-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P