Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2002-13433]

Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed extension of existing

collection 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 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 December 2, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket notice numbers cited at

the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Management,

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 clearance Number. It is requested, but

not required, that 2 copies of the comment be provided. The Docket

Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for

collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Sharon

Vaughn-Fair, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5219, NCC113,

Washington, DC 20590. Mrs. Vaughn-Fair's telephone number is (202) 366-

1834. 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:

Title: Designation of Agent.

OMB Control Number: 2127-0040.

Affected Public: Business.

Form Number: This collection of information uses no standards

forms.

Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of

approval.

Abstract: The U.S. agent is used to advise foreign manufacturers of

safety related defects where laws vary from country to country. In

turn, the manufacturer can notify U.S. purchasers and correct the

defect.

Summary of the Collection of Information: This collection of

information applies to motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment

manufacturers located outside of the United States (foreign

manufacturers). Every manufacturer offering a motor vehicle or item of

motor vehicle equipment for importation into the United States is

statutorily required to designate in writing an agent upon whom service

of all administrative and judicial processes, notices, orders,

decisions and requirements may be made for and on behalf of the

manufacturer. (49 U.S.C. 30164) These designations are required to be

filed with NHTSA.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the

Information: NHTSA needs this information in case it needs to advise a

foreign manufacturer of a safety related defect in its products so that

the manufacturer can, in turn, notify

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purchasers and correct the defeat. This information also enables NHTSA

to serve a foreign manufacturer with all administrative and judicial

processes, notices, orders, decisions and requirements.

Estimates of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden

Resulting From the Collection of Information: NHTSA estimates that the

number of respondents per year is 70. Each respondent provides the

information once. NHTSA estimates it takes one hour to write the letter

to NHTSA providing the information. The estimated total burden on all

respondents for this standard is 70 hours per year.

Based on an assumed clerical cost of $20.00 per hour, it costs each

manufacturer $20.00 to write the letter, and postage (on the average

from a foreign country) of approximately $1.00 per letter. Thus, each

response costs the manufacturer a total of $21.00. Since NHTSA

estimates the number of respondents per year is 70, the total cost on

all respondents per year is approximately $1,470.00.

There are no recordkeeping costs to the manufacturers.

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 26, 2002.

Heidi L. Coleman,

Assistant Chief Counsel for Traffic Injury Control and General Law.

[FR Doc. 02-24938 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P