Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. 96-049; Notice 1]

Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

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 new 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 four collections of information for which

NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 23, 1996.

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

at the beginning of this notice and be submitted to Docket Section,

Room 5109, NHTSA, 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 1 original plus 2 copies of the comments

[[Page 55068]]

be provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4

p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for

collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Mr. Ed

Kosek, NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, NHTSA, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Room 6123, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Kosek's

telephone number is (202) 366-2589. 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. The OMB has promulgated regulations describing what must

be included in such a document. Under OMB's regulations (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 public comment on

the following proposed collection of information:

Consolidated Labeling Requirement for 49 CFR 571.115, and Parts 565,

541, and 567

Type of Request--Reinstatement of clearance.

OMB Clearance Number--2127-0510.

Form Number--This collection of information uses no standard forms.

Requested Expiration Date of Approval--Three years from date of

approval.

Summary of the Collection of Information--Under 49 CFR 571.115 and

Part 565, provisions are made which specify the format and content for

a vehicle identification number (VIN) system and the general physical

requirements for a VIN and its installation to simplify vehicle

information retrieval. This system will aid NHTSA in reducing the

incidence of accidents by increasing the accuracy and efficiency of

vehicle recall campaigns and in achieving many of its safety goals.

Manufacturers are required to assign a unique VIN to each new vehicle

and to inform NHTSA of the code used in forming the VIN. The

regulations apply to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles,

trucks, buses, trailers, incomplete vehicles, and motorcycles.

Part 541 requires manufacturers to either label or affix a VIN to

specific major component parts of certain passenger motor vehicles,

multipurpose passenger vehicles, and light-duty trucks with a gross

vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less. Replacement component

parts must be marked with the ``DOT'' symbol, the letter ``R'', and the

manufacturer's logo.

Part 567 requires the VIN to be appear on the certification label.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use of the

information--State motor vehicle administrations, law enforcement

organizations, and other agencies utilize the unique VIN as a means of

identifying motor vehicles that are registered within their state.

NHTSA utilizes this vehicle identification number to identify motor

vehicles that are subject to defect notices. NHTSA also uses these VINs

to calculate motor vehicle theft rates by model year/calendar year as

required by Section 603 of the Cost Savings Act.

Under Part 565, vehicle manufacturers are required to identify

those trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicles manufactured between

September 1, 1993, and September 1, 1995, that are equipped with

automatic occupant crash protection (such as air bags or automatic

belts). If this information were not available, NHTSA would not be able

to determine if trucks or multipurpose passenger vehicles equipped with

an air bag or an automatic safety belt are being certified as being in

compliance with Federal Standard 208. This lack of information would

seriously hinder the agency's efforts to select vehicles for purchase

on the open market for the purposes of conducting crash tests to ``spot

check'' a manufacturer's compliance. If each vehicle were not labeled

with a VIN and if the VIN information were not collected by NHTSA,

these programs which require vehicle identification would not be

possible.

The identification of major parts of high-theft motor vehicle lines

is designed to decrease automobile theft by making it more difficult

for criminals to ``chop'' vehicles into component parts and then fence

such parts. The information would aid law enforcement officials at all

levels of Government in the investigation of ``chop shops'' by creating

evidence for prosecution of the operators for possession of stolen

motor vehicle parts. Major parts are marked on high-theft vehicle

lines. Operators of both ``chop shops'' and auto body repair shops

would avoid possession of parts bearing identification that links the

parts to a stolen vehicle. Thus, Congress intends major parts

identification to decrease the market for stolen parts and therefore,

to decrease the incentive for motor vehicle theft.

If this information were not available, the legislative goal of a

comprehensive scheme against automobile theft would be frustrated. The

Theft Prevention Statute would not effectively deter ``chop shop''

operators because law enforcement officials could not readily identify

parts in the operators' possession as stolen. Also, stolen parts, when

recovered, could not easily be traced back to the proper owner and

returned to the owner or insurer. Further, failure to require parts'

identification would violate the Theft Prevention Statute.

Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,

and Proposed Frequency of Response to the Collection of Information)--

All foreign and domestic manufacturers are potential respondents. NHTSA

estimates 1,000 respondents per year with a frequency of approximately

18,670,000 responses. The responses are an estimation of the total

production of motor vehicles and replacement parts.

Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden

Resulting from the Collection of Information--The agency estimates that

approximately 64 percent of all passenger motor vehicles produced would

be selected as high-theft models subject to the standard. Assuming 18

million passenger motor vehicle sales per year, 11.52 million motor

vehicles annually would be covered. Costs of compliance are estimated

at $10.00 per vehicle for stamped identifiers, and $5.20 per vehicle

for label identifiers. The total annual fleet costs are, thus,

estimated at $115.2 million for stamped identifiers ($10.00 x 11.52

million) and $59.9 million for label identifiers ($5.20 x 11.52

million).

[[Page 55069]]

Authority: 440 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR

1.50.

Dated: September 19, 1996.

L. Robert Shelton,

Acting Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 96-27164 Filed 10-22-96; 8:45 am]

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