Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. 97-055; Notice No. 1]

Reports, Forms, and Record Keeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collections of

information.

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits public comments on the manufacturer

reporting requirements specified in 49 CFR part 590, for the phase-in

of the motor vehicle rear-door retention requirement.

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 the collection of the information

concerning vehicle manufacturers' plans for beginning to comply with

these rear door retention requirements, for which NHTSA intends to seek

OMB approval.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 10, 1998.

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 St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. Please

identify the subject of the proposed collection of information for

which a comment is provided. It is requested, but not required, that 1

original plus 2 copies of the comments 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 NHTSA request

for collection of information approval may be obtained at no charge

from Mr. Edward Kosek, NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer,

NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 6123, Washington, D.C. 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:

Production Schedule for Compliance of Back Door Locks and Door

Retention Components With FMVSS 206

Type of Request--New Request for Clearance.

OMB Clearance Number--2127.

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

Requested Expiration Date of Approval--February 28, 2001.

Summary of the Collection of Information--NHTSA must ensure that

motor vehicle manufacturers comply with new provisions in Federal Motor

Vehicle Safety Standard 206 ``Door Locks and Door Retention

Components'', requiring increased performance for back door locks and

back door retention components. The new requirements published on

September 28, 1995 (60 FR 50124), and July 31, 1996 (61 FR 39904),

required new retention requirements for the rear doors of passenger

cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks. The agency specified a one-year

phase-in of this requirement. Vehicle manufacturers are required to

produce a combined total production of 60 percent of their vehicles in

compliance during the period of September 1, 1997, and September 1,

1998. After September 1,

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1998, the vehicle manufacturers are required to report on this phase-

in, to the agency. The July 31, 1996 notice also specifies the

reporting requirements, as specified in 49 CFR, part 590.

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

information--In order to ensure manufacturers are complying with new

provision for back door locks and retention components in Standard 206,

NHTSA needs reports from manufacturers of new passenger cars,

multipurpose vehicles and trucks which have liftgates, hatchbacks, rear

cargo doors or sliding doors which are applicable to the Standard 206.

For each report, the manufacturer will provide (in addition to

administrative necessities such as identity, address) numerical

information from which NHTSA will be able to determine whether a

manufacturer complies with the percentage phase-in requirements. The

required numerical information will include the total number of

vehicles manufactured during the production year that are equipped with

back door locks and retention components that comply with the new

provisions of Standard 206, and the total number of vehicles produced.

Description of the Likely Respondents (Including Estimated Number,

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

NHTSA anticipates that no more than 35 vehicle manufacturers will be

affected by the requirements. NHTSA does not believe any of these 35

manufacturers is a small business (i.e., one that employs less than 500

persons.) Each manufacturer must file one report. Additionally, the

NHTSA may request compliance information on a specific model vehicle

during the first year of the phase-in.

Estimate of the Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden

Resulting from the Collection of Information--NHTSA estimates that each

manufacturer will need 12 hours per year of time for recordkeeping and

24 hours per year to prepare a report, at a cost of $30.00 per hour.

Thus, the number of estimated reporting burden hours a year on 35

manufacturers at 1 report per manufacturer and 36 person hours, $30 per

hour at an annual cost to the public of $37,800.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c); delegation of authority at 49 CFR

1.50.

Dated: January 29, 1998.

L. Robert Shelton,

Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards

[FR Doc. 98-3193 Filed 2-6-98; 8:45 am]

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