[Federal Register: July 24, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 142)] [Notices] [Page 39927-39928] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr24jy98-183] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Office of the Secretary Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on April 28, 1998 [63 FR 23337]. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 24, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Robinson, NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 366-9456. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Title: 49 CFR Part 576 Record Retention. OMB Control Number: 2127-0042. Type Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Business or other for-profit. Abstract: Under 49 U.S.C. Section 30166(e), NHTSA ``reasonably may require a manufacturer of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment to keep records, and a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to make reports, to enable [NHTSA] to decide whether the manufacturer, distributor or dealer has complied or is complying with this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.'' 49 U.S.C. Section 30118 requires manufacturers to notify NHTSA and owners, purchasers, and dealers if the manufacturer (1) ``learns'' that any vehicle or equipment manufactured by it contains a defect and decides in good faith that the defect relates to motor vehicle safety, or (2) ``decides in good faith'' that the vehicle or equipment does not comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard. The only way for the agency to decide if and when a manufacturer ``learned'' of a safety-related defect or ``decided in good faith'' that some products did not comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard is for the agency to have access to the information available to the manufacturer. Further, 49 U.S.C. Section 30118(a) requires NHTSA to immediately notify a manufacturer if the agency determines that some of the manufacturer's products either do not comply with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard or contain a safety-related defect, and provide the manufacturer with all the information on which the determination is based. Agency determinations of noncompliance are generally based upon actual testing conducted by or for the agency. However, defect determinations depend heavily upon review of consumer complaints submitted to the manufacturer, communications between manufacturers and suppliers, and the manufacturers' analyses of field problems and/or warranty claims. Without these complaints and manufacturer documents, NHTSA would have only limited access to information about vehicle or equipment problems. To ensure that NHTSA will have access to this type of information, the agency exercised the authority granted in 49 U.S.C. Section 30166(e) and promulgated 49 CFR Part 576, Record Retention. This regulation requires manufacturers of motor vehicles to retain one copy of all records that contain information concerning malfunctions that may be related to motor vehicle safety, for a period of five years after the record is generated or acquired by the manufacturer. Estimated Annual Burden: 40,000 hours. Number of Respondents: At least 1,000 vehicle manufacturers of all types. ADDRESS: Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. 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. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. [[Page 39928]] Issued in Washington, DC, on July 20, 1998. Vanester M. Williams, Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation. [FR Doc. 98-19795 Filed 7-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-62-P