[Federal Register: January 14, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 9)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2155-2156]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja09-119]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

 
Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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 regarding: the passenger motor 
vehicle insurance companies and rental/leasing companies comply with 49 
CFR Part 544, Insurer Reporting Requirement, has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collections and their expected 
burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was 
published on September 25, 2008 (73 FR 55591). The agency received no 
comments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 13, 2009.

ADDRESSES: 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 NHTSA 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 Departments' 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 most effective if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carlita Ballard at the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of International Policy, 
Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs (NVS-131), 1200 New Jersey Ave., 
SE., West Building, Room W43-439, NVS-131, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. 
Ballard's telephone number is (202) 366-0846. Please identify the 
relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control 
Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    Title: 49 CFR Part 544; Insurer Reporting Requirement.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0547.
    Type of Request: Request for public comment on a previously 
approved collection of information.
    Abstract: This information collection supports the Department's 
strategic goal of Economic Growth and Trade. The Motor Vehicle Theft 
Law Enforcement Act of 1984, added Title VI to the Motor Vehicle and 
Information Cost Savings Act (recodified as Chapter 331 of Title 49, 
United States Code) which mandated this information collection. The 
1984 Theft Act was amended by the Anti Car Theft Act (ACTA) of 1992 
(Pub. L. 102-519). NHTSA is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 33112, to 
collect this information. This information collection supports the 
agency's economic growth and trade goal through rulemaking 
implementation developed to help reduce the cost of vehicle ownership 
by reducing the cost of comprehensive insurance coverage. 49 U.S.C. 
33112 requires certain passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and 
rental/leasing companies to provide information to NHTSA on 
comprehensive insurance premiums, theft and recoveries and actions 
taken to address motor vehicle theft
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Based on prior years' insurer 
compilation information, the agency estimates that the time to review 
and compile information for the reports will take approximately a total 
of 63,238 burden hours (60,004 man-hours for 28 insurance companies and 
3,234 man-hours for 7 rental and leasing companies). Claim Adjusters 
incur separate burden hours from the number of insurers. There is one 
Claim Adjuster assigned to each insurer. There was a decrease in 
several rental and leasing companies that have merged into one entity 
or have been exempted from the reporting requirements since the last 
reporting period. The agency has re-estimated the burden hours to be 
63,238 total annual hours requested in lieu of 64,610 as the current 
OMB inventory. This is a decrease of 1,372 hours. Most recent year 
insurer compilation information estimates reveal that it takes an 
average cost of $65.00 per hour for clerical and technical staff to 
prepare the annual reports. Therefore, the agency estimates the total 
cost associated with the burden hours is $4,110,470.

[[Page 2156]]

    The burden hour for rental and leasing companies is significantly 
less than that for insurance companies because rental and leasing 
companies comply with fewer reporting requirements than the insurance 
companies. The reporting burden is based on insurers' salaries, 
clerical and technical expenses, and labor costs.
    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 most effective if OMB receives it within 30 
days of publication.

    Issued on: January 8, 2009.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E9-565 Filed 1-13-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P