Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements, Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

Topics:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Nathaniel Beuse
Federal Register
October 26, 2011

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66352-66353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27656]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements, Agency 
Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 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 below 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 June 24, 2011 [76 FR 37189].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 25, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Office of Defects Investigation, 202-493-0210. 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., W48-221, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    (1) Title: Replaceable Light Source Dimensional Information 
Collection, 49 CFR part 564.
    OMB Number: 2127-0563.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Abstract: The information to be collected is in response to 49 CFR 
part 564, ``Replaceable Light Source

[[Page 66353]]

Dimensional Information.'' Persons desiring to use newly designed 
replaceable headlamp light sources are required to submit 
interchangeability and performance specifications to the agency. After 
a short agency review to assure completeness, the information is placed 
in a public docket for use by any person who would desire to 
manufacture headlamp light sources for highway motor vehicles. In 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, Lamps, reflective 
devices and associated equipment,'' part 564 submission are referenced 
as being the source of information regarding the performance and 
interchangeability information for legal headlamp light sources, 
whether original equipment or replacement equipment. Thus, the 
submitted information about headlamp light sources becomes the basis 
for certification of compliance with safety standards.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 28.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7.
    (2) Title: Compliance Labeling of Retroreflective Materials heavy 
Trailer Conspicuity.
    OMB Number: 2127-0569.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Abstract: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, ``Lamps 
Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment,'' specifies requirements 
for vehicle lighting for the purposes of reducing traffic accidents and 
their tragic results by providing adequate roadway illumination, 
improved vehicle conspicuity, appropriate information transmission 
through signal lamps, in both day, night, and other conditions of 
reduced visibility. For certifications and identification purposes, the 
Standard requires the permanent marking of the letters ``DOT-C2,'' 
``DOT-C3'', or ``DOT -C4'' at least 3mm high at regular intervals on 
retroreflective sheeting material having adequate performance to 
provide effective trailer conspicuity.
    The manufacturers of new tractors and trailers are required to 
certify that their products are equipped with retroreflective material 
complying with the requirements of the standard. The Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces this and other standards 
through roadside inspections of trucks. There is no practical field 
test for the performance requirements, and labeling is the only 
objectives way of distinguishing trailer conspicuity grade material 
from lower performance material. Without labeling, FMCSA will not be 
able to enforce the performance requirements of the standard and the 
compliance testing of new tractors and trailers will be complicated. 
Labeling is also important to small trailer manufactures because it may 
help them to certify compliance. Because wider stripes or material of 
lower brightness also can provide the minimum safety performance, the 
marking system serves the additional role of identifying the minimum 
stripe width required for retroreflective brightness of the particular 
material. Since the differences between the brightness grades of 
suitable retroreflective conspicuity material is not obvious from 
inspection, the marking system is necessary for tractor and trailer 
manufacturers and repair shops to assure compliance and for FMCSA to 
inspect tractors and trailers in use. Permanent labeling is used to 
identify retroreflective material having the minimum properties 
required for effective conspicuity of trailers at night. The 
information enables the FMCSA to make compliance inspections, and it 
aids tractor and trailer owners and repairs shops in choosing the 
correct repair materials for damaged tractors and trailers. It also 
aids smaller trailer manufacturers in certifying compliance of their 
products.
    The FMCSA will not be able to determine whether trailers are 
properly equipped during roadside inspections without labeling. The use 
of cheaper and more common reflective materials, which are ineffective 
for the application, would be expected in repairs without the labeling 
requirement.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.

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 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 in Washington, DC, on October 20, 2011.
Nathaniel Beuse,
Director, Office of Crash Avoidance Standards.
[FR Doc. 2011-27656 Filed 10-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P