Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements |
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L. Robert Shelton
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
March 12, 1998
[Federal Register: March 12, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 48)] [Notices] [Page 12147-12148] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12mr98-116] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA-98-3420] Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Request for public comment on proposed collection of information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 reinstatement of previously approved collections. The proposed information for which OMB approval is being sought pertains to the content of petitions for exemption from the minimum driving range requirement for dual fuel electric passenger automobiles. This may be necessary for a manufacturer to secure a favorable corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) calculation. DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 11, 1998. ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be submitted to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Management, PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, Southwest, Washington, DC 20590. Please identify the proposed collection of information for which a comment is provided, by referencing its OMB Control Number. It is requested, but not required, that one original plus two copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. [[Page 12148]] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Complete copies of each request for collection of information may be obtained at no charge from Mr. Michael Robinson, NHTSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, Southwest, Room 5110, NAD-52, Washington, D.C. 20590. Mr. Robinson's telephone number is (202) 366-9456. Please identify the relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control 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 first 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 regulation (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 for public comments on the following proposed collection of information: Title 49, United States Code, Chapter 329 Background A manufacturer of a dual fueled electric passenger automobile may enjoy a favorable calculation of its corporate average fuel economy (CAFE), provided it can meet certain minimum driving range requirements that are established by NHTSA and shall be based on the Environmental Protection Agency's urban and highway fuel economies as determined for average fuel economy purposes for those vehicles. The minimum driving range that is established, must be accomplished when operating on the alternative fuel only (49 U.S.C. 32901(c)). 49 U.S.C. 32901 (c)(2)(A) states that ``The Secretary may prescribe a lower minimum driving range for a specific model than that prescribed under paragraph (1) of this subsection.'' It further states that ``A manufacturer may petition for a lower range than prescribed under paragraph (1) for a specific model.'' In order to ascertain whether an exemption should be granted and a lower minimum driving range should be established for a specific model, the Secretary shall consider such items as consumer acceptability, economic practicability, available technology, environmental impact, safety, drivability, performance, and any other factors the Secretary considers relevant. Ref. (49 U.S.C. 32901 (c)(3)). Type of Request: Reinstatement of clearance. OMB Clearance Number: 2127-0554. Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard form, however, it allows for a manufacturer to petition the agency for an exemption from the established minimum driving range for dual fueled electric passenger automobiles when operating on electricity only. Certain prescribed information is requested to be included that will enable the agency to make a determination whether to grant an exemption or not and aid in the assigning a lower minimum driving range. Requested Expiration Date of Approval: March 1, 2001. Description of the Need for and Proposed Use of the Information: This information will be used by NHTSA to determine whether manufacturers are complying with certain provisions of the applicable statutes (Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988, and Average Fuel Economy Standards). It will also allow the agency to evaluate the overall vehicle design in terms of environmental impact, safety, performance, and other factors that might justify the granting of an exemption. Description of Likely Respondents: Based on responses from other notices such as the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) and the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), it is anticipated that there would be fewer than 10 passenger car manufacturers that would seek such an exemption over a three year period. There is a possibility that some of these manufacturers would be small businesses (i.e., ones that employ less than 500 persons) and may not have access to some of the latest technology needed to meet the minimum driving range on electricity only. These small businesses that might be adversely affected could also be eligible for an exemption under the low volume criteria. The frequency of the petitioning burden would then be market driven. The others would be large volume manufacturers seeking to improve their CAFE. Estimate of Total Annual Reporting and Record Keeping Burden Resulting From the Collection of Information: NHTSA estimates from previous information collection that the vehicle manufacturers will incur a total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden of less than two hundred sixty six hours (266 hr.). This is based on an estimate of no more than 80 hr. to prepare the petition, spread between ten (10) manufacturers, over a three year period. Issued on: March 4, 1998. L. Robert Shelton, Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards. [FR Doc. 98-6299 Filed 3-11-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-P