Reports, Forms, and Recordkeeping Requirements |
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Topics: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Gregory A. Walter
Federal Register
August 22, 2011
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52383-52384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21399]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[U.S. DOT Docket Number NHTSA-2011-0126]
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.
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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.
This document describes one collection of information for which
NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 21, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the docket number in
the heading of this document, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on
the electronic docket site by clicking on ``Help'' or ``FAQ.''
Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Regardless of how you submit comments, you should mention the
docket number of this document.
You may call the Docket Management Facility at 202-366-9826.
Instructions: For detailed instructions on submitting comments and
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public
Participation heading of the Supplementary Information section of this
document. Note that all comments received will be posted without change
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://www.dot.gov/privacy.html.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov, or the street
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kil-Jae Hong, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., W52-232, NPO-520, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Hong's
telephone number is (202) 493-0524 and e-mail address is kil-jae.hong@dot.gov.
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 5CFR
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;
(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 for which
the agency is seeking approval from OMB:
Title: 49 CFR 575--Consumer Information Regulations (sections 103
and 105) Quantitative Research.
OMB Control Number: Not Assigned.
Form Number: None.
Affected Public: Passenger vehicle consumers.
[[Page 52384]]
Requested Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval
date.
Abstract: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA),
enacted in December 2007, included a requirement that the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) develop a consumer
information and education campaign to improve consumer understanding of
automobile performance with regard to fuel economy, Greenhouse Gases
(GHG) emissions and other pollutant emissions; of automobile use of
alternative fuels; and of thermal management technologies used on
automobiles to save fuel. In order to effectively achieve the
objectives of the consumer education program and fulfill its statutory
obligations, NHTSA proposes a multi-phased research project to gather
the data and apply analyses and results from the project to develop the
consumer information program and education campaign. NHTSA has
conducted qualitative research and is now requesting to conduct follow-
up quantitative research with consumers to assess current levels of
knowledge surrounding these issues, explore current available fuel
economy-related content for clarity and understanding, evaluate
potential consumer-facing messages and their potential to encourage
consumers to seek more fuel economy-related information from NHTSA, and
explore communications channels in which these messages should be
present. The research will allow NHTSA to refine the fuel economy-
related content and consumer-facing messaging that will be used
throughout the consumer education campaign by identifying what relevant
issues consumers care more about and what information they still need
to make more informed purchase and driver behavior decisions.
Estimated Annual Burden: 1,333.33 hours.
Number of Respondents: 4,000.
NHTSA proposed to conduct two research phases. For the first phase,
NHTSA conducted one type of qualitative research consisting of two (2)
focus groups in each of four (4) cities. The results of that research
phase were used to inform the quantitative phase of research which this
notice addresses. This quantitative research will consist of an online
survey that will require approximately 20 minutes for each respondent
to complete, and will require 4,000 participants. NHTSA plans to
administer this study one time.
The estimated annual burden hour for the second phase of research
is 1,333.33 hours (20 minutes x 4,000 participants). Based on the
Bureau of Labor and Statistics' median hourly wage (all occupations) in
the May 2010 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, NHTSA
estimates that it will take an average of $16.27 per hour for
professional and clerical staff to gather data, develop and distribute
material. Therefore, the agency estimates that the cost associated with
the burden hours is $21,693.28 ($16.27 per hour x 1,333.33 burden
hours).
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.
Issued on: August 17, 2011.
Gregory A. Walter,
Senior Associate Administrator, Policy and Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-21399 Filed 8-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P