[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26128-26133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09984]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2021-0032]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for 
Comments; Consolidated Vehicles' Owner's Manual Requirements for Motor 
Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on a reinstatement with 
modification of a previously approved information collection.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration invites 
public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate a previously-approved 
information collection with modification. Before a Federal agency can 
collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval 
from 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 reinstatements of previously approved collections. This 
document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends 
to seek OMB approval on Vehicle Owner's Manual Requirements for Motor 
Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by July 12, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NHTSA docket number 
identified above, through any of the following methods:
     Electronic submissions: Go to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except on Federal holidays.
     Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name 
and docket number for this notice. Note that all comments received will 
be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading 
below.
     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 https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
     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 via internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or access 
to background documents, contact James Myers, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, West Building, Room W43-320, NRM-100, Washington, DC 20590. 
Mr. Myers' telephone number is 202-366-1810. Please identify the 
relevant collection of information by referring to its OMB Control 
Number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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: (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) how to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) 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: Consolidated Vehicle Owner's Manual Requirements for Motor 
Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment.
    OMB Control Number: 2127-0541.
    Type of Request: Request for reinstatement with modification of a 
previously approved collection of information.
    Type of Review Requested: Regular.
    Requested Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years from date of 
approval.
    Abstract: The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Act, authorizes 
the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA by delegation), at 49 U.S.C. 
30111, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that set 
performance standards for motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle 
equipment. Further, the Secretary (NHTSA by delegation) is authorized, 
at 49 U.S.C. 30117, to require manufacturers to provide information to 
first purchasers of motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment 
related to performance and safety in printed materials that are 
attached to or accompany the motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle 
equipment. NHTSA has exercised this authority to require manufacturers 
to provide certain specified safety information to be readily available 
to consumers and purchasers of motor vehicles and items of motor 
vehicle

[[Page 26129]]

equipment. This information is most often provided in vehicle owners' 
manuals and the requirements are found in 49 CFR parts 563, 571, and 
575. This information collection request only covers requirements or 
requests to provide information that is not provided verbatim in the 
regulation or standard. The information requirements or requests are 
included in: Part 563, ``Event data recorders;'' FMVSS No. 108, 
``Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment;'' FMVSS No. 110, 
``Tire selection and rims;'' FMVSS No. 138, ``Tire Pressure Monitoring 
Systems;'' FMVSS No. 202a, ``Head restraints;'' FMVSS No. 205, 
``Glazing materials;'' FMVSS No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection;'' 
FMVSS No. 210, ``Seat belt assembly anchorages;'' FMVSS No. 213, 
``Child restraint systems;'' FMVSS No. 226, ``Ejection mitigation;'' 
FMVSS No. 303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas 
Vehicles;'' section 575.103, ``Truck-camper loading;'' section 575.104, 
``Uniform tire quality grading standards;'' and section 575.105, 
``Vehicle rollover.''
    Part 563--Event data recorders. Section 563.11 requires 
manufacturers of vehicles equipped with event data recorders (EDRs) to 
provide a prescribed statement (provided verbatim) in the owner's 
manual,\1\ which is not an information collection. Section 563.11 also 
states that the owner's manual may include additional information about 
the form, function, and capabilities of the EDR, in supplement to the 
required statement. This voluntary disclosure of information is an 
information collection for which NHTSA is seeking approval. There is a 
slight burden for respondents to include the voluntary additional 
information in their owner's manuals. The vehicle manufacturers which 
provide this additional information in the owner's manual incur minimal 
burden. We conservatively estimate that half of the 406 vehicle models 
for light duty vehicles will have owner's manuals that contain this 
supplemental information and that the burden for updating and reviewing 
this information will be 1 hour per model line. This would result in 
203. annual burden hours (203 vehicle model lines x 1 hour of time x 1 
manual per model).
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    \1\ 49 CFR 563.11(a).
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    It is estimated that the word content in the owner's manual 
required by Part 563 would be 100 text words. Hence, the cost burden to 
vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $30,566.25 (17,100,939 total 
vehicles x 50% of vehicles including added language in the owner's 
manuals x 100 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor 
x $0.00013 per word). Cost burdens for this regulation were not 
included in the previous information collection request.
    FMVSS No. 108, ``Lamps, reflective devices, and associated 
equipment.'' This standard requires that certain lamps and reflective 
devices with certain performance levels be installed on motor vehicles 
to assure that the roadway is properly illuminated, that vehicles can 
be readily seen, and the signals can be transmitted to other drivers 
sharing the road during day, night, and inclement weather. Because the 
specific manner in which headlamp aiming is to be performed is not 
regulated (only the performance of the device is), aiming devices 
manufactured or installed by different vehicle and headlamp 
manufacturers may work in significantly different ways. To assure that 
one particular type of aiming system, the Vehicle headlamp aiming 
device (VHAD) can be correctly aimed, this standard requires that 
instructions for proper use of VHAD systems be part of the vehicle as a 
label, or optionally, be placed in the vehicle owner's manual.
    It is estimated that manufacturers no longer equip passenger 
vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, or motorcycles with VHAD headlamp 
systems. If vehicles were equipped with VHAD headlamps, for one model 
line with new VHAD headlamps, the time to collect the required 
information, prepare technical input, and review for accuracy of the 
required information placed for publication in the owner's manual 
template is estimated to be 4 hours per manual. In a carry-over vehicle 
owner's manual, we estimate that it would take a vehicle manufacturer 1 
hour to review the required information for continued accuracy relating 
to VHAD systems. Section 571.108 permits each manufacturer a choice in 
placing headlamp aiming instruction in the owner's manual or on a label 
affixed to the vehicle. We estimate about half of the VHAD aiming 
applications would be on labels attached to the VHAD, with the 
remainder (50%) using information in the owner's manual to convey the 
necessary information. Therefore, the number of annual burden hours 
imposed on manufacturers whose vehicles are subject to FMVSS No. 108 
would be determined from the number of model lines produced annually 
(of which an estimated 25% are new and 75% are non-new, a repeat of 
previous years' model lines) multiplied by the portion of vehicles 
equipped with VHAD headlamps multiplied by the estimated number of 
hours required to assemble the required information (estimated to be 4 
hours of review for new vehicles and 1 hour to review the information 
for non-new vehicles). The printing cost burden for these owner's 
manuals would be the number of vehicles produced annually multiplied by 
the portion of vehicles equipped with VHAD headlamps, multiplied by 
certain printing factors (an estimated 500 text words required per 
owner's manual, a 1.1 multiplier to account for aftermarket manuals, a 
0.25 printing factor, and a $0.00013 cost per word). Because 
manufacturers no longer equip passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, 
trailers, or motorcycles with VHAD headlamp systems, NHTSA estimates 
the burden hours as 0 hours, and the printing cost at $0.
    FMVSS No. 110, ``Tire selection and rims.'' This standard specifies 
requirements for tire selection to prevent tire overloading. The 
vehicle's normal load and maximum load on the tire shall not be greater 
than applicable specified limits. The standard requires a permanently 
affixed vehicle placard specifying vehicle capacity weight, designated 
seating capacity, manufacturer-recommended cold tire inflation 
pressure, and manufacturer's recommended tire size. The standard 
further specifies rim construction requirements, load limits of non-
pneumatic spare tires, and labeling requirements for non-pneumatic 
spare tires, including a required placard. Owner's manual information 
is required for non-pneumatic spare tires.
    Currently, manufacturers do not equip current passenger vehicles, 
trucks, buses, trailers, or motorcycles with non-pneumatic spare tires. 
If vehicles were equipped with non-pneumatic spare tires, the number of 
annual burden hours imposed on manufacturers who choose to equip their 
vehicles with this equipment would be determined from the number of 
model lines produced annually (of which an estimated 25% are new and 
75% are on-new, a repeat of previous years' model lines) multiplied by 
the portion of vehicle models equipped with non-pneumatic spare tires 
multiplied by the estimated number of hours required to assemble the 
required information (estimated to be 4 hours of review for new 
vehicles and 1 hour to review the information for non-new vehicles). 
The product of these factors would provide the number of hours required 
by manufacturers to produce necessary information to place into an 
owner's manual ``master'' for printing. The printing cost burden for 
these owner's manuals would be the number of vehicles produced annually 
multiplied by the portion of vehicles

[[Page 26130]]

equipped with non-pneumatic spare tires, multiplied by certain printing 
factors (an estimated 500 text words required per owner's manual, a 1.1 
multiplier to account for aftermarket manuals, a 0.25 printing factor, 
and a $0.00013 cost per word). Because manufacturers do not equip 
current passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, or motorcycles 
with non-pneumatic spare tires, NHTSA estimates the hour burden as 0 
hours, and the printing cost at $0.
    FMVSS No. 138, ``Tire pressure monitoring systems.'' This standard 
specifies requirements for a tire pressure monitoring system to warn 
the driver of an under-inflated tire condition. Its purpose is to 
reduce the likelihood of a vehicle crash resulting from tire failure 
due to operation in an under-inflated condition. The standard requires 
the owner's manual to include specific information on the low-pressure 
warning telltale and the malfunction indicator telltale.
    The information required by FMVSS No. 138 to be included in the 
owner's manual is provided verbatim and may be taken from the Federal 
regulation in its entirety. FMVSS No. 138, also states that the owner's 
manual may include additional information about the low-pressure 
telltale and the malfunction indicator telltale. NHTSA estimates the 
burden to be 1 hour for the respondents to format their owner's manuals 
to include the text and additional information. There is an average of 
438 model lines each year that include tire pressure monitoring 
information in the owner's manual. Therefore, NHTSA estimates the total 
annual burden hours for Sec.  571.138 to be 438 hours (438 model lines 
x 1 manual per model x 1 hour).
    It is estimated that the information required by FMVSS No. 138 in 
the owner's manual is equivalent to 400 words of text. This would 
result in $244,530 in cost burden to the respondents (17,100,000 
vehicles x 400 words of text x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing 
factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 202a, ``Head restraints.'' This standard specifies 
requirements for head restraints. The standard, which seeks to reduce 
whiplash injuries in rear collisions, currently requires head 
restraints for front outboard designated seating positions in passenger 
cars and in light multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses 
with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less and specifies 
requirements for optionally provided rear outboard seat head restraints 
in the same vehicles. The standard requires that vehicle manufacturers 
include information in owner's manuals for vehicles manufactured on or 
after September 1, 2008. The owner's manual must clearly identify which 
seats are equipped with head restraints. If the head restraints are 
removable, the owner's manual must provide instructions on how to 
remove the head restraint by a deliberate action distinct from any act 
necessary for adjustment, and how to reinstall the head restraints. The 
owner's manual must warn that all head restraints must be reinstalled 
to properly protect vehicle occupants. Finally, the owner's manual must 
describe, in an easily understandable format, the adjustment of the 
head restraints and/or seat back to achieve appropriate head restraint 
position relative to the occupant's head.
    It is estimated that 438 model lines need to be reviewed annually, 
but only a fraction (25 percent) need major revision each year. It is 
further estimated that it would take 5 hours to complete the major 
revisions. The remaining fraction of model lines (75 percent) only 
require reverification of existing information. The total annual burden 
hours are estimated to be 876 hours (438 model lines x 0.25 needing 
revision x 5 hours plus 438 model lines x 0.75 needing revision x 1 
hour).
    The word count required to disclose the required head restraint 
information in the owner's manual is estimated to be 1,200 words. The 
annual cost burden to the respondents to include the information 
required by FMVSS No. 202a in the owner's manual is $733,590 
(17,100,000 vehicles x 1,200 words of text x 1.1 production factor x 
0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 205, ``Glazing materials.'' This standard specifies 
requirement for all glazing material used in windshields, windows, and 
interior partitions of motor vehicles. Its purpose is to reduce 
injuries resulting from impact to glazing surfaces, to ensure a 
necessary degree of transparency in motor vehicle windows for driver 
visibility, and to minimize the possibility of occupants being thrown 
through the vehicle windows in collisions. More detailed information 
regarding the care and maintenance of plastic glazing items, such as a 
glass-plastic windshield, is required to be placed in the vehicle 
owner's manual.
    It is estimated that the burden to provide information in the 
owner's manual for detailed care and maintenance is minimal because 
manufacturers already provide this type of information in the vehicle 
cleaning and maintenance section of the owner's manual. NHTSA estimates 
a burden for each manual of 1 hour because manufacturers would need to 
verify that detailed care and maintenance information has been included 
in their cleaning and maintenance section of the owner's manual. The 
annual estimated burden from Sec.  571.205 is 176.0 hours (176 model 
lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour).
    The word count required in the owner's manual is estimated to be 
210 words. Only buses and low speed vehicles currently use plastic type 
glazing, so NHTSA estimates there are 17,400 new vehicles each year 
that include glazing information in the owner's manual. The annual cost 
burden to the respondents to include the information required by FMVSS 
No. 205 is $130.15 (17,400 vehicles x 210 words of text x 1.1 
production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection.'' This standard 
specifies requirements for both active and passive occupant crash 
protection systems for passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, 
trucks, and small buses. Certain safety features, such as air bags, or 
the care and maintenance of air bag systems, are required to be 
explained to the owner by means of the owner's manual. For example, the 
owner's manual must describe the vehicle's air bag system and provide 
precautionary information about the proper positioning of the 
occupants, including children. The owner's manual must also warn that 
no objects should be placed over or near the air bag covers. There is 
also required information about the operation of seat belt assemblies 
and other information that could total up to about 20 pages in the 
owner's manual. This material would also need to be kept current with 
the latest technical information on an annual basis.
    A conservative estimated burden to produce the required text and 
information is 16 hours (or 2 days). It is also estimated that a 
fraction (25 percent) of the model lines would require updates 
annually. The remaining fraction of model lines (75 percent) only 
require reverification (1-hour burden) of existing information. This 
would result in 2,750 annual burden hours (579 vehicle model lines x 
0.25 percent that need updating x 16 hours of time plus 579 model lines 
x 0.75 needing revision x 1 hour).
    It is estimated that the word content in the owner's manual 
required by FMVSS No. 208 would be 5,400 text words. Hence, the cost 
burden to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $3,397,680 
(17,600,000 total vehicles x 5,400 text words x 1.1 production factor x 
0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).

[[Page 26131]]

    FMVSS No. 210, ``Seat belt assembly anchorages.'' This standard 
specifies requirements for seat belt assembly anchorages to ensure 
effective occupant restraint and to reduce the likelihood of failure in 
a crash. FMVSS No. 210 requires that manufacturers place the following 
information in the vehicle owner's manual: (a) An explanation that 
child restraints are designed to be secured by means of the vehicle's 
seat belts, and (b) a statement alerting vehicle owners that children 
are always safer in the rear seat.
    It is estimated that it would take a vehicle manufacturer no more 
than 1 hour per vehicle model line to assemble all of the FMVSS No. 210 
information for inclusion in the owner's manual. This would result in 
438 annual burden hours (438 vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 
1 hour).
    It is estimated that the word content in the owner's manual 
required by FMVSS No. 210 would be 400 text words. Hence, the cost 
burden to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $244,530 (17,100,000 
total vehicles x 400 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing 
factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 213, ``Child restraint systems.'' This standard specifies 
requirements for child restraint systems and requires that 
manufacturers provide consumers with detailed information relating to 
child safety in air bag-equipped vehicles. The vehicle owner's manual 
must include information about the operation and do's and don'ts of 
built-in child seats. However, as stated in FMVSS No. 213, the 
information must be made available on strategically placed labels 
within the vehicles, in addition to the vehicle's owner's manual. Thus, 
it is assumed that the burden hours would be minimal since the 
information is already available from the information required to 
produce the labels. This would result in 579 annual burden hours (579 
vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour).
    It is estimated that the recurring information required for child 
safety in the owner's manual would be 500 text words. Hence, the cost 
burden to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $314,600 (17,600,000 
total vehicles x 500 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing 
factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 226, ``Ejection mitigation.'' This standard establishes 
vehicle requirements intended to reduce the partial and complete 
ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in crashes, 
particularly rollover crashes. The standard applies to passenger cars, 
and to multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a gross 
vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or less. Written 
information must be provided that describes any ejection mitigation 
countermeasure that deploys in the event of a rollover and a discussion 
of the readiness indicator with a list of the elements of the system 
being monitored by the indicator, a discussion of the purpose and 
location of the telltale, and instructions to the consumer on the steps 
to take if the telltale is illuminated.
    It is estimated that it would take a vehicle manufacturer no more 
than 8 hours to compile the required material and it is estimated that 
a fraction (25 percent) would need major revisions each year. The 
remaining fraction of model lines (75 percent) only require 
reverification (1-hour burden) of existing information. This would 
result in 1,204.5 annual burden hours (438 vehicle model lines x 1 
manual per model x 0.25 (percent that need updating) x 8 hours of time 
plus 438 model lines x 1 manual per model x 0.75 (percent needing 
revision) x 1 hour).
    It is estimated that the word content in the owner's manual 
required by FMVSS No. 226 would be 3,000 text words. Hence, the cost 
burden to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $1,833,975 
(17,100,000 total vehicles x 3,000 text words x 1.1 production factor x 
0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).
    FMVSS No. 303, ``Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas 
Vehicles.'' This standard specifies requirements for the integrity of 
motor vehicle fuel systems using compressed natural gas (CNG), 
including the CNG fuel systems of bi-fuel, dedicated, and dual fuel CNG 
vehicles. This regulation requires manufacturers to permanently label 
CNG vehicles, near the vehicle refueling connection, with service 
pressure information and the statement ``See instructions on fuel 
container for inspection and service life.'' Manufacturers of CNG 
vehicles shall also provide a first purchaser this information in 
either an owner's manual or a one-page document. The service pressure 
information required for the owner's manuals under FMVSS No. 303 is 
developed by manufacturers as part of their routine engineering 
development for their vehicles. Therefore, there is a slight burden of 
1 hour for respondents to include this information in their owner's 
manuals. This would result in 18 annual burden hours (18 vehicle model 
lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour of time).
    It is estimated that no more than 50 words are required in the 
owner's manual to comply with the requirements in FMVSS No. 303. There 
are conservatively 20,000 CNG vehicles produced annually. Hence, the 
cost burden to CNG vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $35.75 
(20,000 total units x 50 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 
printing factor x $0.00013 per word). Cost burdens for this regulation 
were not included in the previous information collection request.
    Section 575.103, ``Truck-camper loading.'' This regulation requires 
manufacturers of slide-in campers to affix to each camper a label that 
contains information relating to identification and proper loading of 
the camper and to provide more detailed loading information in the 
owner's manual. This regulation also requires manufacturers of trucks 
that would accommodate slide-in campers to specify the cargo weight 
ratings and the longitudinal limits within which the center of gravity 
for the cargo weight rating should be located. The information required 
for the owner's manuals under section 575.103 is developed by 
manufacturers as part of their routine engineering development for 
their vehicles. The figures to include in truck and slide-in camper 
owner's manuals are provided in the regulation. Therefore, there is a 
slight 1-hour burden for respondents to include this information in 
their owner's manuals. This would result in 35 annual burden hours (35 
vehicle model lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour of time).
    It is estimated that 480 words are minimally required in the 
owner's manual to comply with Sec.  575.103. There are approximately 
2,300,000 pickup trucks and 11,000 truck camper units produced 
annually. These total to an annual production of 2,311,000 units. 
Hence, the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be 
$39,656.76 (2,311,000 total units x 480 text words x 1.1 production 
factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word).

[[Page 26132]]

    Section 575.104, ``Uniform tire quality grading standards.'' This 
regulation requires manufacturers of motor vehicles to inform the 
drivers of the type and quality of the tires with which their vehicles 
are equipped. A statement, which manufacturers shall include in the 
owner's manual, is provided in the regulation in its entirety or 
equivalent form. Hence there is a slight 1-hour burden on the 
respondents for inclusion of this information into their owner's 
manuals. This would result in 579 annual burden hours (579 vehicle 
model lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour of time).
    It is estimated that 390 words are minimally required in the 
owner's manual to comply with Sec.  575.104. There are approximately 
13,857,300 vehicles covered by this regulation. Hence, the cost burden 
to vehicle manufacturers is estimated to be $193,205.41 (13,857,300 
total vehicles x 390 text words x 1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing 
factor x $0.00013 per word). Cost burdens for this regulation were not 
included in the previous information collection request.
    Section 575.105, ``Vehicle rollover.'' This regulation requires 
manufacturers of utility vehicles \2\ to alert the drivers of those 
vehicles that they have a higher possibility of rollover than other 
vehicle types and to advise them of steps that can be taken to reduce 
the possibility of rollover and/or to reduce the likelihood of injury 
in a rollover. A statement, which manufacturers shall include in the 
owner's manual, is provided in the regulation in its entirety or 
equivalent form. Hence there is a slight 1-hour burden on the 
respondents for inclusion of this information into their owner's 
manuals. This would result in 18 annual burden hours (18 vehicle model 
lines x 1 manual per model x 1 hour of time).
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    \2\ 49 CFR 575.105 states Utility vehicles means multipurpose 
passenger vehicles (other than those which are passenger car 
derivatives) which have a wheelbase of 110 inches or less and 
special features for occasional off-road operation.
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    It is estimated that 117 words are minimally required in the 
owner's manual to comply with Sec.  575.105. There are approximately 
2,700,000 utility vehicles with 4-wheel drive and a wheelbase of 110 
inches or less. Therefore, the cost burden to vehicle manufacturers is 
estimated to be $11,293.43 (2,700,000 total vehicles x 117 text words x 
1.1 production factor x 0.25 printing factor x $0.00013 per word). Cost 
burdens for this regulation were not included in the previous 
information collection request.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use of the 
Information: The Federal program for reducing highway fatalities, 
injuries and crashes is likely to be adversely affected if the 
information is not collected, since consumers would not be made readily 
aware of certain important safety provisions that apply to critical 
components of their vehicles and would not have a readily accessible 
source of information when circumstances require such information.
    Affected Public: Vehicle manufacturers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Responses: 52.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,315.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Cost: $368,969.
    The labor costs associated with these burden hours are derived by 
using hourly labor rates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
(BLS). For the burden hours associated with compiling the owner's 
manual information required under the FMVSSs, NHTSA uses the mean 
hourly wage of $35.41 per hour for ``Technical Writers'' (occupational 
code 27-3042).\3\ BLS estimates that hourly wages represent 
approximately 70.2% of total compensation for private industry 
workers.\4\ Therefore, NHTSA estimates the labor cost associated with 
less senior Technical Writers to be $50.44 per hour. The total labor 
cost associated with the burden hours of this information collection 
are determined by multiplying the annual burden hours by $50.44; 
therefore, the total annual labor costs are estimated to be $368.968.60 
in each of the next three years.
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    \3\ May 2019 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment 
and Wage Estimates, NAICS 336100--Motor Vehicle Manufacturing, 
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_336100.htm#27-0000.
    \4\ https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf. Accessed 
March 20, 2020. Table 1. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation by 
ownership [March 2020], https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.t01.htm.
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    The table below summarizes the total hour burden and associated 
labor costs estimates.

                         Estimated Hour Burden and Associated Labor Costs Summary Table
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                                                                                 Estimated      Estimated total
                Part/section                            Brief title            total annual   annual labor costs
                                                                               burden hours     at $50.44/hour
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
563.........................................  Event Data Recorders..........             203          $10,239.32
571.108.....................................  Lighting......................               0                0.00
571.110.....................................  Tire Selection and Rims.......               0                0.00
571.138.....................................  Tire Pressure Monitoring......             438           22,092.72
571.202a....................................  Head Restraints...............             876           44,185.44
571.205.....................................  Glazing.......................             176            8,877.44
571.208.....................................  Crash Protection..............           2,750          138,710.00
571.210.....................................  Seat Belt Anchors.............             438           22,092.72
571.213.....................................  Child Restraints..............             579           29,204.76
571.226.....................................  Ejection Mitigation...........           1,205           60,780.20
571.303.....................................  CNG Fuel Systems..............              18              907.92
575.103.....................................  Truck-Camper Loading..........              35            1,765.40
575.104.....................................  Tire Quality..................             579           29,204.76
575.105.....................................  Utility Vehicles..............              18              907.92
                                                                             -----------------------------------
    Totals..................................  ..............................           7,315       368,968.60 or
                                                                                                         368,969
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Annual Printing Burden Cost: $7,043,793.
    The total annual cost to the respondents for information published 
in vehicles' owner's manuals is summarized in the table below.

[[Page 26133]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Estimated total
          Part/section                Brief title          costs to
                                                          respondents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
563.............................  Event Data                  $30,566.25
                                   Recorders.
571.108.........................  Lighting..........                0.00
571.110.........................  Tire Selection and                0.00
                                   Rims.
571.138.........................  Tire Pressure               244,530.00
                                   Monitoring
                                   Systems.
571.202a........................  Head Restraints...          733,590.00
571.205.........................  Glazing...........              130.15
571.208.........................  Occupant Crash            3,397,680.00
                                   Protection.
571.210.........................  Seat Belt Assembly          244,530.00
                                   Anchors.
571.213.........................  Child Restraints            314,600.00
                                   Systems.
571.226.........................  Ejection                  1,833,975.00
                                   Mitigation.
571.303.........................  Fuel System                      35.75
                                   Integrity of
                                   Compressed
                                   Natural Gas
                                   Vehicles.
575.103.........................  Truck-Camper                 39,656.76
                                   Loading.
575.104.........................  Uniform Tire                193,205.41
                                   Quality Grading
                                   Standards.
575.105.........................  Vehicle Rollover..           11,293.43
                                                     -------------------
    Total Costs.................  ..................     7,043,792.75 or
                                                               7,043,793
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspects of 
this information collection, including (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the Department's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) 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. The agency will 
summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order 1351.29.

Raymond R. Posten,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2021-09984 Filed 5-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P


