Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review, 72874-72875 [E5-6917]

Download as PDF 72874 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 234 / Wednesday, December 7, 2005 / Notices Otto Strassburg, Maritime Administration, 400 Seventh Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202–366–4161; FAX: 202–366–7901; or E-mail: Joe.strassburg@dot.gov. Copies of this collection also can be obtained from that office. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration (MARAD). Title: Approval of Underwriters for Marine Hull Insurance. OMB Control Number: 2133–0517. Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection. Affected Public: Marine insurance brokers and underwriters of marine insurance. Forms: None. Abstract: This collection of information involves the approval of marine hull underwriters to insure MARAD program vessels. Applicants will be required to submit financial data upon which MARAD approval would be based. This information is needed in order that MARAD officials can evaluate the underwriters and determine their suitability for providing marine hull insurance on MARAD vessels. Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 46 hours. Addressee: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20503, Attention MARAD Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: 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; the accuracy of the agency’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 best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. ACTION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: 49 CFR 1.66. Issued in Washington, DC on November 29, 2005. Joel C. Richard, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. E5–6919 Filed 12–6–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 13:01 Dec 06, 2005 Jkt 208001 Maritime Administration Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity under OMB Review Maritime Administration, DOT. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 9, 2005, and comments were due by November 8, 2005. No comments were received. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 6, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth DeVelbis, Maritime Administration, 400 Seventh Street, Southwest, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202–366–2314; FAX: 202– 366–9580; or E-mail: ruth.develbis@dot.gov. Copies of this collection also can be obtained from that office. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maritime Administration (MARAD). Title: Records Retention Schedule. OMB Control Number: 2133–0501. Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection. Affected Public: U.S. Shipping Companies. Forms: None. Abstract: Section 801, Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, requires retention of financial records pertaining to financial assistance programs for ship construction and ship operations. These records are required to permit proper audit of pertinent records at the conclusion of a contract. The information will be used to audit pertinent records at the conclusion of a contract when the contractor was receiving financial assistance from the government. Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 50 hours. Addressee: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, Northwest, Washington, DC 20503, Attention MARAD Desk Officer. PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Comments are invited on: 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; the accuracy of the agency’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 best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. Authority: 49 CFR 1.66. Issued in Washington, DC on November 30, 2005. Joel C. Richard, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. E5–6920 Filed 12–6–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Reports, Forms and Record Keeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. ACTION: Correction notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This document corrects the estimated total burden hours published on October 19, 2005 (70 FR 60878) for the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., OMB Control Number 2127–0503. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 6, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donovan Green, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5307—NVS–122, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Green’s telephone number is (202) 493–0248. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA is correcting an error in the Information Collection published in the Federal Register on October 19, 2005 (70 FR 60878). Specifically, NHTSA is correcting the estimated total annual burden from $3,611,460.00 to the estimated total annual burden hours of 265,702. Since the correction made by this document is only to inform the public of previous agency actions, and do not impose any additional obligations on any party, NHTSA finds for good cause that the revisions made by this notice E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 234 / Wednesday, December 7, 2005 / Notices should be effective as soon as this notice is published in the Federal Register. Issued in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2005. H. Keith Brewer, Director, Office of Crash Avoidance Standards. [FR Doc. E5–6917 Filed 12–6–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–59–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Denial of petition for a defect investigation. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted by Ms. Miriam Schneider to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), received on August 2, 2005, under 49 U.S.C. 30162, requesting that the agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect related to motor vehicle safety with respect to the performance of the tie rod ends on certain model year (MY) 1999 Volkswagen Passat vehicles not included in two previous safety recall campaigns. After a review of the petition and other information, NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency’s investigative resources on the issues raised by the petition does not appear to be warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition. The petition is herein after identified as DP05–003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kyle Bowker, Vehicle Control Division, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366–9597. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 2, 2005, ODI received a petition submitted by Ms. Miriam Schneider of Olney, MD requesting an investigation of allegedly defective tie rods in certain MY 1999 Volkswagen Passat vehicles not included in two previous safety recall campaigns (identified henceforth as the subject vehicles). In a September 1999 letter, Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VW) notified the agency that an undetermined percentage of MY 1998– 1999 Volkswagen Passat and Audi A4, A6, and A8 vehicles contained a safetyrelated defect affecting the tie rods in the steering system. VW indicated that it was possible that some tie rods would not seal properly which could allow VerDate Aug<31>2005 13:01 Dec 06, 2005 Jkt 208001 moisture and dust particles to enter the swivel bearing mechanism, resulting in premature wear. The approximately 22,200 Volkswagen and 29,700 Audi vehicles affected by this recall (identified by NHTSA Recall No. 99V– 248) were built from January 1998 through July 1998 and fell within a specific Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) range. In November 2000, VW chose to expand the scope of the recall (identified by NHTSA Recall No. 00V– 414) after it determined that some potentially defective tie rods may have been installed in an additional 44,000 Volkswagen and 39,000 Audi vehicles built from August 1998 through April 1999. These subject recall actions were not influenced by ODI. Instead, VW made an independent determination to conduct a recall after German vehicle inspection authorities notified it of ‘‘worn’’ tie rods and factory inspection of some ‘‘worn’’ tie rods revealed improper sealing. According to a December 2004 report, the petitioner brought her MY 1999 Passat to an authorized Volkswagen dealer for an unrelated recall repair where she was notified by service personnel that, after 59,000 miles traveled, the tie rods ‘‘have too much play,’’ and the recommended repairs would not be covered free of charge because her VIN (WVWNA63B1XE499116) was outside the recall range. In June 2005, after 65,400 miles traveled, the petitioner paid $588.59 to replace worn inner and outer tie rod ends on both sides of the vehicle. The petition letter specifically requests that the scope of VW’s recall be expanded to include the petitioner’s vehicle and that she be reimbursed for the cost of the repairs. There are a total of 191 nonduplicative complaints to ODI and VW that allege premature wear of either one or both outer tie rod ends in the subject vehicles. As of November 18, 2005, ODI is not aware of any allegations of tie rod separations resulting in a loss of vehicle control, crash or injury in the subject vehicles. The steering system converts rotary motion of the steering wheel (input) into a turning motion of the vehicle’s steered wheels to effect directional control (output). In the subject vehicles tie rods are used to transmit force from both ends of the rack and pinion gearbox to the steering arm at each front wheel. Each tie rod is affixed to the steering arm via a spherical bearing enclosed in a steel body (known as the outer tie rod end) and a bolt. The bearing is protected by a rubber boot that is intended to prevent the intrusion of dirt, dust, PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72875 water, and other environmental particles that could contaminate the bearing and cause corrosion and accelerated wear of the ball and socket joint. In February 1998, VW began using aluminum tie rod ends for both vehicle production and service replacement parts in an effort to reduce weight. VW initiated recall 99V–248 after it determined that the aluminum tie rod ends used in certain MY 1998–99 vehicles were defective. The manufacturer identified a specific production range of vehicles built using aluminum tie rod ends and later expanded the scope (00V–414) to include vehicles built two months before and after this range to ensure that any vehicle that may have been built using defective aluminum tie rod ends was included in the recall action. Due to aluminum’s low inherent material hardness, rapid and excessive wear of the bearing could result if the integrity of the seal is compromised and the bearing is left exposed to the elements. VW reports that damage to the protective rubber boot may be caused by external forces such as impact or in-use damage, or by improper assembly. Design changes intended to improve sealing (revised boot material) and ease of assembly (introduction of stop ring) were implemented. Additionally, the tie rod end was changed from aluminum to a steel body to improve bearing wear characteristics in the event of boot damage. This revised steel tie rod end entered vehicle production in March 1999 and was the replacement part used in the recall remedy. According to VW, aluminum tie rod ends show a very different pattern for replacement than the steel parts, as evidenced by analysis of consumer complaints and warranty claims. The defective aluminum tie rod ends were replaced at a much lower mileage range, whereas the steel parts are being replaced at a significantly higher mileage after years of service. Steel tie rod ends show a progression of failure symptoms which is clearly demonstrated and confirmed by the complaint reports identified in response to this petition, the vast majority of which include allegations limited to noise and/or excessive wear necessitating replacement during the course of routine maintenance. The manufacturer recommends periodic inspection of the steering system on the subject vehicles, including the tie rods, every 12 months. Furthermore, VW recommends a more detailed inspection of the tie rod ends (and replacement, if necessary) every 4 years or 40,000 miles traveled. E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72874-72875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6917]


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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: Correction notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document corrects the estimated total burden hours 
published on October 19, 2005 (70 FR 60878) for the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., OMB Control Number 2127-0503.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 6, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donovan Green, NHTSA 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Room 5307--NVS-122, Washington, DC 20590. Mr. Green's 
telephone number is (202) 493-0248.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA is correcting an error in the 
Information Collection published in the Federal Register on October 19, 
2005 (70 FR 60878). Specifically, NHTSA is correcting the estimated 
total annual burden from $3,611,460.00 to the estimated total annual 
burden hours of 265,702.
    Since the correction made by this document is only to inform the 
public of previous agency actions, and do not impose any additional 
obligations on any party, NHTSA finds for good cause that the revisions 
made by this notice

[[Page 72875]]

should be effective as soon as this notice is published in the Federal 
Register.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2005.
H. Keith Brewer,
Director, Office of Crash Avoidance Standards.
 [FR Doc. E5-6917 Filed 12-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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