Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 55474-55476 [06-8071]

Download as PDF 55474 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 184 / Friday, September 22, 2006 / Notices 1. Blue Lion Bancshares, Inc., Prairie Village, Kansas; to become a bank holding company by acquiring 99.95 percent of the voting shares of Hartford State Bank, Hartford, Kansas. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, September 18, 2006. Robert deV. Frierson, Deputy Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. E6–15638 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6210–01–S Chinatrust Financial Holding Co., Ltd., all of Taipei, Taiwan, and thereby indirectly acquire voting shares of First Commercial Bank (U.S.A.), Alhambra, California, and Chinatrust Bank (U.S.A.), Torrance, California. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, September 19, 2006. Robert deV. Frierson, Deputy Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. E6–15655 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6210–01–S FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.) (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR Part 225), and all other applicable statutes and regulations to become a bank holding company and/or to acquire the assets or the ownership of, control of, or the power to vote shares of a bank or bank holding company and all of the banks and nonbanking companies owned by the bank holding company, including the companies listed below. The applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The application also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the standards enumerated in the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the proposal also involves the acquisition of a nonbanking company, the review also includes whether the acquisition of the nonbanking company complies with the standards in section 4 of the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1843). Unless otherwise noted, nonbanking activities will be conducted throughout the United States. Additional information on all bank holding companies may be obtained from the National Information Center website at www.ffiec.gov/nic/. Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors not later than October 19, 2006. A. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (Tracy Basinger, Director, Regional and Community Bank Group) 101 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105-1579: 1. Cathay Financial Holding Company, Ltd., to acquire up to 9.99 percent of the voting shares of First Financial Holding Co., Ltd., and VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:37 Sep 21, 2006 Jkt 208001 Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Federal Trade Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (‘‘PRA’’) (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). The FTC is seeking public comments on its proposal to extend through May 31, 2009 the current PRA clearance for information collection requirements contained in its Alternative Fuel Rule, 16 CFR Part 309. That clearance expires on November 30, 2006. DATES: Comments must be filed by November 21, 2006. ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments. Comments should refer to ‘‘Alternative Fuel Rule: FTC File No. R311002’’ to facilitate the organization of comments. A comment filed in paper form should include this reference both in the text and on the envelope and should be mailed or delivered, with two complete copies, to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Room H 135 (Annex J), 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580. Because paper mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay, please consider submitting your comments in electronic form, (in ASCII format, WordPerfect, or Microsoft Word) as part of or as an attachment to email messages directed to the following email box: paperworkcomment@ftc.gov. However, if the comment contains any material for which confidential treatment is requested, it must be filed in paper form, and the first page of the document must be clearly labeled ‘‘Confidential.’’1 1 Commission Rule 4.2(d), 16 CFR 4.2(d). The comment must be accompanied by an explicit PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the collection of public comments to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. All timely and responsive public comments will be considered by the Commission and will be available to the public on the FTC Web site, to the extent practicable, at https://www.ftc.gov. As a matter of discretion, the FTC makes every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the public comments it receives before placing those comments on the FTC Web site. More information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC’s privacy policy at https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/ privacy.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the collection of information and supporting documentation should be addressed to Hampton Newsome, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326–3228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (‘‘PRA’’), 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520, federal agencies must obtain approval from OMB for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. ‘‘Collection of information’’ means agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. 44 U.S.C. 3502(3); 5 CFR 1320.3(c). As required by section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the FTC is providing this opportunity for public comment before requesting that OMB extend the existing paperwork clearance for the regulations noted herein. The FTC invites comments on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate request for confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis for the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from the public record. The request will be granted or denied by the Commission’s General Counsel, consistent with applicable law and the public interest. See Commission Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c). E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 184 / Friday, September 22, 2006 / Notices automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. All comments should be filed as prescribed in the ADDRESSES section above, and must be received on or before November 21, 2006. The Alternative Fuel Rule (‘‘Rule’’), 16 CFR Part 309, which implements the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102–486, requires disclosure of specific information on labels posted on fuel dispensers for non-liquid alternative fuels and on labels on Alternative Fueled Vehicles (AFVs). To ensure the accuracy of these disclosures, the Rule also requires that sellers maintain records substantiating product-specific disclosures they include on these labels. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Burden Statement It is common practice for alternative fuel industry members to determine and monitor fuel ratings in the normal course of their business activities. This is because industry members must know and determine the fuel ratings of their products in order to monitor quality and to decide how to market them. ‘‘Burden’’ for PRA purposes is defined to exclude effort that would be expended regardless of any regulatory requirement. 5 CFR 1320.2(b)(2). Moreover, as originally anticipated when the Rule was promulgated in 1995, many of the information collection requirements and the originally-estimated hours were associated with one-time start up tasks of implementing standard systems and processes. Other factors also limit the burden associated with the Rule. Certification may be a one-time event or require only infrequent revision. Disclosures on electric vehicle fuel dispensing systems may be useable for several years.2 Nonetheless, there is still some burden associated with posting labels. There also will be some minimal burden associated with new or revised certification of fuel ratings and recordkeeping. The burden on vehicle manufacturers is limited because only newly-manufactured vehicles will require label posting and manufacturers produce very few new models each year. Estimated total annual hours burden: 24,000 total burden hours, rounded to the nearest thousand. 2 Label specifications were designed to produce labels to withstand the elements for several years. VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:37 Sep 21, 2006 Jkt 208001 Non-Liquid Alternative Fuels Certification: Staff estimates that the Rule’s fuel rating certification requirements will affect approximately 550 industry members (compressed natural gas producers and distributors and manufacturers of electric vehicle fuel dispensing systems) and consume approximately one hour each per year for a total of 550 hours. Recordkeeping: Staff estimates that all 1,900 industry members (non-liquid fuel producers, distributers, and retailers) will be subject to the Rule’s recordkeeping requirements (associated with fuel rating certification) and that compliance will require approximately one-tenth hour each per year for a total of 190 hours. Labeling: Staff estimates that labeling requirements will affect approximately nine of every ten industry members (or roughly 1,700 members), but that the number of annually affected members is only 340 because labels may remain effective for several years (staff assumes that in any given year approximately 20% of 1,700 industry members will need to replace their labels). Staff estimates that industry members require approximately one hour each per year for labeling their fuel dispensers for a total of 340 hours. Sub-total: 1,080 hours (550 + 190 + 340) AFV Manufacturers Recordkeeping: Staff estimates that all 58 manufacturers will require 30 minutes to comply with the Rule’s recordkeeping requirements for a total of 29 hours. Producing labels: Staff estimates 2.5 hours as the average time required of manufacturers to produce labels for each of the five new AFV models introduced industry wide each year for a total of 12.5 hours. Posting labels: Staff estimates 2 minutes as the average time to comply with the posting requirements for each of the approximately 680,000 new AFVs manufactured each year for a total of 22,667 hours. Sub-total: Approximately 22,709 hours (29 + 12.5 + 22,667) Thus, the total burden for these industries combined is approximately 24,000 hours (1,080 + 22,667), rounded to the nearest thousand. Estimated labor costs: $698,000, rounded to the nearest thousand. Labor costs are derived by applying appropriate hourly cost figures to the burden hours described above. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics staff, the average compensation for producers and distributors in the fuel PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55475 industry is $19.34 per hour and $9.45 per hour for service station employees; the average compensation for workers in the vehicle industry is $29.90 per hour. Non-Liquid Alternative Fuels Certification and labeling: Generally, all of the estimated hours except for recordkeeping will be performed by producers and distributors of fuels. Thus, the associated labor costs would be $17,212.60 ((550 certification hours + 340 labeling hours) × $19.34). Recordkeeping: Only 1⁄6 of the total 190 recordkeeping hours will be performed by the producers and distributors of fuels (1⁄6 of 190 hours = approximately 32 hours; 32 hours × $19.34 = $618.88); the other 5⁄6 is attributable to service station employees (5⁄6 of 190 hours = approximately 158 hours; 158 hours × $9.45 = $1,493.10) Thus, the labor cost due to recordkeeping for the entire industry is approximately $2,111.98 ($618.88 for producers and distributors of fuels + $1,493.10 for service station employees) and the total paperwork related labor cost for the entire industry is approximately $19,324.58 ($17,212.60 for certification and labeling costs + $2,111.98 for recordkeeping costs). AFV Manufacturers The maximum labor cost for the entire industry is approximately $678,999.10 per year for recordkeeping and producing and posting labels (22,709 total hours × $29.90/hour). Thus, the estimated total labor cost for both industries for all paperwork requirements is $698,000 ($19,324.58 + $678,999.10) per year, rounded to the nearest thousand. Estimated annual non-labor cost burden: $259,000 rounded. Non-Liquid Alternative Fuels Staff believes that there are no current start-up costs associated with the Rule, inasmuch as the Rule has been effective since 1995. Industry members, therefore, have in place the capital equipment and means necessary to determine automotive fuel ratings and comply with the Rule. Industry members, however, incur the cost of procuring fuel dispenser and AFV labels to comply with the Rule. The estimated annual fuel labeling cost, based on estimates of 540 fuel dispensers (assumptions: An estimated 20% of 1,350 total fuel retailers need to replace labels in any given year given an approximate five-year life for labels— i.e., 270 retailers—multiplied by an average of two dispensers per retailer) at thirty-eight cents for each label (per E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 55476 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 184 / Friday, September 22, 2006 / Notices industry sources), is $205.00 ($0.38 × 540). AFV Manufacturers Here, too, staff believes that there are no current start-up costs associated with the Rule, for the same reasons as stated immediately above regarding the nonliquid alternative fuel industry. However, based on the labeling of an estimated 680,000 new and used AFVs each year at thirty-eight cents for each label (per industry sources), the annual AFV labeling cost is estimated to be $258,400 ($0.38 × 680,000). Thus, estimated total annual nonlabor cost burden associated with the Rule is $259,000 ($205 + $258,400), rounded to the nearest thousand. William Blumenthal, General Counsel. [FR Doc. 06–8071 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6750–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; American Health Information Community Confidentiality, Privacy and Security Workgroup Meeting ACTION: Announcement of meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces the third meeting of the American Health Information Community Confidentiality, Privacy and Security Workgroup in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 5 U.S.C., App.) DATES: October 6, 2006, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mary C. Switzer Building (330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20201), Conference Room 4090 (please bring photo ID for entry to a Federal building). ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: https://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic.html. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONTACT: The workgroup members will discuss outcomes from the testimony hearing held on September 29, 2006, regarding identify proofing and user authentication. The meeting will be available via Web cast at https://www.eventcenterlive.com/ cfmx/ec/login/loginl.cfm?BID=67. VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:37 Sep 21, 2006 Jkt 208001 Dated: September 18, 2006. Judith Sparrow, Director, American Health Information Community, Office of Programs and Coordination, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. [FR Doc. 06–8069 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150–24–M DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; American Health Information Community Biosurveillance Data Steering Group Meeting ACTION: Announcement of meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces the seventh meeting of the American Health Information Community Biosurveillance Data Steering Group in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 5 U.S.C., App.). DATES: October 3, 2006 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: Mary C. Switzer Building (330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20201), Conference Room 4090 (you will need a photo ID to enter a Federal building). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: https://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the meeting, the Workgroup will continue their discussion on the feasibility of filtering a Minimum Data Set. The meeting will be available via Internet access. Go to https:// www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic.html for additional information on the meeting. Dated: September 18, 2006. Judith Sparrow, Director, American Health Information Community, Office of Programs and Coordination, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. [FR Doc. 06–8070 Filed 9–21–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150–24–M DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [30Day–06–0214] Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a list of information collection requests under PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these requests, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer at (404) 639–4794 or send an email to omb@cdc.gov. Send written comments to CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC or by fax to (202) 395–6974. Written comments should be received within 30 days of this notice. Proposed Project National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2007–2009, (OMB No. 0920– 0214)—Revision—National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Background and Brief Description The annual National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a major source of general statistics on the health of the U.S. population and has been in the field continuously since 1957. This household-based survey collects demographic and health-related information on a nationally representative sample of persons and households throughout the country. Information is collected using computer assisted personal interviews (CAPI). A core set of data is collected annually and supplements are collected periodically. For 2007, supplementary information will be collected on complementary and alternative medicine and hearing problems. These supplements are sponsored by the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, both parts of the National Institutes of Health. In accordance with the 1995 initiative to increase the integration of surveys within the Department of Health and Human Services, respondents to the NHIS serve as the sampling frame for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The NHIS has long been used by government, university, and private researchers to evaluate both general health and specific issues, such as cancer, diabetes, and access to health care. It is a leading source of data for the Congressionallymandated ‘‘Health US’’ and related publications, as well as the single most important source of statistics to track progress toward the National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, ‘‘Healthy People 2010.’’ There is no cost to the respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 38,271. E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 184 (Friday, September 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55474-55476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8071]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The information collection requirements described below will 
be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for 
review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520). The FTC is seeking public comments on its proposal to 
extend through May 31, 2009 the current PRA clearance for information 
collection requirements contained in its Alternative Fuel Rule, 16 CFR 
Part 309. That clearance expires on November 30, 2006.

DATES: Comments must be filed by November 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments. 
Comments should refer to ``Alternative Fuel Rule: FTC File No. 
R311002'' to facilitate the organization of comments. A comment filed 
in paper form should include this reference both in the text and on the 
envelope and should be mailed or delivered, with two complete copies, 
to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Room H 135 (Annex 
J), 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580. Because paper 
mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay, 
please consider submitting your comments in electronic form, (in ASCII 
format, WordPerfect, or Microsoft Word) as part of or as an attachment 
to email messages directed to the following email box: 
paperworkcomment@ftc.gov. However, if the comment contains any material 
for which confidential treatment is requested, it must be filed in 
paper form, and the first page of the document must be clearly labeled 
``Confidential.''\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Commission Rule 4.2(d), 16 CFR 4.2(d). The comment must be 
accompanied by an explicit request for confidential treatment, 
including the factual and legal basis for the request, and must 
identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from 
the public record. The request will be granted or denied by the 
Commission's General Counsel, consistent with applicable law and the 
public interest. See Commission Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FTC Act and other laws the Commission administers permit the 
collection of public comments to consider and use in this proceeding as 
appropriate. All timely and responsive public comments will be 
considered by the Commission and will be available to the public on the 
FTC Web site, to the extent practicable, at https://www.ftc.gov. As a 
matter of discretion, the FTC makes every effort to remove home contact 
information for individuals from the public comments it receives before 
placing those comments on the FTC Web site. More information, including 
routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC's 
privacy policy at https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the collection 
of information and supporting documentation should be addressed to 
Hampton Newsome, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer 
Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326-3228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''), 
44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, federal agencies must obtain approval from OMB for 
each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. ``Collection of 
information'' means agency requests or requirements that members of the 
public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third 
party. 44 U.S.C. 3502(3); 5 CFR 1320.3(c). As required by section 
3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the FTC is providing this opportunity for 
public comment before requesting that OMB extend the existing paperwork 
clearance for the regulations noted herein.
    The FTC invites comments on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate

[[Page 55475]]

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.All comments should be filed as 
prescribed in the ADDRESSES section above, and must be received on or 
before November 21, 2006.
    The Alternative Fuel Rule (``Rule''), 16 CFR Part 309, which 
implements the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-486, requires 
disclosure of specific information on labels posted on fuel dispensers 
for non-liquid alternative fuels and on labels on Alternative Fueled 
Vehicles (AFVs). To ensure the accuracy of these disclosures, the Rule 
also requires that sellers maintain records substantiating product-
specific disclosures they include on these labels.

Burden Statement

    It is common practice for alternative fuel industry members to 
determine and monitor fuel ratings in the normal course of their 
business activities. This is because industry members must know and 
determine the fuel ratings of their products in order to monitor 
quality and to decide how to market them. ``Burden'' for PRA purposes 
is defined to exclude effort that would be expended regardless of any 
regulatory requirement. 5 CFR 1320.2(b)(2). Moreover, as originally 
anticipated when the Rule was promulgated in 1995, many of the 
information collection requirements and the originally-estimated hours 
were associated with one-time start up tasks of implementing standard 
systems and processes.
    Other factors also limit the burden associated with the Rule. 
Certification may be a one-time event or require only infrequent 
revision. Disclosures on electric vehicle fuel dispensing systems may 
be useable for several years.\2\ Nonetheless, there is still some 
burden associated with posting labels. There also will be some minimal 
burden associated with new or revised certification of fuel ratings and 
recordkeeping. The burden on vehicle manufacturers is limited because 
only newly-manufactured vehicles will require label posting and 
manufacturers produce very few new models each year.

    \2\ Label specifications were designed to produce labels to 
withstand the elements for several years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated total annual hours burden: 24,000 total burden hours, rounded 
to the nearest thousand.

Non-Liquid Alternative Fuels

    Certification: Staff estimates that the Rule's fuel rating 
certification requirements will affect approximately 550 industry 
members (compressed natural gas producers and distributors and 
manufacturers of electric vehicle fuel dispensing systems) and consume 
approximately one hour each per year for a total of 550 hours.
    Recordkeeping: Staff estimates that all 1,900 industry members 
(non-liquid fuel producers, distributers, and retailers) will be 
subject to the Rule's recordkeeping requirements (associated with fuel 
rating certification) and that compliance will require approximately 
one-tenth hour each per year for a total of 190 hours.
    Labeling: Staff estimates that labeling requirements will affect 
approximately nine of every ten industry members (or roughly 1,700 
members), but that the number of annually affected members is only 340 
because labels may remain effective for several years (staff assumes 
that in any given year approximately 20% of 1,700 industry members will 
need to replace their labels). Staff estimates that industry members 
require approximately one hour each per year for labeling their fuel 
dispensers for a total of 340 hours.

Sub-total: 1,080 hours (550 + 190 + 340)

AFV Manufacturers

    Recordkeeping: Staff estimates that all 58 manufacturers will 
require 30 minutes to comply with the Rule's recordkeeping requirements 
for a total of 29 hours.
    Producing labels: Staff estimates 2.5 hours as the average time 
required of manufacturers to produce labels for each of the five new 
AFV models introduced industry wide each year for a total of 12.5 
hours.
    Posting labels: Staff estimates 2 minutes as the average time to 
comply with the posting requirements for each of the approximately 
680,000 new AFVs manufactured each year for a total of 22,667 hours.

Sub-total: Approximately 22,709 hours (29 + 12.5 + 22,667)

    Thus, the total burden for these industries combined is 
approximately 24,000 hours (1,080 + 22,667), rounded to the nearest 
thousand.

Estimated labor costs: $698,000, rounded to the nearest thousand.

    Labor costs are derived by applying appropriate hourly cost figures 
to the burden hours described above. According to Bureau of Labor 
Statistics staff, the average compensation for producers and 
distributors in the fuel industry is $19.34 per hour and $9.45 per hour 
for service station employees; the average compensation for workers in 
the vehicle industry is $29.90 per hour.

Non-Liquid Alternative Fuels

    Certification and labeling: Generally, all of the estimated hours 
except for recordkeeping will be performed by producers and 
distributors of fuels. Thus, the associated labor costs would be 
$17,212.60 ((550 certification hours + 340 labeling hours) x $19.34).
    Recordkeeping: Only \1/6\ of the total 190 recordkeeping hours will 
be performed by the producers and distributors of fuels (\1/6\ of 190 
hours = approximately 32 hours; 32 hours x $19.34 = $618.88); the other 
\5/6\ is attributable to service station employees (\5/6\ of 190 hours 
= approximately 158 hours; 158 hours x $9.45 = $1,493.10) Thus, the 
labor cost due to recordkeeping for the entire industry is 
approximately $2,111.98 ($618.88 for producers and distributors of 
fuels + $1,493.10 for service station employees) and the total 
paperwork related labor cost for the entire industry is approximately 
$19,324.58 ($17,212.60 for certification and labeling costs + $2,111.98 
for recordkeeping costs).

AFV Manufacturers

    The maximum labor cost for the entire industry is approximately 
$678,999.10 per year for recordkeeping and producing and posting labels 
(22,709 total hours x $29.90/hour).
    Thus, the estimated total labor cost for both industries for all 
paperwork requirements is $698,000 ($19,324.58 + $678,999.10) per year, 
rounded to the nearest thousand.

Estimated annual non-labor cost burden: $259,000 rounded.

Non-Liquid Alternative Fuels

    Staff believes that there are no current start-up costs associated 
with the Rule, inasmuch as the Rule has been effective since 1995. 
Industry members, therefore, have in place the capital equipment and 
means necessary to determine automotive fuel ratings and comply with 
the Rule. Industry members, however, incur the cost of procuring fuel 
dispenser and AFV labels to comply with the Rule. The estimated annual 
fuel labeling cost, based on estimates of 540 fuel dispensers 
(assumptions: An estimated 20% of 1,350 total fuel retailers need to 
replace labels in any given year given an approximate five-year life 
for labels--i.e., 270 retailers--multiplied by an average of two 
dispensers per retailer) at thirty-eight cents for each label (per

[[Page 55476]]

industry sources), is $205.00 ($0.38 x 540).

AFV Manufacturers

    Here, too, staff believes that there are no current start-up costs 
associated with the Rule, for the same reasons as stated immediately 
above regarding the non-liquid alternative fuel industry. However, 
based on the labeling of an estimated 680,000 new and used AFVs each 
year at thirty-eight cents for each label (per industry sources), the 
annual AFV labeling cost is estimated to be $258,400 ($0.38 x 680,000).
    Thus, estimated total annual non-labor cost burden associated with 
the Rule is $259,000 ($205 + $258,400), rounded to the nearest 
thousand.

William Blumenthal,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 06-8071 Filed 9-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P
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