Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements

Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) will submit the

following emergency processing public information collection requests

(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and

clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44

U.S.C. Chapter 35). The DOT is publishing a notice in the Federal

Register, informing the public of DOT's plan to submit to OMB, 13

information collections for reinstatement, some with changes, of

previously approved collections for which approval has expired, under

the emergency processing procedures, 5 CFR 1320.13. The titles,

descriptions, affected public, with burden estimates are shown below.

Because OMB approval is valid for 180 days, DOT is taking appropriate

steps to obtain a regular approval.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before June 17,

1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phillip Leach, DOT Information

Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Information Resource

Management, Room 7107-R, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, Telephone: (202) 366-0770.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Title: University Research and Training Program.

OMB Control Number: 2132-0547.

Affected Public: Accredited Institutions of Higher Learning.

Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5312 authorizes the Secretary of Transportation

to make grants to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher

learning to assist in establishing or carrying on comprehensive

research in the problems of transportation in urban and rural areas.

The information collected is submitted in the form of an application

for a grant and is used to determine eligibility of grant applicants

and to assure that all FTA and Federal requirements are met. This

information also enables FTA and the academic community to properly

define subject matter categories and to identify the kinds of

organizations that are submitting proposals. Also, the information is

essential to support basic and theoretical research within the academic

community that will advance the current knowledge base, improve the

transportation service provider's decisionmaking and management

processes, and assist transit professionals to anticipate significant

national issues and trends. The information is also used to report

annually to Congress, the Secretary, and to the FTA Administrator on

how grantees are responding to national emphasis areas and

Congressional direction, and allows FTA to track grantees' use of

Federal planning and research funds.

Estimated Annual Burden: 4,728 hours.

Title: Managerial Training Program.

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OMB Control Number: 2132-0551.

Affected Public: State and local governments, business or other for

profit, and non-profit institutions.

Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5323(c) authorizes the Secretary of

Transportation to make grants to States and local public transportation

services to provide fellowships for training personnel employed in

managerial, technical, and professional positions in the public

transportation field. The information collected is submitted in the

form of an application and is used to determine eligibility and

appropriateness of intended training in light of program goals.

Collection of information for this program is also necessary to provide

documentation that grant applicants and recipients are complying with

appropriate FTA Circular C 6300.1A and other Federal requirements.

Without this information, FTA would not be able to determine if the

goals and objectives as set forth for this program are being met fully,

partially, or not at all.

Estimated Annual Burden: 1,412 hours.

Federal Highway Administration

Title: Statement of Materials and Labor used by Contractors on

Highway Construction Involving Federal Funds.

OMB Control Number: 2125-0033.

Form Number: FHWA-47.

Affected Public: Contractors.

Abstract: The form FHWA-47, ``Statement of Materials and Labor Used

by Contractors on Highway Construction Involving Federal Funds,'' is

needed to obtain information on the usage of materials and labor in

highway construction. Title 29 U.S.C. 2 authorizes the Department of

Labor to collect the labor-related information using its own forces or

by getting the information from other Federal agencies. An informal

agreement has been reached for FHWA to collect the desired data for the

Department of Labor. This information is used by FHWA for estimating

current material usage and cost distribution on Federal-aid highway

construction contracts to aid in planning for future requirements based

on anticipated program levels. There is also considerable interest by

industry, particularly suppliers of highway construction materials, for

the usage information derived from the FHWA-47 forms. This data is

collected from contracts of $1,000,000 or more on the National Highway

System and is not considered confidential. The respondent must submit

the FHWA-47 form after the project has been completed.

Estimated Annual Burden: 7,475 hours.

Title: Utility Use and Occupancy Agreements.

OMB Control Number: 2125-0522.

Affected Public: Highway authorities.

Abstract: In carrying out the requirements of 23 U.S.C. 116 to

assure Federal-aid highway projects are being properly maintained, the

Secretary of Transportation is authorized by 23 U.S.C. 315 to prescribe

and promulgate rules and regulations. This authority is delegated to

the Federal Highway Administrator at 49 CFR 1.48. Further, 23 CFR 1.23

and 1.27 establish the authority and responsibility of the Federal

Highway Administrator to prescribe policies and procedures for the use,

occupancy, and maintenance of the rights-of-way of Federal-aid

projects. Under the Federal-aid highway program, States, or their

political subdivisions, actually own the highway rights-of-way. State

and/or local highway authorities are responsible for maintaining the

highway rights-of-way, which includes controlling utility use of it.

The FHWA regulations found in 23 CFR 645, Subpart B require that in

controlling utility use on Federal-aid highway projects, the highway

authority is to document the terms under which the utility is to cross

or otherwise occupy highway rights-of-way. This documentation,

consisting of a use and occupancy agreement, is to be in writing and

must be contained in the highway authority's files. No submission to

the FHWA is required. The use and occupancy agreement issued by the

highway authority serves to document the arrangements made between it

and a utility to allow the utility to use public right-of-way under the

control of the highway authority. These agreements are reviewed

periodically by the FHWA to determine whether or not the State is

effectively maintaining the highway right-of-way and fulfilling its

responsibilities under its utility accommodation policy. The use and

occupancy agreements are an important means of controlling the

installation of utilities in order to provide a safe environment for

highway users.

Estimated Annual Burden: 552,000 hours.

Title: Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance.

OMB Control Number: 2125-0037.

Affected Public: Motor carriers.

Abstract: Motor carriers must maintain, or cause to be maintained,

records that document the inspection, repair, and maintenance

activities performed on their owned and leased motor vehicles. Burden

hours will increase due primarily to a revised estimate of the daily

usage rate of commercial motor vehicles that increases the estimated

frequency of a recordkeeping requirement.

Estimated Annual Burden: 37,614,867 hours.

Title: Medical Qualification Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 2125-0080.

Affected Public: Medical examiners, medical specialists,

physicians, licensed doctors of medicine or osteopathy, motor carriers,

and CMV drivers.

Abstract: The Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1984 requires the

Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations to ensure that the

physical qualification of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators is

adequate to enable them to operate CMVs safely. Information about an

individual's physical condition must be collected in order for the FHWA

and motor carriers to verify that the individual meets the physical

qualification standards for CMV drivers and for the FHWA to determine

whether the individual is physically able to operate a CMV safely.

Estimated Annual Burden: 459,097 hours.

Title: Operations Plan, Traffic Surveillance and Control.

OMB Control Number: 2125-0512.

Affected Public: State and local transportation agencies who

utilize federal funds for traffic management projects and contractors

involved in ITS/Traffic Management, who may write the implementation

plan for the state and local transportation agency.

Abstract: An implementation plan for a federal aid traffic control

project is required from the states and local agencies to assure that

there are adequate provisions and resources for the acquisition and

operational phases of the project.

Estimated Annual Burden: 160 hours.

Title: Developing and Recording Costs for Utility Adjustments.

OMB Number: 2125-0519.

Affected Public: 3,000 U.S. Utilities Companies.

Abstract: Under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 123, Federal-aid

highway funds may be used to reimburse State highway agencies (SHAs)

when they have paid for the cost of relocation of utility facilities

necessitated by the construction of Federal-aid highway projects. This

reimbursement is based on actual costs incurred by a utility company as

a result of adjusting its facilities. Payment for ``costs incurred'' is

a basic tenet of the Federal-aid program. This general principle is

also established in 23 U.S.C. 121 when Federal-aid highway funds are

being used to reimburse the State highway agencies for the cost of

construction of Federal-aid highway projects. To

[[Page 19161]]

implement these provisions of law, Federal Highway Administration

(FHWA) regulations, 23 CFR 645, Subpart A, require that the utility be

able to document its costs or expenses for adjusting its facilities.

This record of costs then forms the basis for payment by the SHA to the

utility company and in turn FHWA reimburses the SHA for its payments to

the utility company. A utility company's cost accounting records

establish a means of identifying the costs incurred in adjusting

utility facilities. The SHA uses these records to verify the costs to

base its payments on. The FHWA payment is based on the costs the State

pays for. If the utility did not keep a record of its costs, then there

would be no documentation of the expenses it would have incurred in

adjusting its facilities. If this should occur, there would be no basis

for Federal-aid highway fund participation in the costs and, under 23

U.S.C. 123, the FHWA would not be able to reimburse the State for

utility adjustments. There are approximately 30,000 utility companies

in the United States. In any one year, it is estimated that about 10

percent, or 3,000, of these utilities will be involved with

reimbursable utility adjustments on Federal-aid projects. It is further

estimated that each of these 3,000 utilities will have about 3

adjustments of its facilities per year on Federal-aid projects. The net

impact is approximately 9,000 reimbursable utility adjustments. For a

typical adjustment, about 20 hours of staff time (16 hours professional

staff; 4 hours secretarial staff) are expended to establish and

maintain the record of costs.

Estimated Annual burden: 180,000 hours.

Title: Notification Requirements for Commercial Driver License

Holders (Previous title: Commercial Driver Licensing and Testing

Standards).

OMB Control Number: 2125-0542.

Affected Public: Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

Abstract: An active commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver who holds

a commercial driver's license (CDL) is required to notify his/her

employer of all traffic law violations, his/her State licensing agency

of traffic law convictions in other jurisdictions, and his/her employer

of license suspensions. Any person applying for employment as a driver

of a CMV for which a CDL is required, must provide his/her prospective

employer with his/her employment history for the previous 10 years.

Estimated Burden Hours: 500,000 hours.

United States Coast Guard (USCG)

Title: Non Destructive Testing Proposal and Results for Pressure

Vessels Cargo Tanks on Unmanned Barges.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0563.

Affected Public: Owners of inspected barges.

Abstract: This collection of information requires owners of

unmanned barges with tanks that are required to be nondestructively

tested (NDT) to submit a proposal which includes the NDT methods and

procedures, and locations of the tanks to be tested. The results must

also be submitted to identify any defects and to evaluate the

suitability of a tank to remain in service. The Coast Guard requires

pressure vessel type tanks that are thirty years old and older to be

subjected to NDT at 10 year intervals.

Need: Under 46 U.S.C. 3703, the U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for

ensuring safe shipment of liquid dangerous cargoes and has promulgated

regulations on board certain barges to ensure that safety standards are

met.

Estimated Annual Burden: 39 hours.

Title: Display of Plans.

OMB Number: 2115-0135.

Affected Public: Owners or operators of inspected vessels.

Abstract: This collection of information requires owners or

operators of inspected vessels to display certain vessel plans.

Need: Under 46 U.S.C. 3305 and 3306, the U.S. Coast Guard is

responsible for ensuring the safety of inspected vessels and has

promulgated regulations to ensure that safety standards are met. The

information contained on these plans will be used by shipboard

personnel during routine duties, such as equipment and system

maintenance or servicing, as well as under emergency conditions such as

fire or flooding. In the event assistance is rendered from external

sources, the plans allow for rapid familiarization with the vessels and

its system, the information and its availability is crucial in

minimizing danger to those on board, damage to the vessel, and the

safety of the port and the environment.

Frequency: On occasion.

Estimated Annual Burden: 900 hours

Title: Plan Approval and Records for Foreign Vessels Carrying Oil

in Bulk.

OMB Number: 2115-0106.

Affected Public: Owners or operators of foreign vessels carrying

oil in bulk.

Abstract: This collection of information requires owners or

operators of certain foreign vessels carrying oil in bulk to submit

documents to the U.S. Coast Guard to determine if vessels meets certain

requirements in 33 CFR 157. This collection mainly affects vessels from

countries that are not signatory to the International Convention for

the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended by the

Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78).

Need: Under 46 U.S.C. 3703 and 3703(a), the U.S. Coast Guard is

authorized to issue regulations dealing with design, construction,

alteration, repair, maintenance, operation and equipping of foreign

vessels which carry or are constructed to carry or adapted to carry,

oil in bulk. The information will be used to determine if (1) the

vessel meets the Double Hull standards in 33 CFR 157.10(d); (2)

information is available to vessel personnel to operate the vessel and

equipment required and (3) a means is available to appeal U.S. Coast

Guard decisions with respect to the regulations and for obtaining those

waivers or exemptions permitted by the regulations.

Frequency: On occasion.

Estimated Annual Burden: 250 hours.

Title: Report: Declaration of Inspection.

OMB Number: 2115-0506.

Affected Public: Persons in Charge of Transfer Operation.

Abstract: The collection of information requires a person in charge

of onshore and offshore facilities to complete a Declaration of

Inspection (DOI) for each bulk transfer of oil and hazardous material

conducted and to maintain the DOI onboard the vessel and facility for a

one month period.

Need: 33 U.S.C. 1221 authorizes the Coast Guard to establish

procedure, methods, and equipment requirements to prevent the discharge

of oil and hazardous material from vessels and both onshore and

offshore.

Estimated Annual Burden: 78,800 hours.

Frequency: Monthly.

Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC

20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. 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

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automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Issued in Washington, DC on April 11, 1997.

Diane Litman,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 97-10066 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]

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