Notice of Request for Renewal of an Existing Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. 97-2934]

Notice of Request for Renewal of an Existing Information

Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

[[Page 58768]]

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the

intention of the FHWA to request the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) to renew the information collection identified below under

supplementary information.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 29, 1997.

ADDRESSES: All signed, written comments should refer to the docket

number that appears in the heading of this document and must be

submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. All comments received

will be available for examination at the above address between 10:00

a.m. and 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must

include a self-addressed, stamped postcard/envelope.

Interested parties are invited to send comments regarding any

aspect of this information collection, including, but not limited to:

(1) The necessity and utility of the information collection for the

proper performance of the functions of the FHWA; (2) the accuracy of

the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways to minimize the

collection burden without reducing the quality of the collected

information. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be

summarized and/or included in the request for OMB renewal of this

information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Solury, Office of Environment

and Planning, 202-366-5003, Federal Highway Administration, Department

of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through

Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Planning and Research Program Administration

OMB number: 2125-0039.

Background: Under the provisions of section 307(c) of title 23,

United States Code, two percent of certain categories of Federal-aid

highway funds apportioned to the States are set-a-side for use only for

State planning and research (SPR funds). At least 25% of the SPR funds

apportioned annually must be used for the research, development, and

technology transfer activities. In accordance with government-wide

grant management procedures, a grant application must be submitted for

these funds. In addition, recipients must submit periodic progress and

financial reports. In lieu of Standard Form 424, Application for

Federal Assistance, the FHWA uses a ``work program'' that includes a

scope of work and budget for activities to be undertaken with FHWA

planning and research funds during the next one-or two-year period as

the grant application. The information contained in the work program

includes task descriptions, assignments of responsibility for

conducting the work effort, and estimated costs for the tasks. This

information is necessary to determine how FHWA planning and research

funds will be utilized by the State highway agencies and if the

proposed work is eligible for Federal participation.

The content and frequency of submission of progress and financial

reports specified in 23 CFR part 420 are as specified in OMB Circular

A-102 and the companion common grant management regulations.

Respondents: State highway agencies.

Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 400 hours per respondent.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 28,080 hours.

Auuthority: 23 U.S.C. 307(c); 23 CFR 420, subpart A.

Issued on: October 17, 1997.

Diana Zeidel,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Administration

[FR Doc. 97-28767 Filed 10-29-97; 8:45 am]

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