Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; 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: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information

Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently

approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information

collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with

a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on collection number 2132-

0544 was published in 62 FR 45286, August 26, 1997, and collection

number 2132-0555 was published in 62 FR 46548, September 3, 1997.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 12, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia Barney, (202) 366-6680 and

refer to the OMB Control Number(s).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Title: Pre-Award, Post-Delivery Review Requirements under Buy

America.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

OMB Control Number: 2132-0544.

Form(s): N/A.

Affected Public: State and local government, business or other for-

profit institutions, non-profit institutions, and small business

organizations.

Abstract: Under the Federal Transit Laws, at 49 U.S.C. 5323(l),

grantees must certify that pre-award and post-delivery reviews will be

conducted when using FTA funds to purchase revenue service vehicles.

FTA regulations 49 CFR Part 663 implements this law by specifying the

actual certificates that must be submitted by each bidder to assure

compliance with the Buy American, contract specification, and vehicle

safety requirements for rolling stock. The information collected on the

certification forms is necessary for FTA grantees to meet the

requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5323(l).

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 3,024.

Title: American with Disabilities Act.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

OMB Control Number: 2132-0555.

Form Number: N/A.

Affected Public: State and local government, business or other-for-

profit institutions, non-profit institutions, and small business

organizations.

Abstract: On July 26, 1990, the President signed into law civil

rights legislation entitled, ``The Americans with Disabilities Act of

1990'' (ADA) (Pub.L. 101-336). It contains sweeping changes for

individuals with disabilities in every major area of American life. One

key area of the legislation addresses transportation services provided

by public and private entities. Some of the requirements under the ADA

are: (1) No transportation entity shall discriminate against an

individual with a disability in connection with the provision of

transportation service; (2) All new vehicles purchased by public and

private entities after August 25, 1990, must be readily accessible to

and usable by persons with disabilities, including individuals who use

wheelchairs; (3) Public entities that provide fixed route transit must

provide complementary paratransit service for persons with

disabilities, who are unable to use the fixed route system, that is

comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without

disabilities; and (4) Transit authorities who are able to substantiate

that compliance with all service criteria of the paratransit provisions

would cause undue financial burden, may request a temporary time

extension in implementing ADA complementary paratransit service. On

September 6, 1991, DOT issued a final rule implementing the

transportation provisions of ADA (Title 49 CFR parts 27, 37 and 38),

which includes the requirements for complementary paratransit service

by public entities operating a fixed route system and the provision of

nondiscriminatory accessible transportation service. The regulation

sets forth the changes needed to fulfill the Congressional mandate to

substantially improve access to mass transit service for persons with

disabilities. Effective January 26, 1997, paratransit plans are no

longer required. However, if FTA reasonably believes that an entity may

not be complying with all service criteria, FTA may require an annual

update to the entity's plan. In addition, all other ADA compliance

requirements must still be satisfied. The information collected

provides FTA with a basis for monitoring compliance. The public

entities, including recipients of FTA funds, are required to provide

information during triennial reviews, complaint investigations,

resolutions of complaints, and compliance reviews.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 75,000.

ADDRESS: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory

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

Washington, DC 20503, Attention FTA Desk Officer.

Comments are Invited on: Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance

[[Page 65305]]

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 automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 5, 1997.

Vanester M. Williams,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 97-32457 Filed 12-10-97; 8:45 am]

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