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 Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR

describes the nature of the information collection and its expected

burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period

soliciting comments on the following collection of information was

published on November 22, 1996 (61 FR 59483-59484).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 10, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

1. For information or a copy of OMB Control Number 2125-0039,

Planning and Research Program Administration, contact 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.

2. For information or a copy of OMB Number: 2125-0501, Structure

Inventory and Appraisal Sheet, contact Charles L. Chambers, Office of

Engineering, Bridge Division (HNG-33), (202) 366-4618, Federal Highway

Administration, Room 3203, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC

20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., E.T., Monday

through Friday, except Federal holidays.

3. For information or a copy of OMB Number 2125-0544,

Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Highway Routing, contact Mr.

Kenneth Rodgers, Office of Motor Carrier Safety and Technology, Safety

and Hazardous Materials Division, (202) 366-4016, Department of

Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street,

SW., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to

4:15 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

1. Title: Planning and Research Program Administration.

OMB Number: 2125-0039.

Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Form(s): N/A.

Affected Public: State highway agencies.

Abstract: 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

[[Page 11948]]

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.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 29,120 hours.

2. Title: Structure Inventory and Appraisal Sheet.

OMB Number: 2125-0501.

Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Form(s): N/A.

Affected Public: Transportation agencies of the 50 States and the

District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Abstract: The collection of the bridge information contained on the

Structure Inventory and Appraisal Sheet is necessary to satisfy the

requirements of 23 United States Code 144 and 151, and the Code of

Federal Regulations, 23 Highways--part 650, subpart C--National Bridge

Inspection Standards and subpart D--Highway Bridge Replacement and

Rehabilitation Program. Because of a December 1967 catastrophic bridge

failure, the Congress enacted the National Bridge Inspection Standards

(NBIS) which require the inspection of the condition of bridges, and

the reporting of the findings of the inspections at regular intervals

for all bridges located on public roads.

The collected NBIS bridge information is used as a basis for

setting priorities for the replacement or rehabilitation of bridges

under the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRRP)

and for apportioning HBRRP funds to the States for bridge replacement

or rehabilitation. In addition, the information is used for strategic

national defense needs and for preparing the report to Congress on the

status of the Nation's highway bridges and funding under the HBRRP.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden is

540,000 hours.

3. Title: Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Highway Routing.

OMB Number: 2125-0554.

Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Form(s): N/A.

Affected Public: The reporting burden is shared by the 50 States,

the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern

Marianas, and the Virgin Islands.

Abstract: Public comment is requested regarding the burden

associated with this collection of information. The data for the

Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Highway Routing designations are

collected under authority of 49 U.S.C. 5112 and 5125, which places the

responsibility on the Secretary of Transportation to specify and

regulate standards for establishing, maintaining, and enforcing routing

designations. The Federal Highway Administrator has the authority, as

required in 49 CFR 397.73, to request that each State and Indian tribe,

through its routing agency, provide information identifying hazardous

materials routing designations within their respective jurisdictions.

This information will be consolidated by the FHWA and published

annually in whole or as updates in the Federal Register.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: The annual reporting burden is

estimated to be 13 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory

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

Washington, DC 20503, Attention FHWA 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 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 publishing in the Federal Register.

Issued in Washington, DC, on March 4, 1998.

Phillip A. Leach,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 98-6217 Filed 3-10-98; 8:45 am]

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