[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 136 (Monday, July 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36954-36955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17950]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA-96-1527]


Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved 
Information Collections

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration 
(FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend 
the following currently approved information collections:

(1) Prevention of Alcohol Misuse in Transit Operations;
(2) Nondiscrimination as it applies to FTA Grant Programs;
(3) Title VI as it applies to FTA Grant Programs;
(4) Technical Activities Form;
(5) Bus Testing Program.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before September 13, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that 
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the United 
States Department of Transportation, Central Dockets Office, PL-401, 
400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. All comments received 
will be available for examination at the above address from 10:00 a.m. 
to 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Control of Alcohol Misuse in Transit Operations--Ms. Judy Meade, Office 
of Program Management, (202) 366-2896
Nondiscrimination as it applies to FTA Grant Programs and Title VI as 
it applies to FTA Grant Programs--Mr. Akira Sano, Office of Civil 
Rights, (202) 366-4018
Reporting of Technical Activities by FTA Grant Recipients--Sean 
Libberton, Office of Program Management, (202) 366-1626
Bus Testing Program--Mr. Frank Borris, Office of Research, 
Demonstration and Innovation, (202) 366-8089.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of these information collections, 
including: (1) the necessity and utility of the information collection 
for the proper performance of the functions of the FTA; (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 reinstatement 
of this information collection.

Title: Prevention of Alcohol Misuse in Transit Operations (OMB Number: 
2132-0557)

    Background: The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 
(Pub.L. 102-143, October 28, 1991, now codified in relevant part at 49 
U.S.C. Section 5331) requires any recipient of Federal financial 
assistance under 49 U.S.C. Sections 5309, 5307, or 5311 or under 23 
U.S.C. Section 103(e) (4) to establish a program designed to help 
prevent accidents and injuries resulting from the misuse of drugs and 
alcohol by employees who perform safety-sensitive functions. FTA's 
regulation, 49 CFR Part 654, ``Prevention of Alcohol Misuse in Transit 
Operations,'' effective March 17, 1994, requires recipients to submit 
to FTA annual reports containing data which summarize information 
concerning the recipients' alcohol testing program, such as the number 
and type of test given, number of positive test results, and the kind 
of safety-sensitive function the employee performs. FTA uses these data 
to ensure compliance with the rule, to assess the misuse of alcohol in 
the transit industry, and to set the random testing rate. The data will 
also be used to assess the effectiveness of the rule in reducing the 
misuse of alcohol among safety-sensitive transit employees and making 
transit safer for the public.
    Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-
profit, non-profit institutions, and small businesses organizations.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 20.1 hours for each of the 
1,615 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 32,480 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

Title: Nondiscrimination As It Applies to FTA Grant Programs (OMB 
Number: 2132-0542)

    Background: All entities receiving Federal financial assistance 
from FTA are prohibited from discriminating against any employee or 
applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, sex, national 
origin, age, or disability. To ensure that FTA's equal employment 
opportunity (EEO)

[[Page 36955]]

procedures are followed, FTA requires grant recipients to submit 
written EEO plans to FTA for approval. FTA's assessment of this 
requirement shows that the formulating, submitting, and implementing of 
EEO programs should minimally increase costs for FTA applicants and 
recipients.
    To determine a grantee's compliance with applicable laws and 
requirements, grantee submissions are evaluated and analyzed based on 
the following criteria. First, an EEO program must include an EEO 
policy statement issued by the chief executive officer covering all 
employment practices, including recruitment, selection, promotions, 
terminations, transfers, layoffs, compensation, training, benefits, and 
other terms and conditions of employment. Second, the policy must be 
placed conspicuously so that employees, applicants, and the general 
public are aware of the agency's EEO commitment.
    The data derived from written EEO and affirmative action plans will 
be used by the Office of Civil Rights in monitoring grantees' 
compliance with applicable EEO laws and regulations. This monitoring 
and enforcement activity will ensure that minorities and women have 
equitable access to employment opportunities and that recipients of 
Federal funds do not discriminate against any employee or applicant 
because of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, or age, or 
disability.
    Respondents: FTA grant recipients.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 40 hours for each of the 
150 EEO submissions.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,000 hours.
    Frequency: On occasion, every 3 years, annually.

Title: Title VI As It Applies to FTA Grant Programs (OMB Number: 2132-
0542)

    Background: Section 601 of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
states: ``No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, 
color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied 
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or 
activity receiving Federal financial assistance.'' This information 
collection is required by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Title VI 
Regulation, 28 CFR Part 42, Subpart F (Section 42.406), and DOT Order 
1000.12. FTA policies and requirements are designed to clarify and 
strengthen these regulations. This requirement is applicable to all 
applicants, recipients, and subrecipients receiving Federal financial 
assistance. Experience has demonstrated that a program requirement at 
the application stage is necessary to assure that benefits and services 
are equitably distributed by grant recipients. The requirements 
prescribed by the Office of Civil Rights accomplish that objective 
while diminishing possible vestiges of discrimination among FTA grant 
recipients. FTA's assessment of this requirement indicated that the 
formulation and implementation of the Title VI program should occur 
with a decrease in costs to such applicants and recipients.
    All FTA grant applicants, recipients, and subrecipients are 
required to submit applicable Title VI information to the FTA Office of 
Civil Rights for review and approval. If FTA did not conduct pre-award 
reviews, solutions would not be generated in advance and program 
improvements could not be integrated into projects. FTA's experience 
with pre-award reviews for all projects and grants suggests this method 
contributes to maximum efficiency and cost effectiveness of FTA dollars 
and has kept post-award complaints to a minimum. Moreover, the 
objective of the Title VI statute can be more easily attained and 
beneficiaries of FTA funded programs have a greater likelihood of 
receiving transit services and related benefits on a nondiscriminatory 
basis.
    Respondents: FTA grant recipients.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 8.1 hours for each of the 
371 Title VI submissions.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,998 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

Title: Reporting of Technical Activities by FTA Grant Recipients (OMB 
Number: 2132-0549)

    Background: 49 U.S.C. Sections 5303 and 5313 (a) and (b) authorize 
the use of Federal funds to assist metropolitan planning organizations 
(MPOs), states, and local public bodies in developing transportation 
plans and programs to serve future transportation needs of urbanized 
areas over 50,000 in population and States throughout the nation. As 
part of this effort, MPOs are required to consider a wide range of 
goals and objectives and to analyze alternative transportation system 
management and investment strategies. These objectives are measured by 
definable activities such as suburban mobility planning and other 
related activities.
    The information collected by these forms is 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.
    Respondents: FTA grant recipients.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 3 hours for each of the 50 
respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 150 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

Title: Bus Testing Program (OMB Number: 2132-0550)

    Background: 49 U.S.C. Section 5323(c) provides that no Federal 
funds appropriated or made available after September 30, 1989, may be 
obligated or expended for the acquisition of a new bus model (including 
any model using alternative fuels) unless the bus has been tested at 
the Bus Testing Center (Center) in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 49 U.S.C. 
Section 5318(a) further specifies that each new bus model is to be 
tested for maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including 
braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, 
and noise.
    The operator of the Bus Testing Center, the Pennsylvania 
Transportation Institute (PTI), is under contract to the FTA. PTI 
operates and maintains the Center, and establishes and collects fees 
for the testing of the vehicles at the facility. Upon completion of the 
testing of the vehicle at the Center, a test report is provided to the 
manufacturer of the new bus model. The bus manufacturer certifies to an 
FTA grantee that the bus the grantee is purchasing has been tested at 
the Center. Also, grantees about to purchase a bus use this report to 
assist them in making their purchasing decisions. PTI maintains a 
reference file for all the test reports which are made available to the 
public.
    Respondents: Bus manufacturers.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 3 hours for each of the 20 
bus manufacturers.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 60 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

    Issued: July 10, 1996.
Gordon J. Linton,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-17950 Filed 7-12-96; 8:45 am]
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