[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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