[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46547-46548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23313]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. 97-2866]


Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved 
Information Collection

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 collection: Environmental 
Assessments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before November 3, 1997.

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, Pub. L. 
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: Environmental Assessments--Mr. Joseph 
Ossi, Office of Planning, (202) 366-1613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, 
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 approval of 
this information collection.
    Title: Environmental Assessments (OMB Number: 2132-0011).
    Background: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1960, 
as amended, and its implementing regulations, require that all Federal 
agencies consider and document the social, economic, and environmental 
impacts of proposed Federal actions. For FTA, approvals of grants to 
State

[[Page 46548]]

and local public agencies and authorities for the construction of 
transit facilities and for other transit activities are Federal actions 
subject to this NEPA requirement. A method used by FTA for the 
consideration and documentation of impacts is the Environmental 
Assessment. The Environmental Assessment evaluates alternatives to the 
proposed project and describes the probable adverse effects of the 
proposed project and the alternatives considered, including land use 
impacts, traffic impacts, noise, residential and business 
displacements, impacts on parks, wetlands, and historic sites, and 
other possible impacts. The Environmental Assessment is conducted by 
the grant applicant, in cooperation with FTA. It allows FTA and the 
grant applicant, prior to a decision to proceed with the grant, in the 
case of FTA, or with the project itself, in the case of the transit 
authority seeking FTA grants funds, to assess the environmental 
consequences of proposed transit projects and alternative, less costly 
or less harmful methods for achieving project objectives. The 
Environmental Assessment also provides opportunities for public 
involvement and coordination with other interested government agencies. 
When it is completed, it includes a detailed description of the project 
alternative for which the grant funds will be provided, a description 
that includes any measures that have been incorporated into the project 
to reduce environmental harm and adverse impacts on the surrounding 
community.
    Respondents: State and local government agencies and authorities 
seeking FTA grants.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: An average of 120 hours for 
each Environmental Assessment. There are an average of 60 such 
assessments per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 7,200 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

    Issued: August 28, 1997.
Gordon J. Linton,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-23313 Filed 9-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P