[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54149-54150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27613]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Record Keeping 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 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), 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 
October 29,1996 (61 FR 55835-55836) and a Notice of Final Determination 
was published on June 10, 1997 (62 FR 31655-31661).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 17, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the submission 
to OMB, Form OMB 83-I, including supporting statements for this 
collection contact the US DOT Dockets, Room PL 401, Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, 1-800-
647-5527. For Technical issues in the submission: Mr. Robert F. 
Schultz, Jr., Office of Motor Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 
366-2718, 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

    Title: Motor Carrier Regulatory Relief and Safety Demonstration 
Project.
    OMB Number: 2125-0575.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Affected Public: Motor Carriers operating commercial motor vehicles 
with a gross vehicle weight rating between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds in 
interstate commerce.
    Abstract: The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 
(Payable-59, 109 Stat. 568) was signed by the President on November 28, 
1995. Section 344 of the Act requires FHWA to implement a pilot program 
under which motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMS) 
with a gross vehicle weight rating between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds in 
interstate commerce may qualify for exemption from certain Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRS) (49 CFR part 325 et seq.). 
The Act directs the FHWA to establish criteria for admission to the 
pilot, and to monitor the performance of those participating in the 
pilot. Section 344 also states that ``[the Secretary] shall complete 
the review [of the pilot program] by the last day of the 3-year period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph [November 28, 
1995]. [On November 28, 1998] the Secretary shall, after notice and an 
opportunity for public comment, grant such exemptions or modify or 
repeal existing regulations to the extent appropriate.'' By this 
language, Congress has directed the FHWA in explicit terms. The agency 
is bound not to just conduct and evaluate the pilot, but to grant 
exemptions, and modify or repeal regulations, immediately upon its 
conclusion, save only the time necessary to solicit public comment. On 
August 28, 1996, the agency published a notice for this collection, 
providing a proposed plan for this Project, soliciting public comment 
on the proposed Project, and referring to the agency's intent to 
request emergency processing. On October 29, 1996, the FHWA published a 
Supplemental Notice seeking public comment on the specific issue of 
whether the rules of the Project would preempt conflicting laws of the 
States. In February 1997, OMB granted emergency approval to the 
collection requirements of this Project until August 31, 1997. On June 
10, 1997 the agency published a Notice of Final Determination on the 
Project, providing

[[Page 54150]]

a comprehensive outline of the criteria for admission, the application 
process, and the terms of the agreement between the FHWA and 
participant motor carriers. The agency also indicated that the 
information collections requirements related to the Project had been 
approved through emergency processing by the OMB until August 31, 1997, 
and that approval on a permanent basis of the collection requirements 
of the Project would be sought.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 420.
    Number of Respondents: 125.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 10, 1997.
Vanester M. Williams,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 97-27613 Filed 10-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P