[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7849-7850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3788]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. 98-3321]


Notice of Request for Renewal of an Existing Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the 
intention of the FHWA to request the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) to renew the information collection identified below under 
supplementary information.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: All signed, written comments should refer to the docket 
number that appears in the heading of this document and must be 
submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. All comments received 
will be available for examination at the above address between 10:00 
a.m. and 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.
    Interested parties are invited to send comments regarding any 
aspect of this information collection, including, but not limited to: 
(1) the necessity and utility of the information collection for the 
proper performance of the functions of the FHWA; (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 renewal of this 
information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ralph Erickson, Office of Highway 
Information Management, 202-366-0170, or Charles Medalen, Office of 
Chief Counsel, 202-366-1354, 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:
    Title: Certification of Enforcement of the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax

[[Page 7850]]

    OMB Number: 2125-0541.
    Background: Title 23, United States Code, Section 141(d), provides 
that a State's apportionment of funds under 23 U.S.C. 104(b)(5) shall 
be reduced in an amount up to 25 percent of the amount to be 
apportioned during any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1984, 
if vehicles subject to the Federal heavy vehicle use tax are lawfully 
registered in the State without having presented proof of payment of 
the tax. The annual certification of collection of the heavy vehicle 
use tax submitted by each State serves as the primary means of 
determining State compliance with 23 U.S.C. 141(d) by the FHWA. Under 
the rulemaking authority granted to the Secretary of Transportation by 
23 U.S.C. 315, the FHWA has determined that an annual certification of 
compliance by each State is the least obtrusive means of administering 
the provisions of the legislative mandate.
    Evidence of compliance with 23 U.S.C. 141(d) is comprised of two 
elements: reporting and recordkeeping. The reporting element consists 
of a simple certification submitted to FHWA on an annual basis by the 
State's Governor or designated official. The recordkeeping element 
consists of a one-year retention of Schedule 1, Form 2290, by the 
States (or other suitable alternative provided by regulation). 
Compliance reviews are periodically conducted by FHWA to determine if 
the certification is adequate to ensure effective administration of 23 
U.S.C.141(d).
    The certification requirement is the critical factor in 
establishing a manageable and reasonable procedure for determining 
State compliance with the statute. Without annual certification and 
supporting records, determinations of compliance would involve frequent 
reviews of State registration procedures and practices and would 
clearly be an obtrusive Federal presence in State programs.
    Respondents: State highway agencies.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 12 hours per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 624 hours.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 141(d); 23 CFR 669.

    Issued: February 6, 1998.
George Moore,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-3788 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P