[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11947-11948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6217]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping 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 of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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 November 22, 1996 (61 FR 59483-59484).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 10, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    1. For information or a copy of OMB Control Number 2125-0039, 
Planning and Research Program Administration, contact Tony Solury, 
Office of Environment and Planning, 202-366-5003, 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.
    2. For information or a copy of OMB Number: 2125-0501, Structure 
Inventory and Appraisal Sheet, contact Charles L. Chambers, Office of 
Engineering, Bridge Division (HNG-33), (202) 366-4618, Federal Highway 
Administration, Room 3203, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., E.T., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    3. For information or a copy of OMB Number 2125-0544, 
Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Highway Routing, contact Mr. 
Kenneth Rodgers, Office of Motor Carrier Safety and Technology, Safety 
and Hazardous Materials Division, (202) 366-4016, Department of 
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. 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)

    1. Title: Planning and Research Program Administration.
    OMB Number: 2125-0039.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: State highway agencies.
    Abstract: Under the provisions of section 307(c) of title 23, 
United States Code, two percent of certain categories of Federal-aid 
highway funds apportioned to the States are set-a-side for use only for 
State planning and research (SPR funds). At least 25% of the SPR funds 
apportioned annually must be used for the research, development, and 
technology transfer activities. In accordance with government-wide 
grant management procedures, a grant application must be submitted for 
these funds. In addition, recipients must submit periodic progress and 
financial reports. In lieu of Standard Form 424, Application for 
Federal Assistance, the FHWA uses a ``work program'' that includes a 
scope of work and budget for activities to be undertaken with FHWA 
planning and research funds during the next one-or two-year period as 
the grant application. The information contained in the work program 
includes task descriptions, assignments of responsibility for 
conducting the work effort, and estimated costs for the tasks. This 
information is necessary to determine

[[Page 11948]]

how FHWA planning and research funds will be utilized by the State 
highway agencies and if the proposed work is eligible for Federal 
participation.
    The content and frequency of submission of progress and financial 
reports specified in 23 CFR part 420 are as specified in OMB Circular 
A-102 and the companion common grant management regulations.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 29,120 hours.
    2. Title: Structure Inventory and Appraisal Sheet.
    OMB Number: 2125-0501.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Transportation agencies of the 50 States and the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Abstract: The collection of the bridge information contained on the 
Structure Inventory and Appraisal Sheet is necessary to satisfy the 
requirements of 23 United States Code 144 and 151, and the Code of 
Federal Regulations, 23 Highways--part 650, subpart C--National Bridge 
Inspection Standards and subpart D--Highway Bridge Replacement and 
Rehabilitation Program. Because of a December 1967 catastrophic bridge 
failure, the Congress enacted the National Bridge Inspection Standards 
(NBIS) which require the inspection of the condition of bridges, and 
the reporting of the findings of the inspections at regular intervals 
for all bridges located on public roads.
    The collected NBIS bridge information is used as a basis for 
setting priorities for the replacement or rehabilitation of bridges 
under the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRRP) 
and for apportioning HBRRP funds to the States for bridge replacement 
or rehabilitation. In addition, the information is used for strategic 
national defense needs and for preparing the report to Congress on the 
status of the Nation's highway bridges and funding under the HBRRP.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden is 
540,000 hours.
    3. Title: Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Highway Routing.
    OMB Number: 2125-0554.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: The reporting burden is shared by the 50 States, 
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern 
Marianas, and the Virgin Islands.
    Abstract: Public comment is requested regarding the burden 
associated with this collection of information. The data for the 
Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Highway Routing designations are 
collected under authority of 49 U.S.C. 5112 and 5125, which places the 
responsibility on the Secretary of Transportation to specify and 
regulate standards for establishing, maintaining, and enforcing routing 
designations. The Federal Highway Administrator has the authority, as 
required in 49 CFR 397.73, to request that each State and Indian tribe, 
through its routing agency, provide information identifying hazardous 
materials routing designations within their respective jurisdictions. 
This information will be consolidated by the FHWA and published 
annually in whole or as updates in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The annual reporting burden is 
estimated to be 13 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention FHWA 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.
    A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publishing in the Federal Register.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 4, 1998.
Phillip A. Leach,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 98-6217 Filed 3-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P