[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27615-27616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12791]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-99-5692]


Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection: Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)--Field Manual

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 FHWA to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
to renew its clearance of the currently approved information collection 
identified below under Supplementary Information.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 19, 1999.

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. 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 envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Getzewich, (202) 366-0175, 
Highway Systems Performance, Office of Highway Policy Information, 
Federal Highway Administration, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)--Field Manual.
    OMB Number: 2125-0028.
    Background: The data for the HPMS are collected under authority of 
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[[Page 27616]]

U.S.C. 307 and 23 U.S.C. 315, which place the responsibility on the 
Secretary of Transportation for management decisions that affect 
transportation. 23 CFR 1.5 and 49 CFR 1.48 provide the Federal Highway 
Administrator with authority to request information to administer the 
Federal-Aid Highway Program. Estimates of future highway needs of the 
Nation are mandated by Congress on a biennial basis (23 U.S.C. 307(h)). 
Data are used for assessing highway system performance under FHWA's 
strategic planning and performance reporting process developed in 
accordance with requirements of the Government Performance and Results 
Act (GPRA, Sec 3 and Sec 4) and for apportioning Federal-aid highway 
funds under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21, 
Sec 1103). The HPMS data collected are essential to FHWA and Congress 
in evaluating effectiveness of the Federal-aid highway program 
providing miles, lane-miles, and travel components of apportionment 
formulae. The information is used by FHWA to develop and implement 
legislation and by State and Federal transportation officials to 
adequately plan, design, and administer effective, safe, and efficient 
transportation systems. A recently completed reassessment of the HPMS 
resulted in the elimination and/or streamlining of approximately 20 
percent of the required data. Therefore, a reduction in burden hours 
for this currently-approved information collection is anticipated.
    Respondents: State governments of the 50 United States, the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the four 
territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, and Virgin 
Islands).
    Estimated Average Burden Per Response: The estimated average burden 
per response for the annual collection and processing of the HPMS data 
is 1,440 hours for the States, the District of Columbia and the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and 20 hours for each of the four 
territories.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden is 
74,960 hours.
    Frequency: The data is compiled by the respondents and submitted to 
FHWA annually.
    Public Comments Invited: 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's 
clearance of this information collection.
    Electronic Availability: An electronic copy of this document may be 
downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the 
Federal Register electronic bulletin board service (telephone number: 
202-512-1661). Internet users may reach the Federal Register's WWW site 
at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su__docs.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 307; 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 1.5; and 49 CFR 
1.48.

    Issued on: May 17, 1999.
Michael J. Vecchietti,
Director, Office of Information and Management Services.
[FR Doc. 99-12791 Filed 5-19-99; 8:45 am]
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