[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 66961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30988]



[[Page 66961]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of Motor Carrier Safety
[Docket No. OMCS-96-6488, (formerly Docket No. MC-96-32)]


Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently-Approved Information 
Collection: Financial Responsibility for Motor Carriers of Passengers 
and Motor Carriers of Property

AGENCY: Office of Motor Carrier Safety (OMCS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (Section 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice announces the agency's 
intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew 
its clearance of a currently approved information collection identified 
below under Supplementary Information. In this regard, the agency is 
requesting OMB approval to combine two information collections 
(formerly authorized under Federal Highway Administration OMB approval 
numbers 2125-0074 and 2125-0518) into one information collection 
authorized under OMB Approval Number 2126-0518. The two collections 
cover similar requirements for motor carriers to document their minimum 
levels of financial responsibility. The only difference is the 
regulated audiences who are required to provide information--motor 
carriers of property and motor carriers of passengers. Combining these 
two collections will not result in increased burdens.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: 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 9 a.m. and 5 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: Mrs. Valerie Height, (202) 366-1790, 
Office of Motor Carrier Safety, Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 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:
    Revised Title: Financial Responsibility for Motor Carriers of 
Passengers and Motor Carriers of Property.
    OMB Number: 2126-0518.
    The Secretary of Transportation has rescinded the authority 
previously delegated to the Federal Highway Administrator to perform 
motor carrier functions and operations. This authority has been 
redelegated to the Director, Office of Motor Carrier Safety (OMCS), a 
new office within the Department of Transportation [64 FR 56270, 
October 19, 1999]. This is the reason for the revised information 
collection prefix number (being changed from 2125 to 2126) and the 
docket transfer.
    The new OMCS assumes the motor carrier functions previously 
performed by the FHWA's Office of Motor Carrier and Highway Safety 
(OMCHS). Ongoing rulemaking, enforcement, and other activities of the 
OMCHS, initiated while part of the FHWA, will be continued by the new 
OMCS. The redelegation will cause no changes in the motor carrier 
functions and operations of the offices or resource centers.
    Background: Sections 29 and 30 of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 
(codified at 49 U.S.C. 31139) require the Secretary of Transportation 
to promulgate regulations which establish minimal levels of financial 
responsibility for motor carriers of property to cover public 
liability, property damage, and environmental restoration. Sections 18 
of the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982 (codified at 49 U.S.C. 31138) 
requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish regulations to 
require minimal levels of financial responsibility for for-hire motor 
carriers of passengers to cover public liability and property damage.
    The Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurance for Public 
Liability (Form MCS-90/90B) and the Motor Carrier Public Liability 
Surety Bond (Form MCS-82/82B) contain the minimum amount of information 
necessary to document that a motor carrier has obtained and has in 
effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility as set forth in 
applicable regulations (motor carriers of property--49 CFR 387.9; motor 
carriers of passengers--49 CFR 387.33). The information within these 
documents is used by the OMCS and the public to verify that a motor 
carrier of property or passengers has obtained and has in effect the 
required minimum levels of financial responsibility.
    Respondents: Insurance and surety companies of motor carriers of 
property (Form MCS-90 and Form MCS-82) and motor carriers of passengers 
(Form MCS-90B and Form MCS-82B).
    Average Burden per Response: Two minutes to complete the 
Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurance for Public 
Liability or the Motor Carrier Public Liability Surety Bond; one minute 
to file the Motor Carrier Public Liability Surety Bond; one minute to 
have either document on board the vehicle (foreign-domiciled motor 
carriers only).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 3,658 hours.
    Frequency: Upon creation, change, or replacement of an insurance 
policy or surety bond.

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 OMCS; (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 
computer, modem, and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office electronic bulletin board service 
(telephone: 202-512-1661). It may also be downloaded over the Internet, 
from the home page of the Federal Register at: http://www.nara.gov/
fedreg, or the database of the Government Printing Office at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara. Internet users can access all comments 
received by the U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the universal 
resource locator (URL): http://dms.dot.gov. This service is available 
24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions 
online for more information and help.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 49 CFR 1.73.

    Issued on: November 22, 1999.
Julie Anna Cirillo,
Acting Director, Office of Motor Carrier Safety.
[FR Doc. 99-30988 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P