[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15316-15318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6505]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2001-9024]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; 
Renewed Approval of Five Information Collections

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to 
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew 
the five information collections which are summarized below under 
Supplementary Information. We are required by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 to publish this notice in the Federal Register.

DATES: Please submit comments by May 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590; telefax comments to 202/493-
2251; or submit electronically at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. All 
comments should include the docket number in this notice's heading as 
well as the OMB control number referencing the specific information 
collection that is being addressed. All comments may be examined and 
copied at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday

[[Page 15317]]

through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you desire a receipt you 
must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or, if you 
submit your comments electronically, you may print the acknowledgment 
page.

PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
these information collections, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collections are necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy 
of estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that 
burdens could be minimized, including use of electronic technology, 
without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency 
will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's 
clearance of these information collections.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Title: Voucher for Federal-aid Reimbursements.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0507 (Expiration Date: September 30, 
2001).
    Abstract: The Federal-aid Highway Program includes provisions for 
the reimbursement to States for expenditure of State funds for eligible 
Federal-aid highway projects. The Voucher for Work Performed Under 
Provisions of the Federal-Aid and Federal Highway Acts, As Amended 
(Form PR-20) is utilized by the States to provide project financial 
data regarding the expenditure of State funds and to request progress 
payments from the FHWA.
    Respondents: 50 State Transportation Departments, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Approximately 11,800 vouchers per 
year. Each voucher requires an estimated 30 minutes completion time. 
The total annual burden for all respondents is estimated to be 5,910 
hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ms. Debbie Barger, 202-366-2877, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Budget and Finance, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

    2. Title: Develop and Submit Utility Accommodation Policies.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0514 (Expiration Date: September 30, 
2001).
    Abstract: State Departments of Transportation are required to 
develop and submit to FHWA a policy statement on the authority of 
utilities to use and occupy highway rights-of-way; the State's 
authority to regulate such use; and the policies and/or procedures 
employed for accommodating utilities within the rights-of-way of 
Federal-aid highway projects. Upon FHWA's approval of the policy 
statement, the State DOT may take any action required in accordance 
with the approved policy statement without case-by-case review by the 
FHWA. In addition, the utility accommodation policy statements that 
have been approved previously by the FHWA are periodically reviewed by 
the State DOTs to determine if updating is necessary to reflect policy 
changes.
    Respondents: 52 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: Once initially, then updates for review as required at 
the States' discretion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The average burden for updating an 
existing policy is 280 hours per response. The estimated total annual 
burden, based upon an estimated 10 updates per year, is 2,800 hours.
    For Further Information Contact: Mr. Paul Scott, 202-366-4104, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 
Infrastructure Core Business Unit, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

    3. Title: Eligibility Statement for Utility Adjustments.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0515 (Expiration Date: September 30, 
2001).
    Abstract: State Departments of Transportation are required to 
submit to the FHWA a statement which establishes the State DOT's legal 
authority or obligation to pay for utility adjustments. The FHWA has 
previously reviewed and approved these eligibility statements for each 
State DOT. The statements are used as a basis for Federal-aid 
reimbursement in utility relocation costs under the provisions of 23 
U.S.C. 123. Updated statements may be submitted for review at the 
States' discretion where circumstances have modified (for example, a 
change in State statute) the extent to which utility adjustments are 
eligible for reimbursement by the State or those instances where a 
local State DOT's legal basis for payment of utility adjustments 
differs from that of the State.
    Respondents: 52 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: Once initially, then updates for review as required at 
the States' discretion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The average burden for preparing and 
submitting an updated eligibility statement is 36 hours per response. 
The estimated total annual burden, based upon 5 updated eligibility 
statements per year, is 180 hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Scott, 202-366-4104, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 
Infrastructure Core Business Unit, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

    4. Title: Certificate of Enforcement of Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0541 (Expiration Date: September 30, 
2001).
    Abstract: 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 by the State Governor or designated 
official regarding the collection of the heavy vehicle use tax serves 
as the FHWA's primary means of determining State compliance. 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. In addition, States are required to retain for one 
year Schedule 1, Form 2290, (or other suitable alternative provided by 
regulation). FHWA periodically conducts compliance reviews to determine 
if the annual certification is adequate to ensure effective 
administration of 23 U.S.C.141(d).
    Respondents: 51 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The average burden to submit the 
certification and retain required records is 12 hours per respondent. 
The estimated total annual burden is 612 hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Gloria Williams, 202-366-5032, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Policy 
Service Business Unit, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

    5. Title: Indian Reservations Roads, Program Administration Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0565 (Expiration Date: November 30, 2001).

[[Page 15318]]

    Abstract: The FHWA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) jointly 
administer the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Program. Surveys are 
conducted of federally recognized tribes to provide feedback regarding 
their satisfaction with the IRR Program. The collected information is 
used by the FHWA and the BIA to improve the administration of the IRR 
program. This survey gathers information from the tribes to assess: (1) 
Overall levels of understanding of the IRR program; (2) involvement in 
the IRR program; and (3) satisfaction with the IRR program 
administration and accomplishments. In addition, the survey allows 
tribes to propose recommendations for improving the operation and 
administration of the IRR program.
    Respondents: Approximately 561 federally recognized tribes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: It is estimated that each response 
requires 30 minutes. The surveys are conducted approximately every 2 
years (280 biannual burden hours); 140 annual burden hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Sparrow, 202-366-9483, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Federal 
Lands Highway Core Business Unit, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Electronic Access: Internet users may access all comments received 
by the U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the universal resource 
locator (URL): http://dms.dot.gov. It is available 24 hours each day, 
365 days each year. Please follow the instructions online for more 
information and help. An electronic copy of this document may be 
downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office Electronic Bulletin Board Service at 
telephone number 202-512-1661. Internet users may reach the Federal 
Register's home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government 
Printing Office's database at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: March 12, 2001.
James R. Kabel,
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 01-6505 Filed 3-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P