[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30501-30502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14238]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2000-8033]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review: OMB 
Control No. 2126-0010 (Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program)

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FMCSA announces that the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) described in this notice has been sent to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The FMCSA is 
requesting OMB's continued approval of the information that is required 
for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. The ICR describes the 
information collection and its expected cost and burden. The Federal 
Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on this 
information collection was published on November 1, 2000 (65 FR 65372). 
We are required to send ICRs to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: Please submit comments by July 6, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James D. McCauley, (202) 366-0133, 
Office of Safety Programs, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

ADDRESS: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, Attention: DOT Desk Officer. We particularly 
request your comments on whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the FMCSA to meet its goal of reducing truck crashes, 
including whether the information is useful to this goal; the accuracy 
of the estimate of the burden of the information collection; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 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. OMB wants to receive comments 
within 30 days of publication of this notice in order to act on the ICR 
quickly.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP).
    OMB Approval Number: 2126-0010.
    Background: Sections 401-404 of the Surface Transportation 
Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA) established a program of financial 
assistance to States for the purpose of implementing programs to 
enforce (a) Federal rules, regulations, standards, and orders 
applicable to commercial motor vehicle safety; and (b) compatible State 
rules, regulations, standards, and orders. This grant-in-aid program is 
known as the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). The 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) added 
programs, such as drug interdiction, traffic enforcement, and size and 
weight activities to the core program established by the STAA.
    The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) further 
revised the MCSAP by broadening its purpose beyond enforcement 
activities and programs by requiring participating States to assume 
greater responsibility for improving motor carrier safety. The TEA-21 
required States to develop performance-based plans reflecting national 
priorities and performance goals, revised the MCSAP funding 
distribution formula, and created a new incentive funding program. As a 
result, States are given greater flexibility in designing programs to 
address national and State goals for reducing the number and severity 
of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) accidents. The implementing 
regulations were published in a final rule in the March 21, 2000, 
Federal Register at 65 FR 15092.
    In order to qualify for a grant, participating States must submit a 
Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP). After the grant is awarded, 
States must submit inspection data and quarterly reports explaining 
work activities and accomplishments. The FMCSA monitors and evaluates a 
State's progress under its approved CVSP. The agency also determines 
whether a change in the State's level of effort is required to meet the 
intended objectives of the CVSP. If a State fails to operate within the 
guidelines of the approved CVSP or does not remedy any identified 
deficiencies or incompatibilities in a timely manner, the FMCSA may 
cease participation in that State's CVSP. This information collection 
provides the

[[Page 30502]]

basis for these responsibilities and decisions.
    The quarterly report and inspection data are collected 
electronically. States continue to submit the CVSP in hard copy. The 
estimated annual burden for this collection has been significantly 
reduced due to increased use of information technology.
    The FMCSA published the required notice offering a 60-day comment 
period on the ICR on November 1, 2000 (65 FR 65372). We received two 
comments, which are addressed in the supporting statement the agency 
submitted to OMB. Requests for information on the supporting statement 
should be directed to the Information Contact provided in this Notice.
    Respondents: State and local MCSAP lead agencies.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Grant application preparation: 848 
hours; quarterly report preparation: 339 hours; inspection data upload: 
7,333 hours. The above figures reflect 20 percent of the total 
estimated hours to perform the activities listed since MCSAP reimburses 
up to 80 percent of the eligible costs incurred in the administration 
of an approved plan as set forth in 49 CFR 350.303, 350.309 and 
350.311.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.73.

    Issued on: May 31, 2001.
Stephen E. Barber,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-14238 Filed 6-5-01; 8:45 am]
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