[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42912-42913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20517]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA-2001-1037]


Notice of Request for the Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration 
(FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend 
the following currently approved information collection: Charter 
Service Operations.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before October 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that 
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the United 
States Department of Transportation, Central Dockets Office, PL-401, 
400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. All comments received 
will be available for examination at the above address from 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 postcard/envelope.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Martineau, Office of the 
Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1936.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, 
including: (1) The necessity and utility of the information collection 
for the proper performance of the functions of the FTA; (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 approval of 
this information collection.
    Title: Charter Service Operations (OMB Number: 2132-0543)
    Background: 49 U.S.C. Section 5323(d) requires all applicants for 
financial assistance from FTA to enter into a charter bus agreement 
with the Secretary of Transportation (delegated to the Administrator of 
FTA in 49 CFR Section 1.51(a)). 49 U.S.C. Section 5323(d) provides 
protections for private intercity charter bus operators from unfair 
competition by FTA recipients. 49 U.S.C. Section 5302(a)(7) as 
interpreted by the Comptroller General permits FTA recipients, but does 
not state that recipients have a right, to provide charter bus service 
with FTA-funded facilities and equipment only if it is incidental to 
the provision of mass transportation service. These statutory 
requirements have been implemented in FTA's charter regulation, 49 CFR 
Section 604.
    49 CFR Section 604.7 requires all applicants for financial 
assistance under 49 U.S.C. Sections 5309, 5336, or 5311 to include two 
copies of a charter bus agreement with the first grant application 
submitted after the effective date of the rule. The applicant signs the 
agreement, but FTA executes it only upon approval of the application. 
This is a one-time submission with incorporation by reference in 
subsequent grant applications. 49 CFR Section 604.11(b) requires 
recipients to provide notice to all private charter operators and 
allows them to submit written evidence demonstrating that they are 
willing and able to provide the charter service the recipient is 
proposing to provide. The notice must be published in a newspaper and 
sent to any private operator requesting notice and to the United Bus 
Owners of America and the American Bus Association, the two trade 
associations to which most private charter operators belong. To 
continue receiving federal financial assistance, recipients must 
publish this notice annually. 49 CFR Section 604.13(b) requires 
recipients to review the evidence submitted and notify the submitter of 
its decision. This notice is also an annual requirement. On December 
30, 1988, FTA issued an amendment to the Charter Service regulation 
that allows additional exceptions for certain non-profit social service 
groups that meet eligibility requirements.
    Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-
profit institutions, and non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 1.2 hours for each of the 
1,656 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1,984 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.


[[Page 42913]]


    Issued: August 9, 2001.
Dorrie Y. Aldrich,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-20517 Filed 8-14-01; 8:45 am]
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