[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 68 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18672-18675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7961]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2004-17256]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; 
Renewed Approval of Eight 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 
eight information collections, which are summarized below under 
Supplementary Information. We are required to publish this notice in 
the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by June 7, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket Number 
FHWA-2004-17256 by any of the following methods:
     Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of 
the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, D.C., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Title: Structure Inventory and Appraisal Sheet.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0501 (Expiration Date: July 31, 2004).
    Abstract: The collection of the bridge information contained on the 
Structure Inventory and Appraisal Sheet (SI&A) is necessary to satisfy 
the requirements of Title 23 United States Code 144 and 151, and the 
Code of Federal Regulations, 23 Highways--Part 650, Subpart C--National 
Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) and Subpart D--Highway Bridge 
Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. The NBIS requires bridge 
inspection and reporting at regular intervals for all bridges located 
on public roads. The NBIS information is used as a basis for setting 
priorities for the replacement or rehabilitation of bridges under the 
Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRRP) and for 
apportioning HBRRP funds to the States for bridge replacement or 
rehabilitation. In addition, the information is used for strategic 
national defense needs and for preparing the report to Congress on the 
status of the Nation's highway bridges and funding under the HBRRP.
    Respondents: 52 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: Biannual inspections and annual reporting.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 540,000 hours. The average burden is 
two hours to complete each SI&A sheet on the approximate 300,000 
bridges that are inspected annually. The total bridge inventory 
(rounded to 600,000) requires biannual inspections. Some States 
voluntarily inspect bridges more frequently; however, these estimates 
do not include this information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ann Shemaka, 202-366-1575, 
Department of Transportation, Federal

[[Page 18673]]

Highway Administration, Office of Infrastructure, Office of Bridge 
Technology, 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: Planning and Research Program Administration.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0039 (Expiration Date: July 31, 2004).
    Abstract: Under the provisions of Title 23, United States Code, 
Section 505, two percent of Federal-aid highway funds in certain 
categories that are apportioned to the States are set aside to be used 
only for State Planning and Research (SPR funds). At least 25 percent 
of the SPR funds apportioned annually must be used for research, 
development, and technology transfer activities. In accordance with 
government-wide grant management procedures, a grant application must 
be submitted for these funds. In addition, recipients must submit 
periodic progress and financial reports. In lieu of Standard Form 424, 
Application for Federal Assistance, the FHWA uses a work program as the 
grant application. This includes a scope of work and budget for 
activities to be undertaken with FHWA planning and research funds 
during the next one- or two-year period. The information contained in 
the work program includes task descriptions, assignments of 
responsibility for conducting the work effort, and estimated costs for 
the tasks. This information is necessary to determine how FHWA planning 
and research funds will be utilized by the State Transportation 
Departments and if the proposed work is eligible for Federal 
participation. The content and frequency of submission of progress and 
financial reports specified in 23 CFR Part 420 is as specified in OMB 
Circular A-102 and the companion common grant management regulations.
    Respondents: 52 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 29,120 hours (560 hours per 
respondent).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Solury, 202-366-5003, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Planning, Environment, and Realty, 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: Heavy Vehicle Travel Information System (HVTIS).
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0587 (Expiration Date: July 31, 2004).
    Abstract: Title 49, United States Code, Section 301, authorizes the 
Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect statistical information 
relevant to domestic transportation. Title 23, United States Code, 
Section 307, authorizes the DOT to engage in studies to collect data 
for planning future highway programs. The FHWA has developed the HVTIS 
to house data that would be used to analyze the amount and nature of 
truck travel at the national and regional levels. The information would 
be used by the FHWA and other DOT administrations to evaluate changes 
in truck travel in order to assess: impacts on highway safety; the role 
of travel in economic productivity; and the impacts of changes in truck 
travel on infrastructure condition; and to maintain our mobility while 
protecting the human and natural environment. The increasing dependence 
on truck transportation requires that data be available to better 
assess its overall contribution to the Nation's well-being. In 
conducting the data collection, the FHWA will request the State 
Departments of Transportation to provide periodic reporting of vehicle 
classification and weight data, which they collect as part of their 
existing traffic data collection programs. The majority of States 
collect this vehicle weight data periodically throughout the year using 
weigh-in-motion devices and the States also continuously collect 
vehicle classification data. The data will allow transportation 
professionals at the Federal, state and metropolitan levels to make 
informed decisions about policies and plans.
    Respondents: 51 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia.
    Frequency: Continuous vehicle classification and total volume data 
will be reported on a monthly basis to assure timely information that 
can be compared to monthly reports of economic activity. Based on data 
collection practices in common use by the State Transportation 
Departments, truck weight data collected using weigh-in-motion devices 
and site description data will be submitted to FHWA annually.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The average State 
Transportation Department operates 40 continuous vehicle classification 
installations, 10 total volume sites, and 10 truck weight (weigh-in-
motion) sites. It is estimated that the additional processing necessary 
to make 48 hours of weigh-in-motion data available to FHWA would be 6 
minutes per site per year, processing the site description data would 
take 1 minute per site per year, processing one month of vehicle 
classification data would take 5 minutes per site per month, and 
processing one month of total volume data would take 4 minutes per site 
per month.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50 per State; 2,550 total.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ralph Gillmann, 202-366-0160, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Highway Policy Information, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    4. Title: Bid Price Data.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0010 (Expiration Date: June 30, 2004).
    Abstract: Information collected on Form FHWA-45, Bid Price Data, is 
needed for the FHWA to monitor trends in purchasing power of the 
Federal-aid construction dollar. FHWA follows these trends so that 
changes in highway construction prices can be measured and funding 
level recommendations to Congress can be justified. The Federal share 
of the cost of certain projects constructed by the States in advance of 
regular apportionments is adjusted based on the bid price index (Title 
23 United States Code 115). Form FHWA-45 is prepared for Federal-aid 
highway construction contracts greater than $0.5 million in the 50 
States plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Data is reported on six 
major items of highway construction, together with the total materials 
and labor costs of the project, taken from the bid tabulation of 
construction items submitted by the lowest or winning bidder to the 
State Transportation Department. The State Transportation Departments 
furnish copies of the bid tabulation to the FHWA that uses the data to 
produce the national FHWA bid price index and related statistics.
    Respondents: 52 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: The data is collected by the States and submitted to 
FHWA one time, within two weeks after the project has been awarded.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 975 hours. There are approximately 
1,300 annual projects that require about 37 of the State DOTs to 
complete the form. It takes an average of 45 minutes for each form.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Claretta Duren, 202-366-4636, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Pavement Technology, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

[[Page 18674]]

Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    5. Title: Highway Safety Improvement Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0025 (Expiration Date: May 31, 2004).
    Abstract: Under Sections 130(g) and 152(g) of Title 23, United 
States Code, each State is required to report annually to the Secretary 
of Transportation on the progress being made in implementing the 
Highway Safety Improvement Programs (Highway-Rail Grade Crossings and 
Hazard Elimination) and on the effectiveness of these programs. This 
information provides FHWA with a means for monitoring the effectiveness 
of these programs. It will also be used by the Congress for determining 
funding levels for the Highway Safety Improvement Programs and for 
modifying these programs. States are also required under Sections 
130(d) and 152(a) of Title 23 to conduct and systematically maintain 
surveys to identify highway-rail grade crossings in need of 
improvements and to identify hazardous highway locations, sections, and 
elements. These surveys are the basis for establishing priorities for 
corrective measures, for scheduling improvements, and for evaluating 
the effectiveness of improvements. The States collect safety 
information by surveying highway-rail grade crossings and public roads 
for potential safety hazards. In addition, motor vehicle crash data, 
traffic volume data, and other highway inventory data are used by the 
States to identify hazards and determine which hazards would be the 
most cost-effective to improve.
    Respondents: 52 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 10,400 hours. It is estimated that 
each State, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico spend 200 hours to 
provide this information to the FHWA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kenneth Epstein, 202-366-2157, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Safety, 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.
    6. Title: Emergency Relief Funding Applications.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0525 (Expiration Date: May 31, 2004).
    Abstract: Section 125 of Title 23 United States Code requires 
States to submit applications to the FHWA for Emergency Relief (ER) 
funds. The ER funds are established for the repair or reconstruction of 
Federal-aid highways and Federal roads, which have suffered serious 
damage by natural disasters over a wide area or serious damage from 
catastrophic failures. The information is needed for the FHWA to 
fulfill its statutory obligations regarding funding determinations on 
emergency work to repair highway facilities. The requirements covering 
the FHWA ER program are contained in 23 CFR Part 668.
    Respondents: 52 State Transportation Departments, including the 
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: As required.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,000 hours. 200 hours per 
application for an average of 30 annual applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Greg Wolf, 202-366-4655, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Program Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. 
Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    7. Title: Preparation and Execution of the Project Agreement and 
Modifications.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0529 (Expiration Date: June 30, 2004).
    Abstract: Formal agreements between State Transportation 
Departments and the FHWA are required for Federal-aid highway projects. 
These agreements, referred to as ``project agreements'' are written 
contracts between the State and the Federal government that define the 
extent of work to be undertaken and commitments made concerning a 
highway project. Section 1305 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 
21st Century (TEA-21, Public Law 105-178) amended 23 U.S.C. 106(a) and 
combined authorization of work and execution of the project agreement 
for a Federal-aid project into a single action. States continue to have 
the flexibility to use whatever format is suitable to provide the 
statutory information required, and burden estimates for this 
information collection are not changed.
    Respondents: There are 56 respondents, including 50 State 
Transportation Departments, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
the Territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 12,040 hours. There are an average 
of 215 annual agreements per respondent. Each agreement requires 
approximately one hour to complete.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Don West, 202-366-4652, Department 
of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Pavement 
Technology, 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.
    8. Title: Drug Offender's Drivers' License Suspension 
Certification.
    OMB Control No: 2125-0579 (Expiration Date: June 30, 2004).
    Abstract: States are legally required to enact and enforce laws 
that revoke or suspend the drivers' licenses of any individual 
convicted of a drug offense and to make annual certifications to the 
FHWA on their actions. The implementing regulations of the Department 
of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1993 (Pubic 
Law 102-388, October 6, 1992) require annual certifications by the 
Governors. In this regard, the State must submit by January 1 of each 
year either a written certification, signed by the Governor, stating 
that the State is in compliance with 23 U.S.C. 159; or a written 
certification stating that the Governor is opposed to the enactment or 
enforcement, and that the State legislature has adopted a resolution 
expressing its opposition to 23 U.S.C. 159.
    Beginning in fiscal year 1996, States' failure to comply by October 
1 of each fiscal year resulted in a withholding penalty of 10-percent 
from major categories of Federal-aid funds (i.e., National Highway 
System, Surface Transportation Program and Interstate) from States' 
apportionments for the fiscal year. Any funds withheld in FY 1996 and 
thereafter cannot be restored and will be redistributed.
    Respondents: 50 States and the District of Columbia and Puerto 
Rico.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: Annual average of 5 hours for each 
respondent; 260 total annual burden hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Balser, 202-366-9212, Department 
of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety, 
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 
7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    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 the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and

[[Page 18675]]

(4) ways that the 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.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

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

James R. Kabel,
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 04-7961 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
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