[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 112 (Thursday, June 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32655-32656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13150]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2004-17920]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; 
Renewed Approval of Four 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 four 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 August 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket Number 
FHWA-2004-17920 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 am 
and 5 pm, 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 go to Room 
PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC, between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Title: Voucher for Federal-aid Reimbursements.
    OMB Control Number: 2125-0507 (Expiration Date: August 31, 2004).
    Abstract: The Federal-aid Highway Program provides 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: The respondents electronically 
submit an estimated total of 12,300 vouchers each year. Each voucher 
requires an estimated average of 30 minutes to complete. The total 
annual burden for all respondents is estimated to be 6,150 hours.
    For Further Information Contact: Ms. Bobette Meads, 202-366-2881, 
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: August 31, 2004).
    Abstract: State Departments of Transportation are required to 
develop

[[Page 32656]]

and submit to the 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 a 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: 50 State Transportation Departments, the District of 
Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: Periodic 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 total annual burden, 
based upon an estimated five States submitting updated policy 
statements per year, is 1,400 hours.
    For Further Information Contact: Mr. Roger McClellan, 202-366-6765, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Program Administration, 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: August 31, 2004).
    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. The 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: 50 State Transportation Departments, the District of 
Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: Periodic 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 18 hours per response. 
The total annual burden, based upon an estimated five updated 
eligibility statements per year, is 90 hours.
    For Further Information Contact: Mr. Roger McClellan, 202-366-6765, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Program Administration, 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: August 31, 2004).
    Abstract: Title 23, United States Code, Section 141(c), 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, IRS Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return 
(or other suitable alternative provided by regulation). The FHWA 
periodically conducts compliance reviews to determine if the annual 
certification is adequate to ensure effective administration of 23 
U.S.C.141(c).
    Respondents: 50 State Transportation Departments, and the District 
of Columbia.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The average burden to submit the 
certification and to 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, Office of 
Highway Policy Information, 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.
    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.
    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.

    Issued on: June 4, 2004.
James R. Kabel,
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 04-13150 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P