[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 41568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15650]



[[Page 41568]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2004-17970]


Agency Information Collection Submission for OMB Review: Motor 
Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP)

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FMCSA announces that the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) described in this notice is being 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 (MCSAP). That 
information consists of grant application preparation, quarterly 
reports and electronic data documenting the results of driver/vehicle 
inspections performed by the States. The Federal Register notice 
announcing a 60-day comment period on this information collection was 
published on April 15, 2004 (69 FR 20111). We are required to send ICRs 
to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by August 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: 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, or submit electronically at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. Be sure to include the docket number appearing in 
the heading of this document on your comment. All comments received 
will be available for examination and copying at the above address from 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
If you would like to be notified when your comment is received, you 
must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may print the 
acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments 
electronically.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
    OMB Number: 2126-0010.
    Background: Sections 401-404 of the Surface Transportation 
Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA) (Pub. L. 97-424, Stat. 2079, 2154) 
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) (49 U.S.C. 31101-31104, as amended) 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) (Pub. 
L. 105-178, 112 Stat.107 (June 9, 1998)) 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 the Federal 
Register on March 21, 2000 (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 basis for these responsibilities and decisions.
    States submit the CVSP in hard copy. The quarterly report and 
inspection data continue to be collected electronically. The estimated 
annual burden for this collection increases slightly due to a growing 
number of driver/vehicle inspections.
    Respondents: State and local MCSAP lead agencies.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 11,854 hours (Grant application 
preparation: 848 hours; quarterly report preparation: 339 hours; and 
inspection data upload: 10,667 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; Pub. L. 97-424, Stat. 2079, 2154 (1982); 49 
U.S.C. 31101-31104; Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat.107 (1998); and 49 CFR 
1.73.

    Issued on: July 2, 2004.
Warren E. Hoemann,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-15650 Filed 7-8-04; 8:45 am]
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