[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53738-53739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15026]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA-2006-25778]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration invites public comments 
about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's 
(OMB) approval to renew the following information collections:
    (1) Bus Testing Program.
    (2) Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment 
Projects. The collections involve our Bus Testing and Transit Research 
Programs. The information to be collected for the Bus Testing Program 
is necessary to ensure that buses have been tested at the Bus Testing 
Center for maintainability, reliability, safety, performance, 
structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise. The 
information to be collected for Transit Research, Development, 
Demonstration and Deployment Projects is necessary to determine 
eligibility of applicants and ensure mass transportation service at a 
minimum cost. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal 
Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Federal Register 
Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published 
on June 20, 2006.

DATES: Comments must be submitted before October 12, 2006. A comment to 
OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia L. Marion, Office of 
Administration, Office of Management Planning, (202) 366-6680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Bus Testing Program (OMB Number: 2132-0550).
    Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5323(c) provides that no Federal funds 
appropriated or made available after September 30, 1989, may be 
obligated or expended for the acquisition of a new bus model (including 
any model using alternative fuels) unless the bus has been tested at 
the Bus Testing Center (Center) in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 49 U.S.C. 
5318(a) further specifies that each new bus model is to be tested for 
maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking 
performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise.
    The operator of the Bus Testing Center, the Pennsylvania 
Transportation Institute (PTI), has entered into a cooperative 
agreement with FTA. PTI operates and maintains the Center, and 
establishes and collects fees for the testing of the vehicles at the 
facility. Upon completion of the testing of the vehicle at the Center, 
a test report is provided to the manufacturer of the new bus model. The 
bus manufacturer certifies to an FTA grantee that the bus the grantee 
is purchasing to an FTA grantee that the bus the grantee is purchasing 
has been tested at the Center. Also, grantees about to purchase a bus 
use this report to assist them in making their purchasing decisions. 
PTI maintains a reference file for all the test reports which are made 
available to the public.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 404 hours.
    Title: 49 U.S.C. Section 5312(a) Transit Research, Development, 
Demonstration and Deployment Projects.
    Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5312(a) authorizes the Secretary of 
Transportation to make grants or contracts for research, development, 
demonstration and deployment projects, and evaluation of technology of 
national significance to public transportation, that the Secretary 
determines will improve mass transportation service or help 
transportation service meet the total urban transportation needs at a 
minimum cost. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the 
Secretary is also authorized to request and receive appropriate 
information from any source.
    The information collected is submitted as part of the application 
for grants and cooperative agreements and is used to determine 
eligibility of applicants. Collection of this information also provides 
documentation that the applicants and recipients are meeting program 
objectives and are complying with FTA Circular 6100.1B and other 
Federal requirements.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 11,240 hours.

ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that 
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
725--17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FTA Desk 
Officer.
    Comments are Invited On: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department,

[[Page 53739]]

including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be 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.

    Issued on: September 5, 2006.
Ann Linnertz,
Acting Associate Administrator for Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-15026 Filed 9-11-06; 8:45 am]
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