[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 103 (Monday, June 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26269-26270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12605]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. 2009-0029]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of Information Collections

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 approve 
the reinstatement of the following information collections:
    (1) Bus Testing Program
    (2) Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment 
Projects

DATES: Comments must be submitted before July 31, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that your comments are not entered more than once 
into the docket, submit comments identified by the docket number by 
only one of the following methods:
    1. Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments on the U.S. Government electronic docket site. 
(Note: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) electronic 
docket is no longer accepting electronic comments.) All electronic 
submissions must be made to the U.S. Government electronic docket site 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Commenters should follow the directions 
below for mailed and hand-delivered comments.
    2. Fax: 202-493-2251.
    3. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    4. Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
    Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number 
for this notice at the beginning of your comments. Submit two copies of 
your comments if you submit them by mail. For confirmation that FTA has 
received your comments, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Note 
that all comments received, including any personal information, will be 
posted and will be available to Internet users, without change, to 
http://www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000, (65 FR 
19477), or you may visit http://www.regulations.gov. Docket: For access 
to the docket to read background documents and comments received, go to 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Background documents and comments 
received may also be viewed at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    --Mr. Marcel Belanger, FTA Office of Research, Demonstration and 
Innovation, (202) 366-0725, or e-mail: [email protected] (for the 
Bus Testing Program).
    --Mr. Bruce Robinson, FTA Office of Research, Demonstration and 
Innovation, (202) 366-4052, or e-mail: [email protected] (for 
Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment Projects).

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: Bus Testing Program (OMB Number: 2132-0550)
    Background: 49 U.S.C. Section 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. 
Section 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 Thomas D. Larson 
Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (LTI), has entered into a 
cooperative agreement with FTA. LTI operates and

[[Page 26270]]

maintains the Center and establishes and collects fees for the testing 
of the vehicles at the facility. Upon completion of the testing of the 
vehicles 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 has been tested at the Center. 
Also, grantees that are planning to purchase a bus use this report to 
assist them in making their purchasing decisions. LTI maintains a 
reference file for all the test reports which are made available to the 
public.
    Respondents: Bus Manufacturers.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 30 testing determinations 
at 3 hours each; 18 tests at 3 hours each and 520 requirements at 0.5 
hours each.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 404 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Title: 49 U.S.C. Section 5312(a) Transit Research, Development, 
Demonstration and Deployment Projects.
    Background: 49 U.S.C. Section 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. As an example, FTA's United We Ride 
Program is funded under the Transit Research Program. Research for the 
United We Ride Program is being conducted to gather information on how 
the objectives of Executive Order 13330 on Human Services 
Transportation Coordination are being achieved.
    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.
    Respondents: FTA grant recipients.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 56.2 hours for each of the 
200 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 11,240 hours.
    Frequency: Annual.

    Issued: May 26, 2009.
Ann M. Linnertz,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
 [FR Doc. E9-12605 Filed 5-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P