[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41190-41191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16429]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

[Docket No. RITA-2013-0003]


Notice of Request for Clearance of a new Information Collection: 
National Census of Ferry Operators

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and 
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the 
intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's 
(OMB's) approval to make changes to an existing information collection 
related to the Nation's ferry operations (National Census of Ferry 
Operators, OMB Control Number--2139-0009). The data collected for the 
national census of ferry operators (NCFO) have historically been used 
to produce a descriptive database of existing ferry operations. 
Recently enacted MAP-21 legislation (Pub. L. 112-141, section 1121(b)), 
requires that the NCFO data be used by The Federal Highway 
Administration for funding allocations based on a specific set of 
formulae. As a result, BTS is proposing the elimination of census 
questions that do not support the MAP-21 requirements; while adding 
items needed to support the FHWA's funding algorithms. As with all 
previous NCFO initiatives, business sensitive information provided by 
ferry operators will not be made public. The Information provided will 
however, be shared with FHWA in order to support their funding 
allocations as dictated in MAP-21. For copies of the old and new

[[Page 41191]]

NCFO questionnaires with edits, please contact the project director.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 8, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth W. Steve, (202) 366-4108, NCFO 
Project Manager, BTS, RITA, Department of Transportation, 1200 NJ Ave. 
SE., Room E34-431, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9:00 
a.m. to 6:30 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: National Census of Ferry Operators 
(NCFO).
    Type of Request: Approval of an information collection.
    Affected Public: There are approximately 260 ferry operators 
nationwide.
    Abstract: The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-
21) (Pub. L. 105-178), section 1207(c), directed the Secretary of 
Transportation to conduct a study of ferry transportation in the United 
States and its possessions. In 2000, the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) Office of Intermodal and Statewide Planning conducted a survey 
of approximately 250 ferry operators to identify: (1) Existing ferry 
operations including the location and routes served; (2) source and 
amount, if any, of funds derived from Federal, State, or local 
governments supporting ferry construction or operations; (3) potential 
domestic ferry routes in the United States and its possessions and to 
develop information on those routes; and (4) potential for use of high 
speed ferry services and alternative-fueled ferry services. The Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for 
Users (SAFETEA-LU) Public Law 109-59, Section 1801(e)) required that 
the Secretary, acting through the BTS, establish and maintain a 
national ferry database containing current information regarding 
routes, vessels, passengers and vehicles carried, funding sources and 
such other information as the Secretary considers useful.
    The newly enacted MAP-21 legislation (Pub. L. 112-141, section 
1121(b)), requires that the NCFO database as previously defined in 
SAFETEA-LU: (1) Include ``any Federal, State, and local government 
funding sources;'' and (2) ``ensure that the database is consistent 
with the national transit database maintained by the Federal Transit 
Administration.'' To that end, a revised data collection form has been 
submitted to OMB for approval. Items removed from the old form include 
those designed to target ridership and terminal information that 
typically produce unreliable and/or incomplete data, and were not 
specifically required by law to be maintained as a part of the NCFO 
database. These items include segment data related to peak season 
(q12), daily passenger surges (q13), weekday passenger surges (q14), 
weekend passenger surges (q15), and other terminal operations (q16). 
Questions 2 through 5 of the old form were also refined to better meet 
the MAP-21 requirements. The concept of public or private ownership was 
also extended to individual vessel and terminals, and rate regulation 
to individual route segments. Finally, vessel and terminal items were 
refined or added to achieve content consistency with the National 
Transit Database.
    Data Confidentiality Provisions: The National Census of Ferry 
Operators may collect confidential business information. The 
confidentiality of these data will be protected under 49 CFR 7.17. In 
accordance with this regulation, only statistical and non-sensitive 
business information will be made available through publications and 
public use data files. The statistical public use data are intended to 
provide an aggregated source of information on ferry boat operations 
nationwide. Business sensitive information may be shared with FHWA to 
support MAP-21 funding allocations.
    Frequency: The survey will be conducted every other year beginning 
in 2013.
    Estimated Burden: The total annual burden (in the year that the 
survey is conducted) is estimated to be just less than 130 hours (that 
is 30 minutes per respondent for 260 respondents equals 7,800 minutes).
    Response to Comments: A 60 day notice requesting public comment was 
issued in the Federal Register on May 2, 2013. No comments were 
received.
    Public Comments Invited: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, 
including, but not limited to: (1) The necessity and utility of the 
information collection for the proper performance of the functions of 
the DOT; (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. Send comments to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: BTS Desk Officer.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on this 3rd day of July, 2013.
Patricia Hu,
Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Research and Innovative 
Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2013-16429 Filed 7-8-13; 8:45 am]
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