[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76410-76411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26435]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2016-0032]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments 
for New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request 
described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval of a new information collection. We published a Federal 
Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information 
collection on April 27, 2016. We are required to publish this notice in 
the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by December 2, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments within 30 days to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. 
You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, 
including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the 
FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways 
for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized, 
including the use of electronic technology, without reducing the 
quality of the collected information. All comments should include the 
Docket number FHWA-2016-0032.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aileen Varela-Margolles, 202-366-1701, 
Office of Environment, Planning and Realty, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Comment collection on the draft Traffic Noise Model's 
(TNM)[supreg] 3.0 Model Performance and Usability.
    Background: 23 CFR 772 Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic 
Noise and Construction Noise Section 772.9(a) states that `any analysis 
required by this subpart must use the FHWA [Federal Highway 
Administration] Traffic Noise Model (TNM)'. FHWA recently completed a 
new version of TNM[supreg]. The draft TNM[supreg] version 3.0 features 
a new User Interface (UI), updated acoustical information, and 
interoperability with the software packages for Esri's ArcGIS[supreg], 
AutoDesk's AutoCAD[supreg], and Bentley's MicroStation[supreg]. By 
releasing the draft TNM[supreg] version 3.0, FHWA is allowing users to 
provide comments and feedback on the model's functionality, its 
interface with the software packages and its usability for a variety of 
project types.
    Persons who elect to provide comments on the draft TNM[supreg] 
version 3.0 will have to download the free TNM[supreg] software via the 
FHWA TNM[supreg] version 3.0 Web site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/traffic_noise_model/tnm_v30/.
    In order to encourage users to submit their comments and facilitate 
FHWA review of these comments, FHWA will set up an online portal on 
this Web site with standardized questions, which will automatically 
sort user comments into broad categories. It is this portal's questions 
which are the subject of this OMB ICR FR Notice.
    The tool will include four standard questions. Depending on their 
responses participants may answer a minimum of one question or the 
maximum four questions. The first three questions allow the choice of 
one of two possible responses via drop down menus where one leads to a 
blank comment box with an option to add attachments, and the other 
response leads to another standard question for further detailed 
categorization. The fourth question allows selection of multiple 
responses via checkboxes.
    The first question will sort comments into two categories--those 
wishing to request documentation and/or guidance, or those who would 
like to provide

[[Page 76411]]

comments or ask a question. The second question asks users what their 
comment or question relates to--the aesthetics or the functionality. 
Users who select functionality are asked a third question that will 
sort their comment into either the functionality of the acoustics or 
the functionality of the user interface (UI). If users elect the UI 
they will be allowed to check multiple boxes from a list of possible 
concerns. All responses will lead to the blank comment box with an 
option to add attachments totaling no more than 500 mb in size. 
Participation by using the model and providing comments is entirely 
voluntary.
    Respondents: Approximately 200 participants including the 52 State 
DOTs, consultant/contractors, researchers, academia and other 
interested transportation and environmental stakeholders.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Estimated time is 
approximately 15 hours per participant over the six months. 
Participants are each expected to spend 10 minutes per comment and to 
enter an average of 20 questions and/or comments each. Time expended 
will vary based on the number and complexity of the situations the user 
is modeling.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden 
for all
    respondents is approximately 3,667 hours over six months.
    Electronic Access: For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

     Issued on: October 27, 2016.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-26435 Filed 11-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P