[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18634-18635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08822]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2019-0028]


Notice of Request for Clearance of a Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection: National Census of Ferry Operators

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), 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 for an information collection related to the nation's 
ferry operations. The information collected will be used to produce a 
descriptive database of existing ferry operations. A summary report of 
survey findings will also be published by BTS on the BTS web page.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 31, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janine L. McFadden, (202) 366-2857, 
NCFO Project Manager, BTS, OST-R, Department of Transportation, 1200 
New Jersey Ave. SE, Room E32-316, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours 
are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: National Census of Ferry Operators (NCFO).
    Type of Request: Approval modifications to an existing information 
collection.
    Affected Public: There are approximately 250 ferry operators 
nationwide.
    Abstract: In 1998, 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 (4) potential for use of high speed ferry services and 
alternative-fueled ferry services. In 2005, 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, shall 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. In 2012, MAP-
21 legislation [Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (Pub. 
L. 112-141),] continued the BTS mandate to conduct the NCFO and also 
required that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) use the NCFO 
data to set the specific formula for allocating federal ferry funds. 
The funding allocations were based on a percentage of the number of 
passenger boardings, vehicle boardings, and route miles served. In 
2015, the FAST Act legislation [Fixing America's Surface Transportation 
Act (Pub. L. 114-94, sec. 1112)] continues the BTS mandate to conduct 
the NCFO on a biennial basis, and extended the requirement that the 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) use the NCFO data to set the 
specific formula for allocating federal ferry funds as required in MAP-
21.
    BTS conducted the first National Census of Ferry Operators in 2006. 
The Census was conducted again in 2008,

[[Page 18635]]

2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018. Preparations are already underway for the 
next census in 2020. The overall length of the revised questionnaire 
for the 2020 NCFO will remain consistent with that of previous years. 
These information collections were originally approved by OMB under 
Control Number 2139-0009. The overall length of the questionnaire for 
the 2020 NCFO will remain consistent with that of previous years.
    The survey will be administered to the entire population of ferry 
operators (estimate 250 or less). The survey will request the 
respondents to provide information such as: the points served; the type 
of ownership; the number of passengers and vehicles carried in the past 
12 months; vessel descriptions (including type of fuel), federal, state 
and local funding sources, and intermodal connectivity. All data 
collected in 2020 will be added to the existing NCFO 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 7.29. 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 FAST Act funding allocations.
    Frequency: This survey will be updated every other year.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The burden per respondent is 
estimated to be an average of 30 minutes. This average is based on an 
estimate of 20 minutes to answer questions that require answers 
specific to that year and an additional 10 minutes to review (and 
revise as needed) previously submitted data that will be pre-populated 
for each ferry operation.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The total annual burden (in the year 
that the survey is conducted) is estimated to be 125 hours (that is 30 
minutes per respondent for 250 respondents equals 7,500 minutes).
    Response to Comments: A 60-day notice requesting public comment was 
issued in the Federal Register on February 15, 2019. 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, clarity and content 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 25th day of April, 2019.
Patricia Hu,
Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Research and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2019-08822 Filed 4-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P