[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52930-52932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21545]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2019-0018]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

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notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) 
abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the 
information collection and their expected burdens.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 4, 2019.

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. 
Alternatively, comments may be sent via email to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and 
Budget, at the following address: [email protected].
    Comments are Invited On: Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, 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. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its 
full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tia Swain, Office of Administration, 
Management Planning Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop TAD-
10, Washington, DC 20590 (202) 366-0354 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13, Section 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised 
at 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 
1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public 
comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve 
paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 
1320.12. On July 2, 2019, FTA published a 60-day notice (84 FR 31657) 
in the Federal Register soliciting comments on the ICR that the agency 
was seeking OMB approval. FTA received one comment after issuing this 
60-day notice. The comment was from the Michigan Department of 
Transportation (MDOT) Docket #FTA-0008-0001. The comment states: ``MDOT 
supports the continued collection of bus testing information by the 
Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (LTI) with the 
following concerns: (1) Timeliness of testing on new or updated bus 
bodies and OEM vehicle chassis, test completion can take up to a year 
or more in some instances; (2) Communication of testing delays to 
recipients. Explanation of delays doesn't seem to be provided to bus 
manufacturers or chassis OEMs; (3) Increased testing capacity. With the 
increase in Federal emissions and fuel economy standards, OEMs are 
continually introducing new engine and transmission combinations that 
require new tests. Adding staff or opening additional test facilities 
may help alleviate this issue. The LoNo test facilities at Ohio State 
University and Auburn University may be an option to help assist in the 
testing of traditional buses if allowed, which would shorten test 
delays.'' FTA's responded by stating, ``FTA acknowledges that 
improvements can be made in the application response process. In an 
effort to address these issues, this information is working on a web-
based test form for bus testing determinations and approvals with the 
purpose of not only improving request turn arounds, but increasing 
transparency where submitters will be provided real-time updates with 
the status of their applications. The purpose of the PRA is to provide 
an estimate of time burdens associated with the preparation of a 
determination and/or and approval request. The time burdens consider 
all the technical and legal advisors involved in the process of 
gathering information to prepare and submit an application. 
Unfortunately, addressing the duration of tests, how many tests are 
performed, and any modification to 49 CFR 665 is outside of the scope 
of this document. We appreciate MDOT's comments and encourage to submit 
any suggestions and/or recommended amendments following applicable 
protocols established in 49 CFR 601, ``Organization, Functions, and 
Procedures''. In addition, FTA will be hosting a Bus Maintenance and 
Bus Testing Peer-to-Peer Exchange in October 2019, to engage the 
vehicle manufacturers industry, encourage an open dialogue, and address 
areas of improvement within the Bus Testing Program. Accordingly, DOT 
announces that these information collection activities have been re-
evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or 
disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day 
notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 
60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30-day notice 
informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords 
the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a 
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should 
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication 
to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
    The summaries below describe the nature of the information 
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The 
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 
the PRA.
    Title: Bus Testing Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2132-0550.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: 49 U.S.C. Section 5318(e) provides that Federal funds 
appropriated or otherwise made available under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 
[FTA funding] may not be obligated or expended for the acquisition of a 
new bus model unless a bus of that model has been tested for 
maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking 
performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise 
at a bus testing facility authorized under 49 U.S.C. Section 5318(a).
    At this time, there is one active Bus Testing Center operated by 
the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute of the 
Pennsylvania State University (LTI). LTI operates and maintains the 
Center under a cooperative agreement with FTA, and establishes and 
collects fees for the testing of the vehicles at the facility. Two 
additional bus testing facilities authorized to test low and no-
emission (LoNo) buses have been authorized by Congress. FTA is working 
with Auburn University and The Ohio State University to establish those 
facilities, which are not yet operational. The nature and quantity of 
the information that must be collected to operate the Bus Testing 
Program will not change significantly when these additional

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centers become operational. Auburn and Ohio State separately received 
appropriations to conduct testing of components for LoNo buses. Those 
projects are separate from Bus Testing and FTA does not expect them to 
affect the paperwork burden for the Bus Testing Program. Upon 
completion of the testing of the vehicle at the Center with a passing 
test score, a draft Bus Testing Report is provided to the manufacturer 
of the new bus model. If the manufacturer approves the Report for 
publication, the bus model becomes eligible for FTA funding. 49 CFR 
665.7 requires a recipient of FTA funds to certify that a bus model has 
been tested at the bus testing facility, that the bus model received a 
passing score, and that the recipient has a copy of the applicable Bus 
Testing Report(s) on a bus model before final acceptance of any buses 
of that model. Recipients are strongly encouraged to review the Bus 
Testing Report(s) relevant to a bus model before final acceptance and/
or selection of that bus model.
    Respondents: Bus manufacturers and recipients of FTA funds.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 60 (40 testing 
determination requirements requests at 32 hours each, 20 testing 
authorization requests at 32 hours each, 16 tests scheduled at 10 hours 
each, and 3 retest requests at 17 hours each).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,131 hours.
    Frequency: On Occasion.

Nadine Pembleton,
Director, Office of Management Planning.
[FR Doc. 2019-21545 Filed 10-2-19; 8:45 am]
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