[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 132 (Thursday, July 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41272-41273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14745]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2020-0006]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

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 extension of a currently approved information collection:

Charter Service Operations

DATES: Comments must be submitted before September 8, 2020.

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. Website: 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 www.regulations.gov. Commenters should follow the directions below 
for mailed and hand-delivered comments.
    2. Fax: 202-366-7951.
    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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 
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 
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 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 9:00 a.m. 
and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Micah M. Miller (404) 865-5474 or 
email: [email protected].

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: Charter Service Operations

(OMB Number: 2132-0543)

    Background: FTA recipients may only provide charter bus service 
with FTA-funded facilities and equipment if the charter service is 
incidental to the provision of transit service (49 U.S.C. 5323(d)). 
This restriction protects charter service providers from unauthorized 
competition by FTA recipients.
    The requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5323(d) are implemented in FTA's 
charter regulation (Charter Service Rule) at 49 CFR part 604. Amended 
in 2008, the Charter Service Rule now contains five (5) provisions that 
impose information collection requirements on FTA recipients of 
financial assistance from FTA under Federal Transit Law.
    First, 49 CFR 604.4 requires all applicants for Federal financial 
assistance under Federal Transit Law, unless otherwise exempted under 
49 CFR 604.2, to enter into a ``Charter Service Agreement,'' contained 
in the Certifications and Assurances for FTA Assistance Programs. The 
Certifications and Assurances become a part of the Grant Agreement or 
Cooperative Agreement for Federal financial assistance upon receipt of 
Federal funds. The rule requires each applicant to submit one Charter 
Service Agreement for each year that the applicant intends to apply for 
the Federal financial assistance specified above.
    Second, 49 CFR 604.14(3) requires a recipient of Federal funds 
under Federal Transit Law, unless otherwise exempt, to provide email 
notification to all registered charter providers in the recipient's 
geographic service area each

[[Page 41273]]

time the recipient receives a request for charter service that the 
recipient is interested in providing.
    Third, 49 CFR 604.12(c) requires a recipient, unless otherwise 
exempt under 49 CFR part 604.2, to submit on a quarterly basis records 
of all instances that the recipient provided charter service.
    Fourth, 49 CFR 604.13 requires a private charter provider to 
register on FTA's Charter Registration website at http://ftawebprod.fta.dot.gov/CharterRegistration/ in order to qualify as a 
registered charter service provider and receive email notifications by 
recipients that are interested in providing a requested charter 
service. The rule requires that a registered charter service provider 
must update its information on the Charter Registration website at 
least once every two years. Currently, there are a total of 287 
registered private charter service providers. Registration has 
consistently decreased over the years.
    Lastly, 49 CFR 604.7 permits recipients to provide charter service 
to Qualified Human Service Organizations (QHSO) under limited 
circumstances. QHSOs that do not receive Federal funding under programs 
listed in Appendix A to Part 604 and seek to receive free or reduced 
rate services from recipients must register on FTA's Charter 
Registration website (49 CFR 604.15(a)).
    Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-
profit institutions, and non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 2,180.
    Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 403.3 hours (0.05 hours for 
each of the 1,676 Recipient respondents under 49 CFR 604.4. 1.25 hours 
for each of the 90 Recipient respondents under 49 CFR 604.12, 0.50 
hours for each of the 90 Recipient respondents under 49 CFR 604.14. 
0.50 hours for each of the 37 non-profit respondents, and 0.50 hours 
for each of the estimated 287 for-profit respondents.
    Frequency: Annually, bi-annually, quarterly, and as required.

Nadine Pembleton,
Director Office of Management Planning.
[FR Doc. 2020-14745 Filed 7-8-20; 8:45 am]
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