[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68411-68412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23782]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2020-0010]


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 
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 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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 October 18, 2019, FTA published a 60-day notice (84 FR 
56012) in the Federal Register soliciting comments on the ICR that the 
agency was seeking OMB approval. FTA received no comments after issuing 
this 60-day notice. 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: Charter Service Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2132-0543.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: 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 Section 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 time the recipient receives a request for 
charter service that the recipient is interested in providing.

[[Page 68412]]

    Third, 49 CFR 604.12(c) requires a recipient, unless otherwise 
exempt under 49 CFR 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 Annual Respondents: 2,180 respondents.
    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. 2020-23782 Filed 10-27-20; 8:45 am]
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