[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 37553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13412]



[[Page 37553]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2022-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Fixed 
Guideway Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program Section 5309

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation 
(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 July 25, 2022.

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 March 1, 2022 FTA published a 60-day notice (87 FR 11508) 
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: Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program 
Section 5309.
    OMB Control Number: 2132-0561.
    Background: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) administers 
the discretionary Capital Investment Grants (CIG) grant program under 
49 U.S.C. Section 5309 that provides funding for major transit capital 
investments including rapid rail, light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid 
transit, and ferries. Three types of eligible projects are outlined in 
law: smaller scaled corridor-based transit capital projects known as 
``Small Starts''; new fixed guideway transit systems and extensions to 
existing fixed guideway systems known as ``New Starts''; and projects 
to improve capacity in existing fixed guideway corridors, known as 
``Core Capacity''. The CIG program has a longstanding requirement that 
FTA evaluate proposed projects against a prescribed set of statutory 
criteria at specific points during the projects' development including 
when they seek to enter a subsequent phase of the process or a 
construction grant agreement. In addition, FTA must report on its 
evaluations and ratings annually to Congress.
    The current Federal Public Transportation Law, 49 U.S.C. 5309, has 
not changed the statutorily defined project justification and local 
financial commitment criteria that are the subject of this information 
collection. In addition, the statutorily required approval steps for 
projects seeking CIG funds have not changed. The current request for 
renewal of this information collection does not reflect any changes as 
a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). FTA will seek 
comment from stakeholders through the publication of a separate Federal 
Register Notice outside of the PRA process. In general, the information 
used by FTA for CIG project evaluation and rating should arise as a 
part of the normal project planning process.
    Respondents: State and local government agencies, including transit 
agencies.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 155 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 68,840 hours.
    Frequency: Annually.

Nadine Pembleton,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-13412 Filed 6-22-22; 8:45 am]
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