[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69382-69383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25205]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 2022-0037]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Public 
Transportation Emergency Relief Program

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 December 19, 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

[[Page 69383]]

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 August 24, 2022, FTA published a 60-
day notice (87 FR 52109) in the Federal Register soliciting comments on 
the ICR that the agency was seeking OMB approval. FTA received one 
anonymous non-significant comment not associated with information 
collection or burden. 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: Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2132-0575.
    Background: Since the authorization of the Public Transportation 
Emergency Relief Program in 2012, Congress has appropriated funds three 
times for transit agencies affected by disaster.
    The first appropriation of funds for the program was in 2013 
following Hurricane Sandy, for which the President declared a major 
disaster for areas of 12 States and the District of Columbia. Under the 
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 113-2), Congress provided 
$10.9 billion for FTA's Emergency Relief Program for recovery, relief, 
and resilience efforts in the counties specified in the disaster 
declaration. Approximately $10.0 billion remained available after 
implementation of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act 
of 2011 (Pub. L. 112-25) and after intergovernmental transfers to other 
bureaus and offices within DOT. FTA has allocated the full amount in 
multiple tiers for response, recovery and rebuilding; for locally 
prioritized resilience projects, and for competitively selected 
resilience projects.
    The second appropriation of funds for the Emergency Relief Program 
was in 2018 following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, for which the 
President declared major disasters in areas of Florida, Georgia, 
Louisiana, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-123), 
Congress provided $330 million for FTA's Emergency Relief Program for 
transit systems affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. On May 
31, 2018 FTA allocated $277.5 million for response, recovery, 
rebuilding, and resilience projects.
    The third appropriation of funds for the Emergency Relief Program 
was in 2019. Under the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for 
Disaster Relief Act of 2019, Congress appropriated $10.5 million for 
FTA's Emergency Relief Program for transit systems affected by major 
declared disasters occurring in calendar year 2018.
    On March 13, 2020, FTA announced that expanded eligibility of 
federal assistance is available under FTA's Emergency Relief Program to 
help transit agencies respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in states 
where the Governor has declared an emergency. This includes allowing 
all transit providers, including those in large urban areas, to use 
federal formula funds for emergency-related capital and operating 
expenses, and raises the cap on the federal government's share of those 
expenses.
    Respondents: States, local governmental authorities, Indian tribes 
and other FTA recipients impacted by Hurricane Sandy which affected 
mid-Atlantic and northeastern states in October 2012; Hurricane Harvey 
which affected areas of Texas and Louisiana in August 2017; and 
Hurricanes Irma and Maria which affected the southeastern states and 
the territories of the Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 
September 2017, and by major declared disasters occurring in calendar 
year 2018.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 26.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 4,680 hours.
    Frequency: Annually.

Nadine Pembleton,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-25205 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
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