[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34207-34208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11319]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2023-0018]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments 
for a Revision of a Currently Approved Collection; State Right-of-Way 
Manuals, OMB Control Number 2125-0586

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to 
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a 
revision of a currently approved collection, which is summarized below 
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice 
in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by July 25, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID 2023-
0018 by any of the following methods:
    Website: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Corder, 202-366-5853, Office 
of Real Estate Services, Federal Highway Administration, Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: State Right-of-Way Operations Manuals.
    Background: It is the responsibility of each State Department of 
Transportation (State) to acquire, manage and dispose of real property 
in compliance with the legal requirements of State and Federal laws and 
regulations. Part of providing assurance of compliance is to describe 
in a right-of-way procedural (operations) manual the organization, 
policies and procedures of the State to such an extent that these guide 
State employees, local acquiring agencies, and contractors who acquire 
and manage real property that is used for a federally funded 
transportation project. Procedural manuals assure the FHWA that the 
requirements of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property 
Acquisition Policies Act (Uniform Act) will be met. The State 
responsibility to prepare and maintain an up-to-date, right-of-way 
procedural manual is set out in 23 CFR 710.201(c). The regulation 
allows States flexibility in determining how to meet the manual 
requirement. This flexibility allows States to prepare manuals in the 
format of their choosing, to the level of detail necessitated by State 
complexities. Each State decides how it will provide service to 
individuals and businesses affected by Federal or federally-assisted 
projects, while at the same time reducing the

[[Page 34208]]

burden of government regulation. States are required to update manuals 
to reflect changes in Federal requirements for programs administered 
under Title 23 U.S.C. In addition to the annual updates, further 
lengthy updates of each manual will be required due to the amending of 
23 CFR 710 and 49 CFR 24 regulations, as prompted by the enactment of 
the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The 
updated State manuals may be submitted to FHWA electronically or made 
available by posting on the State website.
    Respondents:
    Regular update of manual--52 State Departments of Transportation, 
including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (52 respondents).
    23 CFR 710 regulatory revisions--52 State Departments of 
Transportation, including District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (52 
respondents).
    49 CFR 24 regulatory revisions--two additional DOT Modes with 50 
large grantees each (100 respondents) & 12 additional agencies with 12 
grantees (12 respondents) 112 respondents.
    Frequency:
    Regular update of manual--Annual basis and certify every 5 years.
    23 CFR 710 regulatory revisions--a one-time collection.
    49 CFR 24 regulatory revisions--a one-time collection.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response:
    Regular update of manual--15 hours.
    23 CFR 710 regulatory revisions--225 hours.
    49 CFR 24 regulatory revisions--225 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
    Regular update of manual: 52 respondents x 15 hours = 780 burden 
hours.
    23 CFR 710 regulatory revisions: 52 respondents x 225 hours = 
11,700 burden hours.
    49 CFR 24 regulatory revisions: 112 respondents x 225 hours = 
25,200 burden hours.
    Total: 780 hrs. + 11,700 hrs. + 25,200 hrs. = 37,680 total burden 
hours.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of 
the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that 
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic 
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. 
The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request 
for OMB's clearance of this information collection.
    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

     Issued On: May 23, 2023.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Coordinator.
[FR Doc. 2023-11319 Filed 5-25-23; 8:45 am]
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