[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 179 (Monday, September 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64022-64023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20135]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA 2023-0021]
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Title VI
as It Applies to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grant Programs
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation.
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: Title VI
as it Applies to FTA Grant Programs.
DATES: Comments must be submitted before November 17, 2023.
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: Andrew Golba at (202) 366-1065, 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: Title VI as It Applies to FTA Grant Programs OMB Number: 2132-
0540.
Background: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
2000d) states:
``No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race,
color, or national
[[Page 64023]]
origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of,
or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
receiving Federal financial assistance.''
To achieve this purpose, each Federal department and agency which
provides financial assistance for any program or activity is authorized
and directed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to effectuate
provisions of Title VI for each program or activity by issuing
generally applicable regulations or requirements. The Department of
Transportation (DOT) has issued its regulations implementing this DOJ
mandate.
In this regard, the responsibility of the FTA is to ensure that
federally supported transit services and benefits are distributed by
applicants, recipients, and subrecipients of FTA assistance in a manner
consistent with Title VI. The employment practices of a grant
applicant, recipient, or sub-recipient are also covered under Title VI
if the primary purpose of the FTA-supported program is to provide
employment or if those employment practices would result in
discrimination against beneficiaries of FTA-assisted services and
benefits.
FTA policies and requirements are designed to clarify and
strengthen Title VI (service equity) procedures for FTA grant
recipients by requiring submission of written plans and approval of
such plans by the agency. All project sponsors receiving financial
assistance pursuant to an FTA-funded project shall not discriminate in
the provision of services because of race, color, or national origin.
Experience has demonstrated that a program requirement at the
application stage is necessary to assure that benefits and services are
equitably distributed by grant recipients. The requirements prescribed
by the Office of Civil Rights are designed to accomplish this objective
and diminish possible vestiges of discrimination among FTA grant
recipients. FTA's assessment of the requirements indicated that the
formulation and implementation of the Title VI Program should occur
with a decrease in costs to such applicants and recipients.
Respondents: Transit agencies, States, and metropolitan planning
organizations
Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 284 (45 hours for each of
the 100 more specific Title VI Program submissions; 1 hour for each of
the 183 general Title VI Program submissions).
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 4,684 hours.
Frequency: Annual.
Emily Anderson,
Director, Office of Management Planning.
[FR Doc. 2023-20135 Filed 9-15-23; 8:45 am]
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