[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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