[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68490-68491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19123]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2024-0060]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments 
for a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request 
described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
to approve a new information collection. We are required to publish 
this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by September 25, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
0060 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: Patricia Sergeson, (202) 493-3166, 
Office Corporate Research, Technology and Innovation Management, 
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 6300 
Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101, Office hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a Federal Register Notice with 
a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on June 
21, 2024, at [89 FR 52202]. The comments and FHWA's responses are 
below.
    FHWA received a comment from WSDOT providing feedback on the 
timeline for nominations to be sent as well as the eligibility 
criteria. WSDOT requested that the award section criteria be changed 
requiring that a final report be posted by June 30th of the year 
submitted. We have changed these criteria to require a TPF study be in 
the objectives fulfilled status (as defined in the TPF Procedures 
Manual published on pooledfund.org) by July 30th of the year submitted.
    WSDOT also noted a difference in language between the notice and 
FAQ. FHWA will ensure all materials are consistent in what areas will 
be recognized. The nomination period has been updated and will be open 
August through end of September each nomination year.
    Title: Transportation Pool Fund (TPF) Excellence Award.
    Background: FHWA is partnering with the American Association of 
State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Research Advisory 
Committee (RAC) to further promote research, innovation, and excellence 
through a new TPF Program Excellence Award.
    For more than 45 years, the FHWA's TPF Program has enabled public 
and private entities to collaboratively conduct cutting-edge 
transportation research. Through the TPF Program, participants can pool 
funds and expertise to develop innovative solutions at a lower cost 
while extending the reach and impact of their research.
    The TPF Excellence Award will recognize outstanding TPF studies 
that have made significant advancements in national research efforts in 
the areas of safety, economic strength, equity, climate and 
sustainability, transformation, and organizational excellence. The 
future award will highlight the importance of meaningful collaboration 
and partnership in transportation research. Administered through a 
partnership between FHWA and the AASHTO RAC, the biennial TPF 
Excellence Award will recognize two TPF studies. Nominations would be 
received between August and end of September of the nomination year. 
Nomination forms would be sent to FHWA Division Offices and State DOTs 
to solicit nominees.
    Award: Any participant in the TPF program can nominate a TPF study 
that is in the objectives fulfilled status (defined in the TPF 
Procedures Manual on pooledfund.org) by July 30th of the year 
submitted. The nominator is responsible for completing the nomination 
form that summarizes the outstanding accomplishments of the entry. FHWA 
will use the collected information to evaluate, showcase, and enhance 
the public's knowledge of research and innovation conducted through 
these TPF projects. Nominations will be reviewed by an independent 
panel of judges from various backgrounds. The awards will be given 
every 2 yr. The winners will be presented awards at the completion of 
the process.
    Respondents: Any participant in the Transportation Pooled Fund 
(TPF) program can submit a nomination of a TPF study for the TPF 
Excellence Award, including staff from the 50 States, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other global partners.
    Frequency: The information will be collected biennially.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The nomination email takes 2 
minutes per respondent and the nomination form takes 5 hours per 
respondent per application to complete.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: It is expected that the 550 
respondents will complete an application for an estimated total of 267 
annual 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.


[[Page 68491]]


     Issued on: August 21, 2024.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-19123 Filed 8-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P