[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4808-4809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01651]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA-2014-0004]
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment
about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's
(OMB) approval to renew the following information collections:
Pre-Award, Post-Delivery Audit Requirements Under Buy America
Metropolitan and Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning
The information collected is necessary to determine eligibility of
applicants and ensure the proper and timely expenditure of federal
funds within the scope of each program. The Federal Register notice
with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments for the Pre-Award,
Post-Delivery Audit Requirements Under Buy America was published on
November 8, 2013 (Citation 78 FR 217). No comments were received from
that notice. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments for the Metropolitan and Statewide and
[[Page 4809]]
Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning was published on November 22,
2013 (Citation 78 FR 226). No comments were received from that notice.
DATES: Comments must be submitted before February 28, 2014. A comment
to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of
publication.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tia Swain, Office of Administration,
Office of Management Planning, (202) 366-0354.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Pre-Award, Post-Delivery Audit Requirements Under Buy
America (OMB Number: 2132-0544.)
Abstract: Federal Transit Laws, 49 U.S.C. 5323(j) and (m), require
that recipients of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding comply
with certain requirements, including Buy America, certify compliance of
these requirements at the pre-award and post-delivery stages of the
procurement process when using FTA funds and maintain on file
certifications. Bidders or offerors must submit certificates to assure
compliance with Buy America, the purchaser's contract specifications
(for rolling stock only), and Federal motor vehicle safety requirements
(for rolling stock only). The information collected on the
certification forms is necessary for FTA recipients to meet the
requirements of 49 U.S.C. Section 5323(j) and (m). In addition, FTA
recipients are required to certify, as part of their annual
Certifications and Assurances, that they will comply with pre-award and
post-delivery audit requirements for rolling stock under 49 CFR Part
661.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,786 hours.
Title: Metropolitan and Statewide and Nonmetropolitan
Transportation Planning (OMB Number: 2132-0529.)
Abstract: The FTA and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) jointly
carry out the federal mandate to improve urban and rural
transportation. 49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304 and 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135
authorize the use of federal funds to assist Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs), States, and local public bodies in developing
transportation plans and programs to serve the transportation needs of
urbanized areas over 50,000 in population and other areas of States
outside of urbanized areas. The information collection activities
involved in developing the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), the
Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the Long-Range Statewide
Transportation Plan, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and
the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) are necessary
to identify and evaluate the transportation issues and needs in each
urbanized area and throughout every State. These products of the
transportation planning process are essential elements in the
reasonable planning and programming of federally funded transportation
investments.
In addition to serving as a management tool for MPOs, the UPWP is
used by both FTA and FHWA to monitor the transportation planning
activities of MPOs. It also is needed to establish national out year
budgets and regional program plans, develop policy on using funds,
monitor State and local compliance with technical emphasis areas,
respond to Congressional inquiries, prepare Congressional testimony,
and ensure efficiency in the use and expenditure of Federal funds by
determining that planning proposals are both reasonable and cost-
effective. 49 U.S.C. 5303 and 23 U.S.C.134(j) require the development
of TIPs for urbanized areas; STIPs are mandated by 49 U.S.C. 5304 and
23 U.S.C. 135(g) for an entire State. After approval by the Governor
and MPO, metropolitan TIPs in attainment areas are to be incorporated
directly into the STIP. For nonattainment areas, FTA/FHWA must make a
conformity finding on the TIPs before including them in the STIP. The
complete STIP is then jointly reviewed and approved or disapproved by
FTA and FHWA. These conformity findings and approval actions constitute
the determination that States are complying with the requirements of 23
U.S.C. 134 and 135 and 49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304 as a condition of
eligibility for federal-aid funding. Without these documents, approvals
and findings, FTA and FHWA cannot provide capital and/or operating
assistance.
The FTA and FHWA updated their method for estimating the annual
burden hours of the transportation planning programs on respondents.
The FTA and FHWA surveyed a sample of MPO annual work programs to
identify annual planning compliance burdens associated with the
preparation of TIPS, STIPs and plans. The FTA and FHWA are using the
information from this sample as the basis to estimate the annual
compliance burden for both this request for revision of the currently
approved information collection, as well as for a forthcoming Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking that FTA and FHWA will issue to implement changes
to the metropolitan and statewide and nonmetropolitan transportation
planning programs as a result of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the
21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141 (2012).
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 3,783,814 hours.
ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
725--17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FTA Desk
Officer.
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.
Matthew M. Crouch,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-01651 Filed 1-28-14; 8:45 am]
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