Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection |
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Michael Howell
Federal Highway Administration
June 21, 2013
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 37651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14867]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2013-0033]
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: FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request
the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new
information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day
public comment period on this information collection on March 22, 2013.
We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Please submit comments by July 22, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments within 30 days to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer.
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 burden; (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. All comments should include the
Docket number FHWA-2013-0033.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane D. Boone, business phone: 202-
493-3064, Nondestructive Evaluation Research Program, Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation, 6300 Georgetown Pike,
McLean, VA 22101. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Feasibility of Element-Level Bridge Inspection for Non-
National Highway System Bridges.
Background: The ``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act'' or the ``MAP-21'' legislation, Section 1111, modified 23 U.S.C.
144 to include a requirement for each State and appropriate Federal
agency to report element level bridge inspection data to the Secretary,
as each bridge is inspected, for all highway bridges on the National
Highway System (NHS). The data is to be reported to the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of MAP-21. Additionally, MAP-21 included a requirement for a
study on the benefits, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility of requiring
element level data collection for bridges not on the NHS. The goal of
this project shall be to complete a study of the benefits, cost-
effectiveness, and feasibility of requiring element-level bridge
inspection data collection for bridges not on the National Highway
System. A proposed methodology for completing this research shall be
established through outreach to key stakeholders. The methodology is to
also define the types of analyses to be used to evaluate benefits,
cost-effectiveness and feasibility.
Analysis of Federal Register Notice Comments from the 60-Day Notice
Comments on the March 22, 2013 Federal Register notice were
received from thirty commenters. Twenty-two of the commenters
represented county agencies, seven represented State Departments of
Transportation, and one represented a Federal Agency. Seventeen County
representative comments were from Iowa. Two commenters were from the
same local agency in Michigan. Nearly all comments focused on the
feasibility, benefits, and cost-effectiveness of element level bridge
inspection data collection on non-National Highway System (non-NHS)
bridges rather than on the actual data collection to be done as part of
the legislatively mandated study. The purpose of the notice was to
gather comments on the actual data collection to be done during the
study. One commenter addressed the study data collection effort. The
Iowa Department of Transportation stated that the study is necessary
because the FHWA needs to be aware of the unique issues facing the
various jurisdictions in the nation. They concurred in the estimate of
two hours to respond to questions as part of the study.
They recommended the use of a few standardized questions to help
with clarity and usefulness of the data and noted that an on-line
response to questions would expedite the collection and analysis of the
data. The FHWA will consider these suggestions as it undertakes the
study.
The comments that offered opinions on the benefits, costs, and
feasibility of element data collection on non-NHS bridges will be
considered during the actual study.
Respondents: State transportation agencies, Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), National Association of
County Engineers (NACE), toll authorities (state, local, private), FHWA
Offices of Policy, Bridge Technology, and selected FHWA Divisions and
other Federal bridge-owning agencies, and selected individual local
agencies. Specific AASHTO subcommittees to be contacted include the
Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures and the Subcommittee on
Maintenance.
Frequency: One time per participant.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: Approximately 2 hours to
collect the necessary information and write a response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 200 hours.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: June 17, 2013.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-14867 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
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