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

Michael Howell
Federal Highway Administration
June 21, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37649-37650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14868]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2013-0034]


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 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 are required to publish this notice in the Federal 
Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by August 20, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID 2013-
0034 by any of the following methods:
    Web site: 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: Mark Ferroni, 202-366-3233, Office of 
Planning, Environment, and Realty, Federal Highway Administration, 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590. Office hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Noise Barrier Inventory.
    Background: The basis of the Federal-aid highway program is a 
strong federal-state partnership. At the core of that partnership is a 
philosophy of trust and flexibility, and a belief that the states are 
in the best position to make investment decisions and that states base 
these decisions on the needs and priorities of their citizens. The FHWA 
noise regulation (23 CFR part 772) gives each state department of 
transportation (SDOT) flexibility to determine the feasibility and 
reasonableness of noise abatement by balancing of the benefits of noise 
abatement against the overall adverse social, economic, and 
environmental effects and costs of the noise abatement measures. The 
SDOT must base its determination on the interest of the overall public 
good, keeping in mind all the elements of the highway program (need, 
funding, environmental impacts, public involvement, etc.).
    Reduction of highway traffic noise should occur through a program 
of shared responsibility with the most effective strategy being 
implementation of noise compatible planning and land use control 
strategies by state and local governments. Local governments can use 
their power to regulate land development to prohibit noise-sensitive 
land use development adjacent to a highway, or to require that 
developers plan, design, and construct development in ways that 
minimize noise impacts. The FHWA noise regulations limit Federal 
participation in the construction of noise barriers along existing 
highways to those projects proposed along lands where land development 
or substantial construction predated the existence of any highway.
    The data reflects the flexibility in noise abatement decision-
making. Some states have built many noise barriers while a few have 
built none. Through the end of 2010, 47 SDOTs and the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico have constructed over 2,748 linear miles of barriers at a 
cost of over $4.05 billion ($5.44 billion in 2010 dollars). Three 
states and the District of Columbia have not constructed noise 
barriers. Ten SDOTs account for approximately sixty-

[[Page 37650]]

two percent (62%) of total barrier length and sixty-nine percent (69%) 
of total barrier cost. The type of information requested can be found 
in 23 CFR 772.13(f).
    The previously distributed listing can be found at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/noise_barriers/inventory/summary/sintro7.cfm. This listing continues to be extremely useful in the 
management of the highway traffic noise program, in our technical 
assistance efforts for State highway agencies, and in responding to 
inquiries from congressional sources, Federal, State, and local 
agencies, and the general public. An updated listing of noise barriers 
will be distributed nationally for use in the highway traffic noise 
program. It is anticipated that this information will be requested in 
2014 (for noise barriers constructed in 2011, 2012 and 2013) and then 
again in 2017 (for noise barriers constructed in 2014, 2015 and 2016). 
After review of the ``Summary of Noise Barriers Constructed by December 
31, 2004'' document, a SDOT may request to delete, modify or add 
information to any calendar year.
    Respondents: Each of the 50 SDOTs, the District of Columbia, and 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: Every 3 years.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: It is estimated that on 
average it would take 8 hours to respond to this request.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: It is estimated that the 
estimated total annual burden is 139 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.

     Issued on: June 17, 2013.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-14868 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
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