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

Michael Howell
Federal Highway Administration
November 20, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69742-69743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27851]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2013-0055]


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 June 21, 2013. 
We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by December 20, 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

[[Page 69743]]

(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-
0055.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Cheung, 202-366-6994 or Brian 
Fouch, 202-366-0744, Office of Safety Design Team, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Roadway Departure Safety Profile.
    Background: Roadway departure fatalities account for 53 percent of 
all highway deaths in the United States. Identifying roadway departure 
crash types and locations is an important part of the FHWA Office of 
Safety's development of an internal Roadway Departure Strategic Plan. 
To assist in this effort, FHWA seeks to focus on the following primary 
emphasis areas based on crash type: overturning, opposite direction, 
and fixed-object crashes (particularly trees and utility poles). 
Recognizing that States face similar issues in preventing such crashes, 
the FHWA proposes to collect information from each State to identify 
and document methods and knowledge gained about addressing fixed object 
crashes. This includes gathering details and descriptions of State 
policies including design guidance, clear zone policies; case studies, 
innovative best practices, and notable strategies/projects to address 
fixed object crashes; studies or data that document the effectiveness 
of implemented countermeasures, policies, or design guidance in 
reducing the number and/or severity of vehicle crashes into roadside 
trees and utility poles and other fixed objects; and lessons learned. 
In addition to State policies, FHWA is interested in documenting any 
``special projects'' that States have used to enhance roadside safety, 
such as the Colleton County I-95 Timber Harvest Project. The purpose of 
the project was to identify areas along interstate highways that would 
enhance forest health, improve and enhance aesthetics, and improve 
highway safety. The result of the project culminated in identifying 15 
potential forestation thinning sites. By thinning these forested areas, 
the South Carolina DOT hopes to reduce the incidence of fixed-object 
crashes involving trees adjacent to the roadway. Such efforts are 
outside of State's typical design practices but can have a positive 
effect on roadside safety. Additionally, FHWA would encourage States, 
as part of the information gathering, to share information about local 
efforts by cities and counties. Using the information gathered, FHWA 
will develop a Synthesis of State practices. A part of the survey will 
involve a set of questions to determine the current ``State of the 
State'' regarding Roadway Departure safety. From the information 
gathered, FHWA will develop a Roadway Departure Safety Profile Report 
for each State to support future technical assistance to the State 
DOTs, FHWA Division office, and local agencies.
    The survey will be disseminated electronically, enabling 
respondents to answer questions via a link established specifically for 
the purposes of this survey.
    Respondents: Approximately 52 representatives from State DOTs, 
Washington DC and Puerto
    Rico.
    Frequency: One time survey.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Approximately 16 hours per 
response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 832 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: November 14, 2013.
 Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer
[FR Doc. 2013-27851 Filed 11-19-13; 8:45 am]
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