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

Michael Howell
Federal Highway Administration
28 April 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 25486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09944]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2016-0012]


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 June 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
2016-0012 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, or Aileen 
Varela-Margolles, 202-366-1701, Office of Environment, Planning and 
Realty, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 
7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Comment collection on the draft Traffic Noise Model's (TNM) 
3.0 Model Performance and Usability.
    Background: 23 CFR 772 Procedures for Abatement of Highway Traffic 
Noise and Construction Noise Section 772.9(a) states that `any analysis 
required by this subpart must use the FHWA [Federal Highway 
Administration] Traffic Noise Model (TNM)'. This noise model is 
required for conducting traffic noise impact analysis in accordance 
with 23 CFR 772.11 and 23 CFR 772.13.
    As part of FHWAs ongoing efforts to address traffic noise impacts 
of highway projects on local communities, FHWA recently completed a new 
version of TNM. The draft TNM version 3.0 features a new User Interface 
(UI), updated acoustical information, and interoperability with the 
software packages for Esri's ArcGIS[supreg], AutoDesk's 
AutoCAD[supreg], and Bentley's MicroStation[supreg]. FHWA is releasing 
TNM version 3.0 as a draft to provide the public with an opportunity to 
use the model and become familiar with its functionality and UI. FHWA 
will review any comments and make necessary adjustment to the model 
before releasing a final version for use in highway noise impact 
analysis for Federal Aid Highway projects in the future.
    The release of the draft TNM version 3.0 builds upon an earlier 
beta test by eight State Departments of Transportation (Georgia, 
Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and 
Washington State). The beta testers provided valuable input to further 
improve the model's UI. By releasing the draft TNM version 3.0, FHWA is 
allowing users to provide comments and feedback on the model in general 
including the model's functionality, its interface with the software 
packages and its usability for a variety of project types. In order to 
encourage users to submit their comments, FHWA will set up an online 
portal on FHWA TNM version 3.0 Web site (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/traffic_noise_model/tnm_v30/) to collect comments in 
several broad categories such as functionality and aesthetics of the 
UI, interoperability with the external software packages, and the 
performance of the updated acoustics. This online portal will contain 
standardized questions to guide the public to submit their comments. It 
is this portal and its questions which are the subject of this OMB ICR 
FR Notice.
    Persons who elect to provide comments on the draft TNM version 3.0 
will have to download the free software via the FHWA TNM version 3.0 
Web site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/traffic_noise_model/tnm_v30/. Participation by using the model and 
providing comments is entirely voluntary.
    Respondents: Approximately 200 participants including the 52 State 
DOTs, consultant/contractors, researchers, academia and other 
interested transportation and environmental stakeholders.
    Frequency: As needed. It is expected that users will input comments 
when they review the draft TNM version 3.0.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Estimated time is 
approximately two weeks (80 hours) per participant over six months. 
Time will depend on the number and complexity of the situations the 
user is modeling.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 64,000 hours 
over six months.
    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 draft TNM version 3.0 model 
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: April 22, 2016.
Michael Howell,
Information Collections Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-09944 Filed 4-27-16; 8:45 am]
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