Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review |
|---|
|
Nadine Pembleton
Federal Transit Administration
3 October 2019
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52930-52932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21545]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA 2019-0018]
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
[[Page 52931]]
notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs)
abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the
information collection and their expected burdens.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 4, 2019.
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.
Alternatively, comments may be sent via email to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and
Budget, at the following address: oira_submissions@omb.eop.gov.
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. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its
full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tia Swain, Office of Administration,
Management Planning Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop TAD-
10, Washington, DC 20590 (202) 366-0354 or tia.swain@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
Public Law 104-13, Section 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised
at 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public
comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve
paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1),
1320.12. On July 2, 2019, FTA published a 60-day notice (84 FR 31657)
in the Federal Register soliciting comments on the ICR that the agency
was seeking OMB approval. FTA received one comment after issuing this
60-day notice. The comment was from the Michigan Department of
Transportation (MDOT) Docket #FTA-0008-0001. The comment states: ``MDOT
supports the continued collection of bus testing information by the
Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (LTI) with the
following concerns: (1) Timeliness of testing on new or updated bus
bodies and OEM vehicle chassis, test completion can take up to a year
or more in some instances; (2) Communication of testing delays to
recipients. Explanation of delays doesn't seem to be provided to bus
manufacturers or chassis OEMs; (3) Increased testing capacity. With the
increase in Federal emissions and fuel economy standards, OEMs are
continually introducing new engine and transmission combinations that
require new tests. Adding staff or opening additional test facilities
may help alleviate this issue. The LoNo test facilities at Ohio State
University and Auburn University may be an option to help assist in the
testing of traditional buses if allowed, which would shorten test
delays.'' FTA's responded by stating, ``FTA acknowledges that
improvements can be made in the application response process. In an
effort to address these issues, this information is working on a web-
based test form for bus testing determinations and approvals with the
purpose of not only improving request turn arounds, but increasing
transparency where submitters will be provided real-time updates with
the status of their applications. The purpose of the PRA is to provide
an estimate of time burdens associated with the preparation of a
determination and/or and approval request. The time burdens consider
all the technical and legal advisors involved in the process of
gathering information to prepare and submit an application.
Unfortunately, addressing the duration of tests, how many tests are
performed, and any modification to 49 CFR 665 is outside of the scope
of this document. We appreciate MDOT's comments and encourage to submit
any suggestions and/or recommended amendments following applicable
protocols established in 49 CFR 601, ``Organization, Functions, and
Procedures''. In addition, FTA will be hosting a Bus Maintenance and
Bus Testing Peer-to-Peer Exchange in October 2019, to engage the
vehicle manufacturers industry, encourage an open dialogue, and address
areas of improvement within the Bus Testing Program. Accordingly, DOT
announces that these information collection activities have been re-
evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C.
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or
disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day
notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also
60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30-day notice
informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords
the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication
to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
The summaries below describe the nature of the information
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by
the PRA.
Title: Bus Testing Program.
OMB Control Number: 2132-0550.
Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved information
collection.
Abstract: 49 U.S.C. Section 5318(e) provides that Federal funds
appropriated or otherwise made available under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53
[FTA funding] may not be obligated or expended for the acquisition of a
new bus model unless a bus of that model has been tested for
maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking
performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise
at a bus testing facility authorized under 49 U.S.C. Section 5318(a).
At this time, there is one active Bus Testing Center operated by
the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute of the
Pennsylvania State University (LTI). LTI operates and maintains the
Center under a cooperative agreement with FTA, and establishes and
collects fees for the testing of the vehicles at the facility. Two
additional bus testing facilities authorized to test low and no-
emission (LoNo) buses have been authorized by Congress. FTA is working
with Auburn University and The Ohio State University to establish those
facilities, which are not yet operational. The nature and quantity of
the information that must be collected to operate the Bus Testing
Program will not change significantly when these additional
[[Page 52932]]
centers become operational. Auburn and Ohio State separately received
appropriations to conduct testing of components for LoNo buses. Those
projects are separate from Bus Testing and FTA does not expect them to
affect the paperwork burden for the Bus Testing Program. Upon
completion of the testing of the vehicle at the Center with a passing
test score, a draft Bus Testing Report is provided to the manufacturer
of the new bus model. If the manufacturer approves the Report for
publication, the bus model becomes eligible for FTA funding. 49 CFR
665.7 requires a recipient of FTA funds to certify that a bus model has
been tested at the bus testing facility, that the bus model received a
passing score, and that the recipient has a copy of the applicable Bus
Testing Report(s) on a bus model before final acceptance of any buses
of that model. Recipients are strongly encouraged to review the Bus
Testing Report(s) relevant to a bus model before final acceptance and/
or selection of that bus model.
Respondents: Bus manufacturers and recipients of FTA funds.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 60 (40 testing
determination requirements requests at 32 hours each, 20 testing
authorization requests at 32 hours each, 16 tests scheduled at 10 hours
each, and 3 retest requests at 17 hours each).
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,131 hours.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Nadine Pembleton,
Director, Office of Management Planning.
[FR Doc. 2019-21545 Filed 10-2-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P