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

Michael Howell
Federal Highway Administration
20 July 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33538-33539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15186]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2017-0027]


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

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 19, 2017. 
We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by August 21, 2017.

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. 
All comments should include the Docket number FHWA-2017-0027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Bradley, 202-493-0564, 
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 
Real Estate Services, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    Title: FHWA Excellence in Right-of-Way Awards and Utility 
Relocation and Accommodation Awards.
    Background: In 1995, the Federal Highway Administration established 
the biennial Excellence in Right-of-Way Awards Program to recognize 
partners, projects, and processes that use FHWA funding sources to go 
beyond regulatory compliance and achieve right-of-way

[[Page 33539]]

excellence. Excellence in Right-of-Way awardees have contributed to 
outstanding innovations that enhance the right-of-way professional's 
ability to meet the challenges associated with acquiring real property 
for Federal-aid projects.
    Similarly, FHWA established the Excellence in Utility Relocation 
and Accommodation Awards Program to honor the use of innovative 
practices and outstanding achievements in reducing the cost or 
shortening the time required to accommodate or relocate utilities 
associated with highway improvement projects. The goal of the program 
is to showcase exemplary and innovative projects, programs, 
initiatives, and practices that successfully integrate the 
consideration of utilities in the planning, design, construction, and 
maintenance of transportation facilities.
    Award: Anyone can nominate a project, process, person or group that 
has used Federal Highway Administration funding sources to make an 
outstanding contribution to transportation and the right-of-way or 
utility fields. The nominator is responsible for submitting via email, 
fax, or mail an application form that summarizes the outstanding 
accomplishments of the entry. FHWA will use the collected information 
to evaluate, showcase, and enhance the public's knowledge on addressing 
right-of-way challenges on transportation projects and on relocating 
and accommodating utilities associated with highway improvement 
projects. Nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel of 
judges from varying backgrounds. It is anticipated that awards will be 
given every two years. The winners are presented plaques at an awards 
ceremony.
    Respondents: Anyone who has used Federal Highway funding sources in 
the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
    Frequency: The information will be collected biennially.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 6 hours per respondent per 
application.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: It is expected that the 
respondents will complete approximately 50 applications for an 
estimated total of 600 annual burden 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 11, 2017.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-15186 Filed 7-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P