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

Michael Howell
Federal Highway Administration
1 February 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 19 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 7765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01995]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2020-0027]


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

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
this notice announces that FHWA will submit the collection of 
information described below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day 
comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of 
information was published on June 19, 2017. The PRA submission 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
cost and burden.

DATES: Please submit comments by March 3, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID 2020-
0027 by any of the following methods:
    Website: 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 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-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: January 26, 2021.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-01995 Filed 1-29-21; 8:45 am]
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