Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection Publication: Federal Register Agency: Federal Highway Administration Byline: Jazmyne Lewis Date: 31 August 2023 Subjects: American Government , Roads & Highways

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 168 (Thursday, August 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60260-60261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18838]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2023-0026]


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 an 
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 October 2, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
0026 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: Spencer Stevens, 202-366-6221, Office 
of Planning, Environment and Realty Federal Highway Administration, 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Planning and Research Program Administration
    Background: Planning and Research Program Administration is covered 
under 23 CFR part 420. 23 CFR part 420 regulation includes 
administrative requirements and procedures for PL funds (23 U.S.C. 
104(b)(5)) provided for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to 
carry out metropolitan planning, and SPR funds (provided under the 
provisions of 23 U.S.C. 505) for State Departments of Transportation 
(State DOTs) to implement statewide transportation planning and 
research, development and technology (RD&T) work activities. Also, at a 
State DOT's option, other title 23 funds as identified in the 
definition of FHWA planning and research funds in 23 U.S.C. 505 and 23 
CFR 420.103 may be used to perform planning activities. Different from 
this request, the information collection requirement for work performed 
by MPOs is a joint Federal Highway Administration/Federal Transit 
Administration requirement, and is covered under OMB Control Number 
2132-0529.
    In accordance with government-wide grant management procedures, a 
grant application must be submitted for these funds. In addition, 
recipients must submit periodic progress and financial reports. The 
content and frequency of submission of progress and financial reports 
specified in 23 CFR part 420 is as specified in 2 CFR 200 grant 
management regulations. With the implementation of 2 CFR 200, the focus 
will be more on using data to determine the grant's achievement 
outcomes and less on accountability compliance. FHWA and the State DOTs 
are called upon to identify clear performance goals, indicators and 
milestones for the grants.
    This information collection supports the DOT's Strategic Objective 
of ``Organizational Excellence'' by providing an ongoing mechanism to 
review applications and approve Federal grants to States for their

[[Page 60261]]

transportation planning and research, development and technology work 
programs.
    Respondents: Each State, the District of Columbia and the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are required to provide information. The 
annual number of burden hours (professional and clerical staff) per 
respondent for preparation of work programs and progress and financial 
reports is estimated to be 720 (18 weeks x 40 hours per week). The 
total annual burden for all respondents is estimated to be 37,440 
burden hours (720 burden hours per respondent times 52 respondents).
    Frequency: This annual burden consists of staff time of each 
respondent for preparation of the work programs, and progress and 
financial reports. For those respondents that elect to use biennial 
work programs, the burden for preparation of work programs would be 
significantly less for the second year.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Professional staff time for 
preparation of work programs: 400 hours/respondent. Professional staff 
time for preparation of progress and financial reports: 120 hours/
respondent Clerical staff time: 200 hours/respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 720 hours/respondent x 52 
respondents = 37,400 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: August 28, 2023.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-18838 Filed 8-30-23; 8:45 am]
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