[Federal Register: August 31, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 167)]
[Notices]
[Page 44899-44900]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au09-133]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. 2009-0042]
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment
about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's
(OMB) approval to reinstate the following information collections:
(1) Bus Testing Program.
(2) Transit Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment
Projects.
The information collections involve our Bus Testing and Transit
Research Programs. The information to be collected for the Bus Testing
Program is necessary to ensure that buses have been tested at the Bus
Testing Center for maintainability, reliability, safety, performance,
structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions and noise. The
information to be collected for Transit Research, Development,
Demonstration and Deployment Projects is necessary to determine
eligibility of applicants and ensure mass transportation service at a
minimum cost. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal
Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Federal Register
with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on June
1, 2009.
DATES: Comments must be submitted before September 30, 2009. A comment
to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of
publication.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia L. Marion, Office of
[[Page 44900]]
Administration, Office of Management Planning, (202) 366-6680.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Bus Testing Program.
Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5323(c) provides that no federal funds that are
appropriated or made available after September 30, 1989, may be
obligated or expended for the acquisition of a new bus model (including
any model using alternative fuels) unless the bus has been tested at
the Bus Testing Center (Center) in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 49 U.S.C.
5318(a) further specifies that each new bus model is to be tested for
maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking
performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise.
The operator of the Bus Testing Center, the Thomas D. Larson
Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (LTI), has entered into a
cooperative agreement with FTA. LTI operates and maintains the Center,
and establishes and collects fees for the testing of the vehicles at
the facility. A test report is given to the manufacturer of the new bus
model after the vehicle has been tested at the Center. The bus
manufacturer certifies to an FTA grantee that the bus the grantee is
purchasing has been tested at the Center. Also, grantees who are
considering the purchase of a bus use this report to assist them in
making their purchasing decisions. LTI maintains a reference file for
all the test reports which are made available to the public.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 404 hours.
Title: 49 U.S.C. 5312(a) Transit Research, Development,
Demonstration and Deployment Projects.
Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5312(a) authorizes the Secretary of
Transportation to make grants or contracts for research, development,
demonstration and deployment projects, and evaluation of technology of
national significance to public transportation, that the Secretary
determines will improve mass transportation service or help
transportation service meet the total urban transportation needs at a
minimum cost. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the
Secretary is also authorized to request and receive appropriate
information from any source. As an example, FTA's United We Ride
Program is funded under the Transit Research Program. Research for the
United We Ride Program is being conducted to gather information on how
the objectives of Executive Order 13330 on Human Services
Transportation Coordination are being achieved.
The information collected is submitted as part of the application
for grants and cooperative agreements and is used to determine
eligibility of applicants. Collection of this information also provides
documentation that the applicants and recipients are meeting program
objectives and are complying with FTA Circular 6100.1B and other
Federal requirements.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 11,240 hours.
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.
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.
Issued on: August 26, 2009.
Ann M. Linnertz,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-20982 Filed 8-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P