2011-31992. Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Renewal of Two Previously Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew two information collections, which are summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on October 11, 2010. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Please submit comments by January 12, 2012.

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. 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. All comments should include the Docket number FHWA-2011-0126.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title1: A Guide to Reporting Highway Statistics.

OMB Control Number: 2125-0032.

Abstract: A Guide to Reporting Highway Statistics provides for the collection of information by describing policies and procedures for assembling highway related data from the existing files of State agencies. The data includes motor-vehicle registration and fees, motor-fuel use and taxation, driver licensing, and highway taxation and finance. Federal, State, and local governments use the data for transportation policy discussions and decisions. Motor-fuel data are used in attributing receipts to the Highway Trust Fund and subsequently in the apportionment formula that are used to distribute Federal-aid Highway Funds. The data are published annually in the FHWA's Highway Statistics. Information from Highway Statistics is used in the joint FHWA and Federal Transit Administration required biennial report to Congress, Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit: Conditions and Performance, which contrasts present status to future investment needs.

Respondents: State and local governments of the 50 States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: The estimated average reporting burden per response for the annual collection and processing of the data is 825 hours for each of the States (including local governments), the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden for all respondents is 42,900 hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Ralph Erickson, [phone], Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Policy, Office of Highway Policy Information, Highway Funding and Motor Fuels Division (HPPI-10), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Title 2: Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS).

OMB Control Number: 2125-0028.

Abstract: The HPMS data that is collected is used for management decisions that affect transportation, including estimates of the Nation's future highway needs and assessments of highway system performance. The information is used by the FHWA to develop and implement legislation and by State and Federal transportation officials to adequately plan, design, and administer effective, safe, and efficient transportation systems. This data is essential to the FHWA and Congress in evaluating the effectiveness of the Federal-aid highway program. The HPMS also provides miles, lane-miles and travel components of the Federal-aid Highway Fund apportionment formulae. The data that is required by the HPMS has recently been reassessed and streamlined by the FHWA.

Respondents: State governments of the 50 States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: The estimated average burden per response for the annual collection and processing of the HPMS data is 1,800 hours for each State, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden for all respondents is 93,600 hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert Rozycki, [phone], Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Systems Performance (HPPI-20), Office of Highway Policy Information, Office of Policy & Governmental Affairs, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Public Comments Invited

You are asked to comment on any aspect of these information collections, including: (1) Whether the proposed collections are 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 burdens could be minimized, including 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 these information collections.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on December 6, 2011.

Cynthia Thornton,

Acting Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.