03-5443. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. We published a Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on September 24, 2002. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Please submit comments by March 14, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Field Manual.

Abstract: The HPMS data that is collected is used for management decisions that affect transportation, such as estimates of future highway needs of the Nation and assessments of the 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 by providing miles, lane-miles and travel components of apportionment formulae. The data that is required by the HPMS is continually reassessed and streamlined.

Respondents: State governments of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the four territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, and Virgin Islands).

Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated average burden per response for the annual collection and processing of the HPMS data is 1,368 hours for the States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and 19 hours for each of the four territories. The estimated total annual burden for all respondents is 71,212 hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Rozycki, 202-366-5059, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Policy Service Business Unit, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Electronic Access: Internet users may access all comments received by the U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the universal resource locator (URL): http://dms.dot.gov. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions online for more information and help. An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office Electronic Bulletin Board Service at telephone number 202-512-1661. Internet users may reach the Federal Register's home page at http://www.nara.gov/​fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at http://www.access.gpo.gov/​nara.

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

Issued on: February 7, 2003.

James R. Kabel,

Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.