2013-14201. Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on March 22, 2013. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Please submit comments by July 17, 2013.

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-2013-0031.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bruce Bradley, 202-493-0564, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Real Estate Services, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: FHWA Excellence in Right-of-Way Awards and Utility Relocation and Accommodation Awards.

Background: In 1995, the Federal Highway Administration established the biennial Excellence in Right-of-Way Awards Program to recognize partners, projects, and processes that use FHWA funding sources to go beyond regulatory compliance and achieve right-of-way excellence. Excellence in Right-of-Way awardees have contributed to outstanding innovations that enhance the right-of-way professional's ability to meet the challenges associated with acquiring real property for Federal-aid projects.

Similarly, FHWA established the Excellence in Utility Relocation and Accommodation Awards Program to honor the use of innovative practices and outstanding achievements in reducing the cost or shortening the time required to accommodate or relocate utilities associated with highway improvement projects. The goal of the program is to showcase exemplary and innovative projects, programs, initiatives, and practices that successfully integrate the consideration of utilities in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of transportation facilities.

Award: Anyone can nominate a project, process, person or group that has used Federal Highway Administration funding sources to make an outstanding contribution to transportation and the right-of-way or utility fields. The nominator is responsible for submitting via email, fax, or mail an application form that summarizes the outstanding accomplishments of the entry. FHWA will use the collected information to evaluate, showcase, and enhance the public's knowledge on addressing right-of-way challenges on transportation projects and on relocating and accommodating utilities associated with highway improvement projects. Nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges from varying backgrounds. It is anticipated that awards will be given every two years. The winners are presented plaques at an awards ceremony.

Respondents: Anyone who has used Federal Highway funding sources in the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Frequency: The information will be collected biennially.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 6 hours per respondent per application.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: It is expected that the respondents will complete approximately 50 applications for an estimated total of 600 annual burden 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: June 11, 2013.

Michael Howell,

Information Collection Officer.