2018-11900. 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:

The 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 are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Please submit comments by August 3, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 2018-0021 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: [phone].

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:

Jim Sinnette, Office of Innovative Program Delivery, 202-366-1561, [e-mail], Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: FHWA Major Project Financial Plans and Project Management Plans.

Background: Major projects are defined in section 106(h) of title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), as projects receiving Federal financial assistance with an estimated total cost of $500,000,000, or other projects as may be identified by the Secretary. Major projects are typically large, complex projects designed to address major highway needs and require the investment of significant financial resources. Project sponsors of major projects are required to submit a project management plan and an annual financial plan to FHWA.

The preparation of the project management plan, as required by 23 U.S.C. 106(h)(2), ensures that clearly defined roles, responsibilities, procedures and processes are in effect to provide timely information to the project decisionmakers to effectively manage the scope, costs, schedules, quality of, and the Federal requirements applicable to, the project. The project management plan serves as a guide for implementing the major project and documents assumptions and decisions regarding communication, management processes, execution and overall project control.

The preparation of the annual financial plan, as required by 23 U.S.C. 106(h)(3), ensures that the necessary financial resources are identified, available, and monitored throughout the life of the project. An annual financial plan is a comprehensive document that reflects the project's scope, schedule, cost estimate, and funding structure to provide reasonable assurance that there will be sufficient funding available to implement and complete the entire project, or a fundable phase of the project, as planned.

Respondents: Approximately 100 project sponsors per year.

Frequency: The financial plan is submitted annually. The first financial plan is submitted prior to the authorization of Federal funds for construction and updates are submitted each year until construction completion.

The project management plan is first submitted prior to the start of construction and then updated as significant changes to the project occur during construction.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: Approximately 40 hours for the initial submittal of each plan and 20 hours for each update.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 20 initial plans and 80 plan updates are submitted each year. For a total of approximately, 2,400 hours each year.

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: May 29, 2018.

Michael Howell,

Information Collection officer.