2010-17841. Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of request for extension of currently approved information collection.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection that 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 September 20, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 2010-0087 by any of the following methods:

Web Site: 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.

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. e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Jones, 202-366-5053, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, Office of Highway Policy Information, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Heavy Vehicle Travel Information System (HVTIS).

OMB Control Number: 2125-0587 .

Background: Title 49, United States Code, section 301, authorizes the DOT to collect statistical information relevant to domestic transportation. The FHWA is continuing to develop the HVTIS to house data that will enable analysis of the amount and nature of truck travel at the national and regional levels. The information will be used by the FHWA and other DOT agencies to evaluate changes in truck travel in order to assess impacts on highway safety; the role of travel in economic productivity; impacts of changes in truck travel on infrastructure condition; and maintenance of our Nation's mobility while protecting the human and natural environment. The increasing dependence on truck transport requires that data be available to better assess its overall contribution to the Nation's well-being. In conducting the data collection, the FHWA will be requesting that State Departments of Transportations (SDOTs) provide reporting of traffic volume, vehicle classification, and vehicle weight data which they collect as part of their existing traffic monitoring programs, including other sources such as local governments and traffic operations. States and local governments collect traffic volume, vehicle classification data, and vehicle weight data throughout the year using weigh-in-motion devices. The data should be representative of all public roads within State boundaries. The data will allow transportation professionals at the Federal, State, and metropolitan levels to make informed decisions about policies and plans.

Respondents: 52 SDOTs, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Frequency: Annually.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: Each of the SDOTs already collect traffic data for various purposes. In accordance with 23 U.S.C. 303, each State has a Traffic Monitoring System in place so the data collection burden relevant for this notice is the additional burden for each State to provide a copy of their traffic data using the record formats specified in the “Traffic Monitoring Guide”. Automation and online tools continue to be developed in support of the HVTIS and the capability now exists for online submission and validation of total volume data. The estimated average monthly burden is 3.5 hours for an annual burden of 42 hours. The annual reporting requirement is estimated to be 6 hours for the States and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The combined burden from the monthly and annual reports is 48 hours per respondent.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Total burden will be 2,496 hours.

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the U.S. DOT's performance, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the U.S. DOT's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (3) ways 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: July 15, 2010.

Judith Kane,

Acting Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.