[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45694-45695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22969]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-97-2800]
Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an Expired Information
Collection; Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3051, 3506(c)(2)(A)), the FHWA is requesting public comment on
its intent to ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to
reinstate the expired information collection required by the Motor
Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). That information consists of
Basic and Special Grant preparation, and that which documents the
results of driver/vehicle inspections performed by the States.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 27, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Signed, written comments should refer to the docket number
that appears at the top of this document and must be submitted to the
Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590-0001. All comments received will be available for
examination at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring
notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope or postcard.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James D. McCauley, Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590, Office of Motor Carrier Safety and
Technology, (202) 366-0133. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Availability. An electronic copy
of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable
communications software from the Federal Register electronic bulletin
board service (telephone number: 202-512-1661). Internet users may
reach the Federal Register's web page at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/
su__docs.
Title: MCSAP Grants.
OMB Number: 2125-0536.
Background: Sections 401-404 of the Surface Transportation
Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA) established a program of
[[Page 45695]]
financial assistance to the States' implementation of programs for the
enforcement of (a) Federal rules, regulations, standards, and orders
applicable to commercial motor vehicle safety and (b) compatible State
rules, regulations, standards, and orders. This grant-in-aid program is
known as the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). The
Intermodal Surface Transportation Safety Act of 1991 (ISTEA) added
programs, such as drug interdiction, traffic enforcement, and size and
weight activities to the core program established by the STAA.
Pursuant to the STAA, in order to qualify for a grant,
participating States must submit a plan which is adequate to promote
the objectives of Section 402 and meet a number of specified
requirements. Section 402(c) of the STAA requires that the Secretary,
on the basis of reports submitted by the State agency and the
Secretary's own inspections make a continuing evaluation of the manner
in which each State is carrying out its approved plan. This provision
is implemented in 49 CFR 350.19 and Appendix B, paragraph G.
In order for the Secretary (i.e. Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA]) to make this evaluation, it is necessary for the State to
provide and/or maintain information concerning past, present, and
future enforcement activity. The application by a State for a grant
must contain the information required by 49 CFR 350.9 or 350.11, 350.13
and 350.15. This information is necessary to enable the FHWA to
determine whether a State meets the statutory and administrative
criteria to be eligible for a grant. It is necessary that a State's
work activities and accomplishments be reported so that FHWA may
monitor and evaluate a State's progress under its approved plan and
make the determinations and decisions required of 49 CFR 350.19,
350.23, and 350.25.
The FHWA is required to determine whether any changes are needed in
a State's efforts to meet the intended objectives of its plans. In the
event of nonconformity to any approved plan and failure on the part of
a State to remedy deficiencies, the FHWA is required to take action to
cease Federal participation in the plan. The final rule in the Federal
Register, Vol. 49, No. 189 was published September 27, 1984. The rules
mandated by the ISTEA of 1991, which amend the STAA were published in
the Federal Register on Tuesday, September 8, 1992 (57 FR 174).
Respondents: State MCSAP lead agencies.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: Basic Grant preparation: 2,240
hours; Special Grant preparation: 1,120 hours; inspection data upload:
66,667 hours.
Interested parties are invited to send comments regarding any
aspect of these information collections, including, but not limited to:
(1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the FHWA, including whether the
information has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the estimated
burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
collected information; and (4) ways to minimize the collection burden
without reducing the quality of the collected information.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 315 and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued On: August 13, 1997.
George S. Moore,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-22969 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
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