E7-18297. Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection

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) to renew an information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on June 27, 2007. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Please submit comments by October 18, 2007.

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-2007-29219.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gloria Williams, 202-366-5032, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Policy and Governmental Affairs, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Certification of Enforcement of the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.

OMB Control #: 2125-0541.

Background: Title 23 United States Code, Section 141(c), provides that a State's apportionment of funds under 23 U.S.C. 104(b) (5) shall be reduced in an amount up to 25 percent of the amount to be apportioned during any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1984, if vehicles subject to the Federal heavy vehicle use tax are lawfully registered in the State without having presented proof of payment of the tax. The annual certification by the State Governor or designated official regarding the collection of the heavy vehicle use tax serves as the FHWA's primary means of determining State compliance. The FHWA has determined that an annual certification of compliance by each State is the least obtrusive means of administering the provisions of the legislative mandate. In addition, States are required to retain for 1 year Schedule 1, IRS Form 2290, Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Return (or other suitable alternative provided by regulation). The FHWA conducts compliance reviews at least once every 3 years to determine if the annual certification is adequate to ensure effective administration of 23 U.S.C. 141(c).

Respondents: 50 State Transportation Departments, and the District of Columbia for a total of 51 respondents.

Frequency: Annually.

Estimated Average Annual Burden per Response: The average burden to submit the certification and to retain required records is 12 hours per respondent.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Total estimated average annual burden is 612 hours.

Electronic Access: Internet users may access all comments received by the U.S. DOT Dockets by using the universal resource locator (URL): http://dms.dot.gov, 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Please follow the instructions online for more information and help.

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

Issued on: September 11, 2007.

James R. Kabel,

Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.