[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46547-46548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23313]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. 97-2866]
Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend
the following currently approved information collection: Environmental
Assessments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted before November 3, 1997.
ADDRESSES: All written comments must refer to the docket number that
appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the United
States Department of Transportation, Central Dockets Office, Pub. L.
401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. All comments
received will be available for examination at the above address from
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must
include a self-addressed, stamped postcard/envelope.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Environmental Assessments--Mr. Joseph
Ossi, Office of Planning, (202) 366-1613.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested parties are invited to send
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection,
including: (1) The necessity and utility of the information collection
for the proper performance of the functions of the FTA; (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. Comments submitted in response to this notice
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of
this information collection.
Title: Environmental Assessments (OMB Number: 2132-0011).
Background: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1960,
as amended, and its implementing regulations, require that all Federal
agencies consider and document the social, economic, and environmental
impacts of proposed Federal actions. For FTA, approvals of grants to
State
[[Page 46548]]
and local public agencies and authorities for the construction of
transit facilities and for other transit activities are Federal actions
subject to this NEPA requirement. A method used by FTA for the
consideration and documentation of impacts is the Environmental
Assessment. The Environmental Assessment evaluates alternatives to the
proposed project and describes the probable adverse effects of the
proposed project and the alternatives considered, including land use
impacts, traffic impacts, noise, residential and business
displacements, impacts on parks, wetlands, and historic sites, and
other possible impacts. The Environmental Assessment is conducted by
the grant applicant, in cooperation with FTA. It allows FTA and the
grant applicant, prior to a decision to proceed with the grant, in the
case of FTA, or with the project itself, in the case of the transit
authority seeking FTA grants funds, to assess the environmental
consequences of proposed transit projects and alternative, less costly
or less harmful methods for achieving project objectives. The
Environmental Assessment also provides opportunities for public
involvement and coordination with other interested government agencies.
When it is completed, it includes a detailed description of the project
alternative for which the grant funds will be provided, a description
that includes any measures that have been incorporated into the project
to reduce environmental harm and adverse impacts on the surrounding
community.
Respondents: State and local government agencies and authorities
seeking FTA grants.
Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: An average of 120 hours for
each Environmental Assessment. There are an average of 60 such
assessments per year.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 7,200 hours.
Frequency: Annual.
Issued: August 28, 1997.
Gordon J. Linton,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-23313 Filed 9-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
