Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review, 46261 [05-15690]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 9, 2005 / Notices The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific daylight time (P.d.t.). A scoping meeting will be held specifically for governmental and public agencies on Thursday, September 8, 2005, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. P.d.t. in the same location as the public scoping meeting. Issued in Hawthorne, California on July 28, 2005. Mark A. McClardy, Manager, Airports Division, Western-Pacific Region, AWP–600. [FR Doc. 05–15650 Filed 8–8–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on October 21, 2004 (69 FR 61901). We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Please submit comments by September 8, 2005. ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Reginald Bessmer, (202) 366–2037, Office of Real Estate Services, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. VerDate jul<14>2003 15:52 Aug 08, 2005 Jkt 205001 Title: Evaluate the Effects of Appraisal Waivers. Abstract: The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (URA), provides that ‘‘real property shall be appraised before the initiation of negotiations, and that the owner, or the owner’s designated representative shall be given an opportunity to accompany the appraiser during the appraiser’s inspection of the property, except that the head of the lead agency may prescribe a procedure to waive the appraisal in cases involving the acquisition by sale or donation of property with a low fair market value.’’ The appraisal waiver policy is based on the premise that administrative costs, particularly appraisal costs, should not be a high proportion, or exceed the value of the actual real property to be acquired. The procedure to waive the appraisal is specified in 49 CFR 24.102(c) and allows agencies acquiring real property to ‘‘* * * determine that an appraisal is unnecessary because the valuation problem is uncomplicated and the fair market value is estimated at $2,500 or less, based on a review of available data.’’ The FHWA has previously expanded this policy by issuing a rule on January 4, 2005 that revised 49 CFR part 24, to allow the State Departments of Transportation, to establish an appraisal waiver threshold to a maximum of $10,000 and with an approval from the Federal agency increase the threshold up to a maximum of $25,000 provided certain conditions were applied. Prior to issuing the revised rule the FHWA had already expanded the appraisal waiver threshold through 49 CFR 24.7, Federal agency waiver of regulations, to allow State Departments of Transportation to request an increase in the threshold. Therefore, the FHWA will conduct a survey to determine the effectiveness and impact of its appraisal waiver policy on the acquisition of real property. The survey will assess whether the use of appraisal waivers is successful in: (1) Securing agreements with owners, (2) reducing the necessity for litigation (eminent domain), (3) providing for consistent treatment of owners, and (4) maintaining public confidence in Federal land acquisition practices. Also, the FHWA will seek to determine whether there are any impacts on the State DOTs’ operations from the use of the FHWA’s appraisal waiver procedures. The information will be evaluated and ‘‘best practices’’ will be identified. The information will be shared with agencies operating under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00130 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46261 URA for their use in developing and enhancing effective use of their appraisal waiver policies. Respondents: 50 State Departments of Transportation, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (Right-of-Way Department). Frequency: This one-time survey will be conducted in two parts. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The goal of part one is to obtain information from the 52 agencies indicated above. In order to clarify and expand on gathered information, the goal of part two is to conduct follow-up interviews with approximately 15 agencies. The estimated average burden for the initial survey is 3 hours per respondent. The follow-up interviews will require on average 1 hour to complete. The estimated total burden for this one time study is 171 hours. Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on: August 3, 2005. James R. Kabel, Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division. [FR Doc. 05–15690 Filed 8–8–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board Release of Waybill Data The Surface Transportation Board has received a request from Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium (WB973–7/25/2005) for permission to use certain data from the Board’s 2003 Carload Waybill Sample. A copy of the requests may be obtained from the Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, and Administration. The waybill sample contains confidential railroad and shipper data; therefore, if any parties object to these requests, they should file their objections with the Director of the Board’s Office of Economics, Environmental Analysis, and Administration within 14 calendar days of the date of this notice. The rules for release of waybill data are codified at 49 CFR 1244.9. Contact: Mac Frampton, (202) 565– 1541. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. 05–15727 Filed 8–8–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 46261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15690]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request 
described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and comment. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day public comment period on this information collection on October 
21, 2004 (69 FR 61901). We are required to publish this notice in the 
Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by September 8, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Reginald Bessmer, (202) 366-2037, 
Office of Real Estate Services, Federal Highway Administration, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Evaluate the Effects of Appraisal 
Waivers.
    Abstract: The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property 
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended (URA), provides that 
``real property shall be appraised before the initiation of 
negotiations, and that the owner, or the owner's designated 
representative shall be given an opportunity to accompany the appraiser 
during the appraiser's inspection of the property, except that the head 
of the lead agency may prescribe a procedure to waive the appraisal in 
cases involving the acquisition by sale or donation of property with a 
low fair market value.'' The appraisal waiver policy is based on the 
premise that administrative costs, particularly appraisal costs, should 
not be a high proportion, or exceed the value of the actual real 
property to be acquired. The procedure to waive the appraisal is 
specified in 49 CFR 24.102(c) and allows agencies acquiring real 
property to ``* * * determine that an appraisal is unnecessary because 
the valuation problem is uncomplicated and the fair market value is 
estimated at $2,500 or less, based on a review of available data.'' The 
FHWA has previously expanded this policy by issuing a rule on January 
4, 2005 that revised 49 CFR part 24, to allow the State Departments of 
Transportation, to establish an appraisal waiver threshold to a maximum 
of $10,000 and with an approval from the Federal agency increase the 
threshold up to a maximum of $25,000 provided certain conditions were 
applied. Prior to issuing the revised rule the FHWA had already 
expanded the appraisal waiver threshold through 49 CFR 24.7, Federal 
agency waiver of regulations, to allow State Departments of 
Transportation to request an increase in the threshold. Therefore, the 
FHWA will conduct a survey to determine the effectiveness and impact of 
its appraisal waiver policy on the acquisition of real property. The 
survey will assess whether the use of appraisal waivers is successful 
in: (1) Securing agreements with owners, (2) reducing the necessity for 
litigation (eminent domain), (3) providing for consistent treatment of 
owners, and (4) maintaining public confidence in Federal land 
acquisition practices. Also, the FHWA will seek to determine whether 
there are any impacts on the State DOTs' operations from the use of the 
FHWA's appraisal waiver procedures. The information will be evaluated 
and ``best practices'' will be identified. The information will be 
shared with agencies operating under URA for their use in developing 
and enhancing effective use of their appraisal waiver policies.
    Respondents: 50 State Departments of Transportation, the District 
of Columbia and Puerto Rico (Right-of-Way Department).
    Frequency: This one-time survey will be conducted in two parts.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The goal of part one is to 
obtain information from the 52 agencies indicated above. In order to 
clarify and expand on gathered information, the goal of part two is to 
conduct follow-up interviews with approximately 15 agencies. The 
estimated average burden for the initial survey is 3 hours per 
respondent. The follow-up interviews will require on average 1 hour to 
complete. The estimated total burden for this one time study is 171 
hours.

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

    Issued on: August 3, 2005.
James R. Kabel,
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 05-15690 Filed 8-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.