Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection, 51328 [2010-20538]

Agencies

• Federal Highway Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 51328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20538]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2010-0106]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments 
for a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) FHWA invites 
public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management 
and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection: SAFETEA-
LU Section 6009 Phase 2 Implementation Study Survey. The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments 
on this information collection was published on June 2, 2010. 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 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 
U.S. DOT's performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) 
ways for the U.S. DOT 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-2010-0106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Braegelmann, (202) 366-1701, 
FHWA Office of Project Development and Environmental Review, Federal 
Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: SAFETEA-LU Section 6009 Phase 2 Implementation Study Survey.
    Background: Section 6009 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) 
amended existing Section 4(f) legislation to simplify the process and 
approval of projects that have only de minimis impacts on lands 
protected by Section 4(f). SAFETEA-LU also required the U.S. DOT to 
promulgate regulations to clarify the factors to be considered and the 
standards to be applied in determining the prudence and feasibility of 
alternatives that avoid uses of Section 4(f) properties.
    As mandated in the legislation, U.S. DOT conducted a study on the 
implementation of new Section 4(f) provisions and its amendments 
(herein referred to as Phase I). During development of the Phase I 
study, U.S. DOT determined that sufficient information would not be 
available during Phase I to adequately evaluate the new prudent and 
feasible standards. Based on this fact, along with recommendations 
provided by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) on strengthening 
the Phase I findings, U.S. DOT is requesting approval to sponsor a one-
time survey on implementation of Section 6009 and its amendments. The 
U.S. DOT and John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center 
(Volpe Center) have designed the survey and will submit the survey plan 
and its associated information collection burden to OMB for approval. 
The information collection supports the U.S. DOT's Environmental 
Stewardship Strategic Goal. U.S. DOT will be better able to evaluate 
how SAFETEA-LU Section 6009 may improve environmental decision-making 
and expedite environmental reviews of transportation infrastructure 
projects.
    The survey will solicit information on: (1) The post-construction 
effectiveness of impact mitigation and avoidance commitments adopted as 
part of projects where a Section 4(f) de minimis impact finding or 
Section 4(f) finding under the revised Section 4(f) regulations was 
made; and (2) the processes developed to address the Section 4(f) de 
minimis impacts and revise the feasible and prudent standards and the 
efficiencies that may result. U.S. DOT will use the results to evaluate 
the effectiveness and any resulting efficiencies of SAFETEA-LU Section 
6009 and its amendments.
    Respondents: The proposed survey will be a web-based survey located 
on the Survey Monkey Web site (https://www.surveymonkey.com). Staff 
members at state and local transportation agencies and transportation 
authorities, State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), Federal, state 
and local agencies with jurisdiction over park, recreation areas, or 
wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and citizen/advocacy groups will be 
asked to complete the survey. U.S. DOT estimates that approximately 120 
participants (30 state DOTs, 15 transit and other transportation 
agencies, 25 SHPOs, 25 park and recreation officials, and 25 citizen 
groups) will complete the survey.
    Frequency: This is a one-time collection.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Approximately 20 minutes per 
participant for the one-time survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 40 hours.

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

    Issued On: August 11, 2010.
Juli Huynh,
Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-20538 Filed 8-18-10; 8:45 am]
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