Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP), 50312-50313 [2011-20506]
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50312
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices
contingent on the project being included in
the relevant planning documents, applicants
should demonstrate they can reasonably
expect to have the project included in such
planning documents by March 30, 2013. We
suggest the March 30 milestone since
applicants should demonstrate in their
project schedule that all additional,
necessary pre-construction steps if a project
element is for pre-construction activities, or
requirements before the total award is
obligated will be complete on or before June
30, 2013, and planning must be complete
before other pre-construction or other
activities can be completed. DOT is
suggesting these dates so that all the TIGER
Discretionary Grant funds will be obligated
in advance of the September 30, 2013,
statutory deadline, and that any unexpected
delays will not put TIGER Discretionary
Grant funds at risk of expiring before they
can be fully obligated. The applicant should
provide a schedule demonstrating when the
project will be added to the relevant planning
documents.
Environmental Approvals: Projects should
have received all environmental approvals,
including satisfaction of all Federal, State
and local requirements and completion of the
National Environmental Policy Act (‘‘NEPA’’)
process at the time the application is
submitted or should demonstrate, through
their project schedule, that receipt of NEPA
approval, and all additional, necessary preconstruction steps if a project element is for
pre-construction activities, or other approvals
can occur by June 30, 2013, so that the TIGER
Discretionary Grant funds will be fully
obligated in advance of the September 30,
2013, statutory deadline, and that any
unexpected delays will not put TIGER
Discretionary Grant funds at risk of expiring
before they can be fully obligated.
If the obligation of TIGER Discretionary
Grant funds for construction or other
activities is contingent on completion of
other approvals that can only take place after
the environmental approvals process, the
applicant should demonstrate, through their
project schedule, that they can reasonably
expect to obtain all environmental approvals
by March 30, 2013, or other date sufficiently
in advance of June 30, 2013. Like planning,
the environmental approvals must be
obtained prior to completing other preconstruction steps if a project element is for
pre-construction activities, or other activities.
We are suggesting the March 30 date for
environmental approvals since all preconstruction steps if a project element is for
pre-construction activities, or other activities
should be completed by June 30, 2013, so
that the TIGER Discretionary Grant funds
will be fully obligated in advance of the
September 30, 2013, statutory deadline. DOT
also wants to ensure that any unexpected
delays will not put TIGER Discretionary
Grant funds at risk of expiring before they
can be fully obligated, because it may be
difficult to complete environmental and
regulatory review as well as any other
necessary pre-construction steps if a project
element is for pre-construction activities, or
other activities that must be completed before
funds can be obligated for construction or
other activities that will fully obligate the
TIGER funding.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:37 Aug 11, 2011
Jkt 223001
To demonstrate that this suggested
milestone is achievable, applicants should
provide information about the anticipated
class of action, the budget for completing
NEPA, including hiring a consultant if
necessary, and a schedule that demonstrates
when NEPA will be complete. The schedule
should show how the suggested milestones
described in this section will be complied
with, and include any anticipated
coordination with Federal and State
regulatory agencies for permits and
approvals. The budget should demonstrate
how costs to complete NEPA factor into the
overall cost to complete the project. The
budget and schedule for completing NEPA
should be reasonable and be comparable to
a budget and schedule of a typical project of
the same type. The applicant should provide
evidence of support based on input during
the NEPA process from State and local
elected officials as well as the public.
Additionally, the applicant should provide
environmental studies or other documents
(preferably by way of a Web site link) that
describe in detail known potential project
impacts and possible mitigation for these
impacts. The applicant should supply
sufficient documentation for DOT to
adequately review the project’s NEPA status.
Right-of-Way and Design: If the obligation
of TIGER Discretionary Grant funds for
construction or other activities by an
operating administration may be contingent
on completion of right-of-way acquisition
and final design approval, applicants should
demonstrate, through their project schedule,
that they reasonably expect to have right-ofway and design completed, and completion
of any other needed pre-construction steps if
a project element is for pre-construction
activities, or other approvals by June 30,
2013, so that the TIGER Discretionary Grant
funds will be fully obligated in advance of or
by the September 30, 2013, statutory
deadline, and that any unexpected delays
will not put TIGER Discretionary Grant funds
at risk of expiring before they can be fully
obligated. If the obligation of TIGER
Discretionary Grant funds for construction or
other activities is contingent on the project
completing right-of-way acquisition and
design, and additional approvals contingent
on completion of right of way acquisition and
design, applicants should demonstrate,
through their project schedule, they can
reasonably expect to have right-of-way
acquisition and design completed, along with
the additional required approvals by June 30,
2013, so that the TIGER Discretionary Grant
funds will be fully obligated in advance of or
by the September 30, 2013, statutory
deadline, and that any unexpected delays
will not put TIGER Discretionary Grant funds
at risk of expiring before they can be fully
obligated. Applicants should submit a
reasonable schedule of when right-of-way (if
applicable), design, and any other required
approvals are expected to be obtained.
Applicants may expect that DOT may
obligate TIGER funds for right-of-way and
design completion only after planning and
environmental approvals are obtained.
Completion of Obligation: Applicants
should plan to have all necessary preconstruction or other approvals and activities
PO 00000
Frm 00147
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
completed by June 30, 2013, so that the
TIGER Discretionary Grant funds will be
fully obligated in advance of the September
30, 2013, statutory deadline, and that any
unexpected delays will not put TIGER
Discretionary Grant funds at risk of expiring
before they can be fully obligated. In some
instances, DOT may not obligate for
construction or other activities until all
planning and environmental approvals are
obtained and right-of-way and final design
are complete. If a project is selected for a
TIGER Discretionary Grant and the TIGER
Discretionary Grant funding will be used to
complete all of these activities, DOT may
obligate the funding in phases, in accordance
with the laws, regulations, and policies of the
operating administration that is
administering the grant.
*
*
*
*
*
Issued on: August 9, 2011.
Ray LaHood,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–20577 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Surface Transportation Environment
and Planning Cooperative Research
Program (STEP)
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Section 5207 of the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA–LU) established the
Surface Transportation Environment
and Planning Cooperative Research
Program (STEP). The FHWA anticipates
that the STEP or a similar program to
provide resources for national research
on issues related to planning,
environment, and realty will be
included in future surface
transportation legislation. In Fiscal Year
(FY) 2012, the FHWA expects to seek
partnerships that can leverage limited
research funding in the STEP with other
stakeholders and partners in order to
increase the total amount of resources
available to meet the Nation’s surface
transportation research needs. The
purpose of this notice is to announce
the STEP implementation strategy for
FY 2012 and to request suggested lines
of research for the FY 2012 STEP via the
STEP Web site at https://
www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm
in anticipation of future surface
transportation legislation.
DATES: Suggestions for lines of research
should be submitted to the STEP Web
site on or before November 10, 2011.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM
12AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 156 / Friday, August 12, 2011 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lucy Garliauskas, Director, Office of
Human Environment, (202) 366–2047,
Lucy.Garliauskas@dot.gov or Adam
Sleeter, Office of the Chief Counsel,
(202) 366–8839; Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this notice may
be downloaded from the Office of the
Federal Register’s home page at https://
www.archives.gov/ and the Government
Printing Office’s Web site at https://
www.access.gpo.gov/.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU)
(Pub. L. 109–59, Aug. 10, 2005),
established the Surface Transportation
Environment and Planning Cooperative
Research Program in section 507 of Title
23, United States Code. The FHWA
anticipates that the STEP or a similar
program to provide resources for
national research on issues related to
planning, environment, and realty will
be included in future surface
transportation legislation. The general
objective of the STEP is to improve
understanding of the complex
relationship between surface
transportation, planning, and the
environment.
The SAFETEA–LU provided $16.875
million per year for FY 2006–2009 to
implement this cooperative research
program. Due to obligation limitations,
rescissions, and congressional
designation of Title V Research in
SAFETEA–LU, on average $14.5 million
of the $16.875 million authorized was
available each fiscal year.
The STEP is the primary source of
funds for FHWA to conduct research
and develop tools and technologies to
advance the state of the practice
regarding national surface
transportation and environmental
decisionmaking. In FY 2012, the FHWA
expects to seek partnerships that can
leverage limited research funding in the
STEP with other stakeholders and
partners in order to increase the total
amount of resources available to meet
the nation’s surface transportation
research needs.
The FY 2012 STEP will support the
implementation of a national research
agenda that includes:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:37 Aug 11, 2011
Jkt 223001
(1) Conducting research to develop
climate change mitigation, adaptation
and livability strategies;
(2) Developing and/or supporting
accurate models and tools for evaluating
transportation measures and developing
indicators of economic, social, and
environmental performance of
transportation systems to facilitate
alternative analysis;
(3) Developing and deploying
research to address congestion
reduction efforts;
(4) Developing transportation safety
planning strategies for surface
transportation systems and
improvements;
(5) Improving planning, operation,
and management of surface
transportation systems and rights-ofway;
(6) Enhancing knowledge of strategies
to improve transportation in rural areas
and small communities;
(7) Strengthening and advancing
State/local and tribal capabilities
regarding surface transportation and the
environment;
(8) Improving transportation
decisionmaking and coordination across
international borders;
(9) Improving state of the practice
regarding the impact of transportation
on the environment;
(10) Conducting research to promote
environmental streamlining/
stewardship and sustainability;
(11) Disseminating research results
and advances in state of the practice
through peer exchanges, workshops,
conferences, etc;
(12) Meeting additional priorities as
determined by the Secretary; and
(13) Refining the scope and research
emphases through active outreach and
in consultation with stakeholders.
The FHWA is issuing this notice to:
(1) To announce the STEP
Implementation Strategy for the FY
2012 STEP in anticipation of future
surface transportation legislation, and
(2) to solicit comments on proposed
research activities to be undertaken in
the FY 2012 STEP via the STEP Web
site. The STEP Implementation Strategy
can be found at https://
www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/about_step/
strategy/. That Strategy updates
information on the graphs and charts
regarding historical planning and
environment research funding, and adds
information about the proposed FY 2012
STEP including proposed funding
levels, goals, and potential research
activities. We invite the public to visit
this Web site to obtain additional
information on the STEP, as well as
information on the process for
forwarding comments to the FHWA
PO 00000
Frm 00148
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50313
regarding the STEP implementation
plan. The URL for the STEP Web site is:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/.
The FHWA will use this Web site as
a major mechanism for informing the
public regarding the status of the STEP.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 507.
OMB Approval for Specific Forms,
Surveys, Questionnaires: Burden
Statement
This collection of information is
voluntary and will be used to identify
potential research for the creation of a
research plan for the FHWA STEP
Program. Public reporting burden is
estimated to average 30 minutes per
response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection
of information. No confidential
information will be collected; therefore,
no assurances of confidentiality will be
provided. Please note that an agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control
number. The OMB control number for
this collection is 2125–0627 (Expiration
6/30/14). Send comments regarding this
burden estimate or any other aspect of
this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden to:
Information Collection Clearance
Officer, Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Authority: 5 CFR 1320.8.
Issued on: August 8, 2011.
Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011–20506 Filed 8–11–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2011–0177]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Request for Comment;
Extension of an Information Collection:
Hours of Service (HOS) of Drivers
Regulations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12AUN1.SGM
12AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50312-50313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20506]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative
Research Program (STEP)
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established
the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative
Research Program (STEP). The FHWA anticipates that the STEP or a
similar program to provide resources for national research on issues
related to planning, environment, and realty will be included in future
surface transportation legislation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, the FHWA
expects to seek partnerships that can leverage limited research funding
in the STEP with other stakeholders and partners in order to increase
the total amount of resources available to meet the Nation's surface
transportation research needs. The purpose of this notice is to
announce the STEP implementation strategy for FY 2012 and to request
suggested lines of research for the FY 2012 STEP via the STEP Web site
at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm in anticipation of future
surface transportation legislation.
DATES: Suggestions for lines of research should be submitted to the
STEP Web site on or before November 10, 2011.
[[Page 50313]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Garliauskas, Director, Office of
Human Environment, (202) 366-2047, Lucy.Garliauskas@dot.gov or Adam
Sleeter, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-8839; Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this notice may be downloaded from the Office
of the Federal Register's home page at https://www.archives.gov/ and the
Government Printing Office's Web site at https://www.access.gpo.gov/.
Background
Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L.
109-59, Aug. 10, 2005), established the Surface Transportation
Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program in section 507 of
Title 23, United States Code. The FHWA anticipates that the STEP or a
similar program to provide resources for national research on issues
related to planning, environment, and realty will be included in future
surface transportation legislation. The general objective of the STEP
is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface
transportation, planning, and the environment.
The SAFETEA-LU provided $16.875 million per year for FY 2006-2009
to implement this cooperative research program. Due to obligation
limitations, rescissions, and congressional designation of Title V
Research in SAFETEA-LU, on average $14.5 million of the $16.875 million
authorized was available each fiscal year.
The STEP is the primary source of funds for FHWA to conduct
research and develop tools and technologies to advance the state of the
practice regarding national surface transportation and environmental
decisionmaking. In FY 2012, the FHWA expects to seek partnerships that
can leverage limited research funding in the STEP with other
stakeholders and partners in order to increase the total amount of
resources available to meet the nation's surface transportation
research needs.
The FY 2012 STEP will support the implementation of a national
research agenda that includes:
(1) Conducting research to develop climate change mitigation,
adaptation and livability strategies;
(2) Developing and/or supporting accurate models and tools for
evaluating transportation measures and developing indicators of
economic, social, and environmental performance of transportation
systems to facilitate alternative analysis;
(3) Developing and deploying research to address congestion
reduction efforts;
(4) Developing transportation safety planning strategies for
surface transportation systems and improvements;
(5) Improving planning, operation, and management of surface
transportation systems and rights-of- way;
(6) Enhancing knowledge of strategies to improve transportation in
rural areas and small communities;
(7) Strengthening and advancing State/local and tribal capabilities
regarding surface transportation and the environment;
(8) Improving transportation decisionmaking and coordination across
international borders;
(9) Improving state of the practice regarding the impact of
transportation on the environment;
(10) Conducting research to promote environmental streamlining/
stewardship and sustainability;
(11) Disseminating research results and advances in state of the
practice through peer exchanges, workshops, conferences, etc;
(12) Meeting additional priorities as determined by the Secretary;
and
(13) Refining the scope and research emphases through active
outreach and in consultation with stakeholders.
The FHWA is issuing this notice to: (1) To announce the STEP
Implementation Strategy for the FY 2012 STEP in anticipation of future
surface transportation legislation, and (2) to solicit comments on
proposed research activities to be undertaken in the FY 2012 STEP via
the STEP Web site. The STEP Implementation Strategy can be found at
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/about_step/strategy/. That Strategy
updates information on the graphs and charts regarding historical
planning and environment research funding, and adds information about
the proposed FY 2012 STEP including proposed funding levels, goals, and
potential research activities. We invite the public to visit this Web
site to obtain additional information on the STEP, as well as
information on the process for forwarding comments to the FHWA
regarding the STEP implementation plan. The URL for the STEP Web site
is: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/.
The FHWA will use this Web site as a major mechanism for informing
the public regarding the status of the STEP.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 507.
OMB Approval for Specific Forms, Surveys, Questionnaires: Burden
Statement
This collection of information is voluntary and will be used to
identify potential research for the creation of a research plan for the
FHWA STEP Program. Public reporting burden is estimated to average 30
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. No
confidential information will be collected; therefore, no assurances of
confidentiality will be provided. Please note that an agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number
for this collection is 2125-0627 (Expiration 6/30/14). Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection
of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to:
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Authority: 5 CFR 1320.8.
Issued on: August 8, 2011.
Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-20506 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
