Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 46800-46802 [2012-19177]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
46800
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2012 / Notices
applicants first and then to Expanded
CVISN applicants. States must provide
a match of 50 percent. CVISN grant
applications must be submitted
electronically through grants.gov (https://
www.grants.gov).
Application Information for FY 2013
Grants: General information about the
FMCSA grant programs is available in
the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) which can be found
on the internet at https://www.cfda.gov.
To apply for funding, applicants must
register with grants.gov at https://
www.grants.gov/applicants/
get_registered.jsp and submit an
application in accordance with
instructions provided. Because the
registration and certification process for
grants.gov requires several steps, firsttime applicants are strongly encouraged
to begin the process well in advance of
the application deadline.
Evaluation Factors: The below
evaluation factors will be used in
reviewing the applications for all
FMCSA discretionary grants. Additional
factors may be included in each NOFA.
These factors are:
(1) Prior performance (completion of
identified programs and goals per the
project plan submitted under previous
grants awarded to the applicant);
(2) Effective Use of Prior Grants
(timely use of available funds in
previous awards);
(3) Safety and Cost Effectiveness
(expected impact on safety relative to
the investment of grant funds; where
appropriate, cost per unit was
calculated and compared with national
averages to determine effectiveness; in
other areas, proposed costs are
compared with historical information to
confirm reasonableness);
(4) Applicability to announced
priorities (grant applications that
specifically address these issues are
given priority consideration);
(5) Ability of the applicant to support
the strategies and activities in the
proposal for the entire project period of
performance;
(6) Use of innovative approaches in
executing a project plan to address
identified safety issues;
(7) Feasibility of overall program
coordination and implementation based
upon the project plan; and
(8) Other objective and performancebased criteria that FMCSA deems
appropriate, such as consistency with
national priorities, overall program
balance, and geographic diversity.
Estimated Application Due Dates: For
the following grant programs, FMCSA
will consider funding complete
applications or plans submitted by the
following anticipated dates (final due
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:11 Aug 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
dates will be indicated in the grants.gov
funding opportunity notice):
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants—August
1, 2012.
Border Enforcement Grants—August 20,
2012.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants—September
5, 2012.
MCSAP High Priority Grants—September 17,
2012.
CDLPI Grants—November 5, 2012.
SaDIP Grants—November 13, 2012.
CVISN Grants—November 19, 2012.
PRISM Grants—December 3, 2012.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants—
December 10, 2012.
Applications submitted after due
dates may be considered on a case-bycase basis and are subject to availability
of funds.
Issued on: July 27, 2012.
William A. Quade,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement and
Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2012–19109 Filed 8–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA 2012–0006–N–8]
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration, Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
its implementing regulations, the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
hereby announces that it is seeking
renewal of the following currently
approved information collection
activities. Before submitting these
information collection requirements for
clearance by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting
public comment on specific aspects of
the activities identified below.
DATES: Comments must be received no
later than October 5, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
on any or all of the following proposed
activities by mail to either: Ms. Janet
Wylie, Office Planning and
Administration, RPD–3, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 20,
Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly
Toone, Office of Information
Technology, RAD–20, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave.
SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00120
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20590. Commenters requesting FRA to
acknowledge receipt of their respective
comments must include a self-addressed
stamped postcard stating, ‘‘Comments
on OMB control number 2130–0584.
Alternatively, comments may be
transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493–
6170, or via email to Ms. Wylie at
janet.wylie@dot.gov, or to Ms. Toone at
kim.toone@dot.gov. Please refer to the
assigned OMB control number in any
correspondence submitted. FRA will
summarize comments received in
response to this notice in a subsequent
notice and include them in its
information collection submission to
OMB for approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Janet Wylie, Office of Planning and
Administration, RPD–3, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 20
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202)
493–6353) or Ms. Kimberly Toone,
Office of Information Technology, RAD–
20, Federal Railroad Administration,
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35,
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202)
493–6132). (These telephone numbers
are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), Public Law 104–13, § 2, 109 Stat.
163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44
U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to
provide 60-days notice to the public for
comment on information collection
activities before seeking approval for
reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1),
1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically,
FRA invites interested respondents to
comment on the following summary of
proposed information collection
activities regarding (i) whether the
information collection activities are
necessary for FRA to properly execute
its functions, including whether the
activities will have practical utility; (ii)
the accuracy of FRA’s estimates of the
burden of the information collection
activities, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used to
determine the estimates; (iii) ways for
FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information being
collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to
minimize the burden of information
collection activities on the public by
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology (e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)(I)–(iv); 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1)(I)–(iv). FRA believes that
E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM
06AUN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2012 / Notices
soliciting public comment will promote
its efforts to reduce the administrative
and paperwork burdens associated with
the collection of information mandated
by Federal regulations. In summary,
FRA reasons that comments received
will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce
reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it
organizes information collection
requirements in a ‘‘user friendly’’ format
to improve the use of such information;
and (iii) accurately assess the resources
expended to retrieve and produce
information requested. See 44 U.S.C.
3501.
Below is a brief summary of the
information collection activities that
FRA will submit for clearance by OMB
as required under the PRA:
Title: Solicitation of Applications and
Notice of Funds Availability for HighSpeed Rail Corridors and Intercity
Passenger Rail Service-Capital
Assistance and Planning Grants
Program.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0584.
Status: Regular Review.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: After 60 years and more
than 1.8 trillion investment dollars, the
United States has developed the world’s
most advanced highway and aviation
systems. During this time, the nation
has made a relatively modest
investment in passenger rail systems. As
congestion on highways and in the air
continues to grow and environmental
costs mount, there is a growing need for
diverse transportation options.
In 2009, President Obama announced
a new vision to address the nation’s
transportation challenges. He called for
a collaborative effort among the Federal
government, States, railroads, and other
stakeholders to help transform
America’s transportation system. The
President’s vision seeks to create an
efficient high-speed passenger rail
system to connect inner-city
communities across America.
Developing a comprehensive highspeed intercity passenger rail network
requires a long-term commitment at
both the Federal and State levels. The
President has jump-started the process
with $2 billion provided by the
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Appropriations Act of 2010 (FY10
Appropriations), $8 billion provided by
the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA), $90 million
provided by the DOT Appropriations
Act of 2009 (FY09 Appropriations), and
approximately $1.8 million remaining
funds from the Transportation, Housing
and Urban Development, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:11 Aug 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
(FY08 Appropriations). Additional or
future funding for high-speed intercity
passenger rail may come from a variety
of sources, including annual
appropriations, one-time
appropriations, redistribution of
previously allocated or obligated funds,
or distribution of residual funding from
previous sources.
The Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA) allocates funds to applicants with
plans or programs that align with the
President’s key strategic transportation
goals: creating safe and efficient
transportation choices, building a
foundation for economic
competitiveness, promoting energy
efficiency and environmental quality,
and supporting interconnected livable
communities. Grants are being
administered for the following types of
projects:
• Service Development Programs—
Aimed at new high-speed rail corridor
services or substantial upgrades to
existing corridor services. Grants are
intended to fund a set of inter-related
projects that constitute a phase (or
geographic section) of a long-range
corridor plan.
• Individual Projects—Aimed at
discrete capital projects that will result
in service benefits or other tangible
improvements on a corridor. These
projects include completion of
preliminary engineering (PE), National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
documentation, final design (FD), and
construction, which can include
equipment procurements to provide
improved service and modernized fleets
throughout the country
• Planning Projects—Aimed at
helping to establish a pipeline of future
construction projects and corridor
development programs by completing
Service Development Plans and servicelevel environmental analysis for
corridors that are at an earlier stage of
the development process, as well as
State Rail Plans.
As the President outlined in his
March 20, 2009 memorandum,
‘‘Ensuring Responsible Spending of
Recovery Act Funds,’’ implementing
agencies are to ‘‘develop transparent,
merit-based selection criteria that will
guide their available discretion in
committing, obligating, or expending
funds under the Recovery Act.’’ In order
to achieve this goal, FRA created an
application process that contains clear
selection criteria and evaluation
procedures.
The Application Process
In essence, the application process is
grounded on three key principles: (1)
promoting collaboration and shared
PO 00000
Frm 00121
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46801
responsibility among the Federal
Government and States, groups of States
within corridor regions, and
governments, railroads and other private
entities; (2) managing, rather than
eliminating, risk through program
management structure, controls and
procedures that permit prudent but
effective investments; and (3) ensuring
early success while building a
sustainable program to meet near-term
economic recovery goals while
developing public consensus for a longterm program. FRA has issued interim
program guidance as well as detailed
instructions to clearly explain the
application process.
The applications include the standard
items, such as the SF 424, all ARRArelevant forms, and other necessary and
relevant technical documents that are
project-specific and voluntary.
In order to determine eligibility for
funds, FRA must solicit applications
and collect information from parties
interested in obtaining and utilizing
these funds for eligible projects.
Following allocation of funds to
applicants, FRA must collect
information from recipients in the form
of various required reports in order to
effectively monitor and track the
progress of all funded projects. This
process consists of:
• Tracking project activities and
progress against the approved
milestones in the Statement of Work
through quarterly submission of the
FRA Quarterly Progress Report.
• Comparing the rate of a project’s
actual expenditures to the planned
amounts in the approved project budget
through the quarterly submission of the
Federal Financial Report (SF–425).
• Tracking cumulative funds and job
creation through the quarterly
submission of the ARRA 1512(c) Report
for ARRA recipients.
• Capturing the cumulative activities
and achievements of the project, with
respect to objectives and milestones,
through the one-time submission of the
Final Performance Report.
This collection of information is
necessary in order to comply with the
funding agreements outlined in the
Notice of Grant Agreement and, for
ARRA recipients, satisfy legal
obligations identified in Section
1501(c).
Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.132,
FRA F 6180.133, FRA F 6180.134, FRA
F 6180.135, FRA F 6180.138, FRA F
6180.139, SF–425.
Affected Public: States and local
governments, government sponsored
authorities and corporations, railroads.
E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM
06AUN1
46802
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2012 / Notices
REPORTING BURDEN
Burden time per response
Total No. of response
32 hours—Service Development Programs .................................................................
32 hours—PE/NEPA Projects ......................................................................................
32 hours—FD/Construction Projects ............................................................................
32 hours—Planning Projects ........................................................................................
32 hours—Multi-State Planning Projects .....................................................................
2—Financial Report (SF–425) .....................................................................................
1—Quarterly Progress Report ......................................................................................
20—Final Performance Report ....................................................................................
80—Applications .......................................
122—Applications .....................................
211—Applications .....................................
70—Applications .......................................
4—Applications .........................................
150—Grants ..............................................
150—Grants ..............................................
150—Grants ..............................................
[FR Doc. 2012–19177 Filed 8–3–12; 8:45 am]
p.m. EDT, and on August 30, 2012, from
8 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT. A public
comment period will take place on
August 29, 2012 between 4:30 p.m. and
5 p.m. EDT. Written comments must be
received by August 24, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
the Archivists Room of the National
Archives Building at 700 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20408.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Drew Dawson, Director, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Office of
Emergency Medical Services, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., NTI–140,
Washington, DC 20590, telephone
number 202–366–9966; email
Drew.Dawson@dot.gov.
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Total Estimated Responses: 937.
Total Estimated Annual Burden:
20,384 hours.
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5
CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA
informs all interested parties that it may
not conduct or sponsor, and a
respondent is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 1,
2012.
Michael Logue,
Associate Administrator for Administration,
Federal Railroad Administration.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA–2012–0100]
National Emergency Medical Services
Advisory Council (NEMSAC); Notice of
Federal Advisory Committee Meeting
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Meeting Notice—National
Emergency Medical Services Advisory
Council.
AGENCY:
The NHTSA announces a
meeting of NEMSAC to be held in the
Metropolitan Washington, DC, area.
This notice announces the date, time,
and location of the meeting, which will
be open to the public. The purpose of
NEMSAC is to provide a nationally
recognized council of emergency
medical services representatives and
consumers to provide advice and
recommendations regarding Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) to DOT’s
NHTSA and to the Federal Interagency
Committee on EMS (FICEMS).
DATES: The meeting will be held on
August 29, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 5:30
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:11 Aug 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
Notice of
this meeting is given under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, Public Law
92–463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.).
The NEMSAC will meet on Wednesday
and Thursday, August 29–30, 2012, in
the Archivists Room of the National
Archives Building at 700 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20408.
Tentative Agenda of National EMS
Advisory Council Meeting, August 29–
30, 2012
The tentative agenda includes the
following:
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 (9 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. EDT)
(1) Opening Remarks.
(2) Briefing on Ethics and the Federal
Advisory Committee Act.
(3) Discussion on the Purpose,
Function, Bylaws and Code of Conduct
of NEMSAC.
(4) Overview of NHTSA, the Office of
EMS, FICEMS and Federal EMS
Programming.
(5) Update on Programs from the
NHTSA Office of EMS and FICEMS
Agencies.
(6) Review of Previous NEMSAC
Recommendations.
(7) Public Comment Period (4:30 p.m.
to 5 p.m. EDT).
(8) Business of the Council.
PO 00000
Frm 00122
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Total burden
hours
2,560
3,904
6,752
2,240
128
1,200
600
3,000
Thursday, August 30, 2012 (8 a.m. to 12
p.m. EDT)
(1) Discussion of New and Emerging
Issues.
(2) Discussion of NEMSAC Committee
Structure.
(3) Unfinished Business/Continued
Discussion from Previous Day.
(4) Next Steps and Adjourn.
Required Registration Information:
This meeting will be open to the public;
however, pre-registration is required to
comply with security procedures.
Picture I.D. must be provided to enter
the National Archives Building and it is
suggested that visitors arrive 20–30
minutes early in order to facilitate entry.
Please be aware that visitors to the
National Archives are subject to search
when entering and exiting the building
and must pass through a magnetometer.
Weapons of any kind are strictly
forbidden in the building unless
authorized through the performance of
the official duties of your employment
(i.e. law enforcement officer).
There will not be a teleconference
option for this meeting. Individuals
wishing to attend must register online at
www.regonline.com/
NEMSAC_August2012 no later than
August 24, 2012. Attendees should enter
the Archives Building at the Research
Entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Public Comment: Members of the
public who wish to make comments on
Wednesday, August 29, 2012, between
4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. EDT are requested
to register in advance. In order to allow
as many people as possible to speak,
speakers are requested to limit their
remarks to 5 minutes. Written
comments from members of the public
will be distributed to NEMSAC
members at the meeting and should
reach the NHTSA Office of EMS by
August 24, 2012. Written comments
may be submitted by either one of the
following methods: (1) You may submit
comments by email: nemsac@dot.gov or
(2) you may submit comments by fax:
(202) 366–7149.
A final agenda as well as meeting
materials will be available to the public
E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM
06AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46800-46802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19177]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA 2012-0006-N-8]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its
implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently
approved information collection activities. Before submitting these
information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on
specific aspects of the activities identified below.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than October 5, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following
proposed activities by mail to either: Ms. Janet Wylie, Office Planning
and Administration, RPD-3, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly
Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC
20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge receipt of their
respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard
stating, ``Comments on OMB control number 2130-0584. Alternatively,
comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6170, or via
email to Ms. Wylie at janet.wylie@dot.gov, or to Ms. Toone at
kim.toone@dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in
any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in
response to this notice in a subsequent notice and include them in its
information collection submission to OMB for approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Janet Wylie, Office of Planning
and Administration, RPD-3, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 20 Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202)
493-6353) or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-
20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail
Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132). (These
telephone numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
Public Law 104-13, Sec. 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised
at 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to provide 60-days notice to the public
for comment on information collection activities before seeking
approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A);
5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA
invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of
proposed information collection activities regarding (i) whether the
information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly
execute its functions, including whether the activities will have
practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of FRA's estimates of the burden
of the information collection activities, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used to determine the estimates; (iii) ways
for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of
information collection activities on the public by automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)-(iv); 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1)(I)-(iv). FRA believes that
[[Page 46801]]
soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to reduce the
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of
information mandated by Federal regulations. In summary, FRA reasons
that comments received will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce
reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it organizes information collection
requirements in a ``user friendly'' format to improve the use of such
information; and (iii) accurately assess the resources expended to
retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
Below is a brief summary of the information collection activities
that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
Title: Solicitation of Applications and Notice of Funds
Availability for High-Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail
Service-Capital Assistance and Planning Grants Program.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0584.
Status: Regular Review.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: After 60 years and more than 1.8 trillion investment
dollars, the United States has developed the world's most advanced
highway and aviation systems. During this time, the nation has made a
relatively modest investment in passenger rail systems. As congestion
on highways and in the air continues to grow and environmental costs
mount, there is a growing need for diverse transportation options.
In 2009, President Obama announced a new vision to address the
nation's transportation challenges. He called for a collaborative
effort among the Federal government, States, railroads, and other
stakeholders to help transform America's transportation system. The
President's vision seeks to create an efficient high-speed passenger
rail system to connect inner-city communities across America.
Developing a comprehensive high-speed intercity passenger rail
network requires a long-term commitment at both the Federal and State
levels. The President has jump-started the process with $2 billion
provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT) Appropriations Act
of 2010 (FY10 Appropriations), $8 billion provided by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), $90 million provided by the DOT
Appropriations Act of 2009 (FY09 Appropriations), and approximately
$1.8 million remaining funds from the Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 (FY08
Appropriations). Additional or future funding for high-speed intercity
passenger rail may come from a variety of sources, including annual
appropriations, one-time appropriations, redistribution of previously
allocated or obligated funds, or distribution of residual funding from
previous sources.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) allocates funds to
applicants with plans or programs that align with the President's key
strategic transportation goals: creating safe and efficient
transportation choices, building a foundation for economic
competitiveness, promoting energy efficiency and environmental quality,
and supporting interconnected livable communities. Grants are being
administered for the following types of projects:
Service Development Programs--Aimed at new high-speed rail
corridor services or substantial upgrades to existing corridor
services. Grants are intended to fund a set of inter-related projects
that constitute a phase (or geographic section) of a long-range
corridor plan.
Individual Projects--Aimed at discrete capital projects
that will result in service benefits or other tangible improvements on
a corridor. These projects include completion of preliminary
engineering (PE), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
documentation, final design (FD), and construction, which can include
equipment procurements to provide improved service and modernized
fleets throughout the country
Planning Projects--Aimed at helping to establish a
pipeline of future construction projects and corridor development
programs by completing Service Development Plans and service-level
environmental analysis for corridors that are at an earlier stage of
the development process, as well as State Rail Plans.
As the President outlined in his March 20, 2009 memorandum,
``Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds,'' implementing
agencies are to ``develop transparent, merit-based selection criteria
that will guide their available discretion in committing, obligating,
or expending funds under the Recovery Act.'' In order to achieve this
goal, FRA created an application process that contains clear selection
criteria and evaluation procedures.
The Application Process
In essence, the application process is grounded on three key
principles: (1) promoting collaboration and shared responsibility among
the Federal Government and States, groups of States within corridor
regions, and governments, railroads and other private entities; (2)
managing, rather than eliminating, risk through program management
structure, controls and procedures that permit prudent but effective
investments; and (3) ensuring early success while building a
sustainable program to meet near-term economic recovery goals while
developing public consensus for a long-term program. FRA has issued
interim program guidance as well as detailed instructions to clearly
explain the application process.
The applications include the standard items, such as the SF 424,
all ARRA-relevant forms, and other necessary and relevant technical
documents that are project-specific and voluntary.
In order to determine eligibility for funds, FRA must solicit
applications and collect information from parties interested in
obtaining and utilizing these funds for eligible projects.
Following allocation of funds to applicants, FRA must collect
information from recipients in the form of various required reports in
order to effectively monitor and track the progress of all funded
projects. This process consists of:
Tracking project activities and progress against the
approved milestones in the Statement of Work through quarterly
submission of the FRA Quarterly Progress Report.
Comparing the rate of a project's actual expenditures to
the planned amounts in the approved project budget through the
quarterly submission of the Federal Financial Report (SF-425).
Tracking cumulative funds and job creation through the
quarterly submission of the ARRA 1512(c) Report for ARRA recipients.
Capturing the cumulative activities and achievements of
the project, with respect to objectives and milestones, through the
one-time submission of the Final Performance Report.
This collection of information is necessary in order to comply with
the funding agreements outlined in the Notice of Grant Agreement and,
for ARRA recipients, satisfy legal obligations identified in Section
1501(c).
Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.132, FRA F 6180.133, FRA F 6180.134, FRA
F 6180.135, FRA F 6180.138, FRA F 6180.139, SF-425.
Affected Public: States and local governments, government sponsored
authorities and corporations, railroads.
[[Page 46802]]
Reporting Burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total No. of Total burden
Burden time per response response hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
32 hours--Service Development 80--Applications.... 2,560
Programs.
32 hours--PE/NEPA Projects........ 122--Applications... 3,904
32 hours--FD/Construction Projects 211--Applications... 6,752
32 hours--Planning Projects....... 70--Applications.... 2,240
32 hours--Multi-State Planning 4--Applications..... 128
Projects.
2--Financial Report (SF-425)...... 150--Grants......... 1,200
1--Quarterly Progress Report...... 150--Grants......... 600
20--Final Performance Report...... 150--Grants......... 3,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Estimated Responses: 937.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 20,384 hours.
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b),
1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA informs all interested parties that it may not
conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2012.
Michael Logue,
Associate Administrator for Administration, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-19177 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
