Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection, 37651 [2013-14867]

Agencies

• Federal Highway Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 37651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14867]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2013-0033]


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: FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request 
the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new 
information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day 
public comment period on this information collection on March 22, 2013. 
We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by July 22, 2013.

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 
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. All comments should include the 
Docket number FHWA-2013-0033.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane D. Boone, business phone: 202-
493-3064, Nondestructive Evaluation Research Program, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 6300 Georgetown Pike, 
McLean, VA 22101. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Feasibility of Element-Level Bridge Inspection for Non-
National Highway System Bridges.
    Background: The ``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century 
Act'' or the ``MAP-21'' legislation, Section 1111, modified 23 U.S.C. 
144 to include a requirement for each State and appropriate Federal 
agency to report element level bridge inspection data to the Secretary, 
as each bridge is inspected, for all highway bridges on the National 
Highway System (NHS). The data is to be reported to the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of MAP-21. Additionally, MAP-21 included a requirement for a 
study on the benefits, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility of requiring 
element level data collection for bridges not on the NHS. The goal of 
this project shall be to complete a study of the benefits, cost-
effectiveness, and feasibility of requiring element-level bridge 
inspection data collection for bridges not on the National Highway 
System. A proposed methodology for completing this research shall be 
established through outreach to key stakeholders. The methodology is to 
also define the types of analyses to be used to evaluate benefits, 
cost-effectiveness and feasibility.

Analysis of Federal Register Notice Comments from the 60-Day Notice

    Comments on the March 22, 2013 Federal Register notice were 
received from thirty commenters. Twenty-two of the commenters 
represented county agencies, seven represented State Departments of 
Transportation, and one represented a Federal Agency. Seventeen County 
representative comments were from Iowa. Two commenters were from the 
same local agency in Michigan. Nearly all comments focused on the 
feasibility, benefits, and cost-effectiveness of element level bridge 
inspection data collection on non-National Highway System (non-NHS) 
bridges rather than on the actual data collection to be done as part of 
the legislatively mandated study. The purpose of the notice was to 
gather comments on the actual data collection to be done during the 
study. One commenter addressed the study data collection effort. The 
Iowa Department of Transportation stated that the study is necessary 
because the FHWA needs to be aware of the unique issues facing the 
various jurisdictions in the nation. They concurred in the estimate of 
two hours to respond to questions as part of the study.
    They recommended the use of a few standardized questions to help 
with clarity and usefulness of the data and noted that an on-line 
response to questions would expedite the collection and analysis of the 
data. The FHWA will consider these suggestions as it undertakes the 
study.
    The comments that offered opinions on the benefits, costs, and 
feasibility of element data collection on non-NHS bridges will be 
considered during the actual study.
    Respondents: State transportation agencies, Association of State 
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), National Association of 
County Engineers (NACE), toll authorities (state, local, private), FHWA 
Offices of Policy, Bridge Technology, and selected FHWA Divisions and 
other Federal bridge-owning agencies, and selected individual local 
agencies. Specific AASHTO subcommittees to be contacted include the 
Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures and the Subcommittee on 
Maintenance.
    Frequency: One time per participant.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: Approximately 2 hours to 
collect the necessary information and write a response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Approximately 200 hours.

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

    Issued on: June 17, 2013.
Michael Howell,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-14867 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
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