Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Multiyear Plans, 74862-74864 [2016-25980]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Notices
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request, the military’s training and
licensing programs could be accepted as
SDLA programs; i.e., military licenses
could be treated as equivalent to a CDL.
The Advocates pointed out that the
current skills test exemption in § 383.77
requires applicants to provide evidence
that they were regularly employed
within the last 90 days in a military
position requiring the operation of a
CMV. Advocates expressed concern that
the Missouri DOR application did not
include a similar experience
requirement for ex-military personnel
seeking a knowledge test exemption.
Such a requirement should be included
if the Agency grants the application to
ensure that the knowledge obtained in
the military has not diminished over an
extended period of time. However,
Advocates argues that making this
exemption available to all 50 States and
the District of Columbia is a permanent
and material revision of Federal
regulations that must be done through
formal rulemaking allowing for review
and comment by the public, including
SDLAs.
V. FMCSA Response
FMCSA disagrees with the North
Dakota Department of Transportation
comments that this exemption should
not be granted until there are assurances
that military training in lieu of the State
knowledge tests meets the requirements
in 49 CFR 383.111. The training
provided by these specialized military
programs includes many hours of
classroom training (typically based on
FMCSA’s own regulations, including all
of the elements of § 383.111), practical
skills training, and on-the-road training,
followed by actual driving in support of
the military mission. There is no reason
to believe that military training is
deficient compared to the requirements
of § 383.111. FMCSA further disagrees
with the Minnesota Department of
Motor Vehicle Safety’s suggestion that
in lieu of granting this exemption
request, the military’s licensing and
training program should be accepted as
an SDLA program. Such an action
would first require extensive legal
analysis and would be very complex in
any case.
The limited exemption approved
today allows the States to waive the
CDL knowledge test but does not require
them to do so. The Agency expects few
SDLAs to participate due to a lack of
demand in their geographical areas and
the administrative burden involved.
However, because FMCSA cannot
predict which State SDLAs may want to
use this exemption, the Agency has
made it available to all States. SDLAs
that choose to participate will be able to
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17:43 Oct 26, 2016
Jkt 241001
establish their own administrative
procedures to implement the
exemption, e.g., policies for acceptable
documentation showing that the
applicant has received the required
military heavy-vehicle operation
training, and has been employed in the
past year in a position requiring such
duties.
Although Missouri used the term
‘‘veterans’’ in its application, to add
clarity and be consistent with similar
programs, we have expanded the
eligibility to include ‘‘current or former
members of the military services
(including Reserve and National Guard
units), who have been regularly
employed within the last year in a
military position that requires operation
of large trucks, and have received formal
military training for that duty.’’ This is
consistent with comments filed by
Advocates.
VI. FMCSA Decision
VII. Terms and Conditions
The following are the Terms and
Conditions of this exemption:
(1) SDLAs may, at their discretion,
issue CLP/CDLs to qualifying applicants
as described below, without these
applicants being required to complete
the knowledge test required by 49 CFR
383.71(a)(2)(ii).
(2) ‘‘Qualifying applicants’’ must:
(a) Be current or former members of
the military services (including Reserve
and National Guard units),
(b) Have been regularly employed
within the year prior to application in
a military position that requires
operation of large trucks, and
(c) Have received formal military
training for that duty.
Frm 00101
Fmt 4703
Issued on: October 20, 2016.
T.F. Scott Darling, III,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016–25965 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2016–0325]
Motor Carrier Safety Assistance
Program Multiyear Plans
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice: Request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Fixing America’s Surface
Transportation (FAST) Act requires the
Secretary to prescribe procedures for a
State to submit multiple-year plans for
the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance
Program (MCSAP) grants. FMCSA seeks
information to improve development
and implementation of multiple-year
plans.
SUMMARY:
FMCSA has evaluated Missouri DOR’s
application and the public comments
and decided to grant the exemption.
FMCSA agrees with the reasons for the
request made by the Missouri DOR. The
two primary reasons were that the
training provided by these specialized
military programs includes many hours
of classroom training, practical skills
training, and on-the-road training that
are essential for safe driving. In
addition, the hours of training in these
programs is in excess of the training
proposed in FMCSA’s own entry-level
driver training rule (81 FR 11944, March
7, 2016), and is comparable to the skills
needed to pass the AAMVA CDL test
model. FMCSA has concluded that the
exemption would likely achieve a level
of safety that is equivalent to or greater
than the level that would be achieved
absent such exemption, in accordance
with § 381.305(a).
PO 00000
(3) Participating SDLAs may establish
their own requirements and
administrative procedures for verifying
the eligibility of applicants.
Sfmt 4703
Responses to these questions
must be received on or before November
28, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
bearing the Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA–
2016–0325 using any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., ET, Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
Each submission must include the
Agency name and the docket number for
this notice. Note that DOT posts all
comments received without change to
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information included in a
comment. Please see the Privacy Act
heading below.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments, go to www.regulations.gov at
any time or visit Room W12–140 on the
DATES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2016 / Notices
ground level of the West Building, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The on-line FDMS is available
24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
If you want acknowledgment that we
received your comments, please include
a self-addressed, stamped envelope or
postcard or print the acknowledgement
page that appears after submitting
comments on-line.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 5
U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its
rulemaking process. DOT posts these
comments, without edit, including any
personal information the commenter
provides, to www.regulations.gov, as
described in the system of records
notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can
be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Thomas Liberatore, Chief, State
Programs Division, FMCSA, (202) 366–
3030 or by email at Thomas.Liberatore@
dot.gov. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m., E.T., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for
Comments
FMCSA encourages you to participate
by submitting comments and related
materials.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please
include the docket number for this
notice (FMCSA–2016–0325), indicate
the specific section of this document to
which each comment applies, and
provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation. You may submit your
comments and material online or by fax,
mail, or hand delivery, but please use
only one of these means. FMCSA
recommends that you include your
name and a mailing address, an email
address, or a phone number in the body
of your document so the Agency can
contact you if it has questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to
https://www.regulations.gov and put the
docket number, ‘‘FMCSA–2016–0325’’
in the ‘‘Keyword’’ box, and click
‘‘Search.’’ When the new screen
appears, click on ‘‘Comment Now!’’
button and type your comment into the
text box in the following screen. Choose
whether you are submitting your
comment as an individual or on behalf
of a third party and then submit. If you
submit your comments by mail or hand
delivery, submit them in an unbound
format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:43 Oct 26, 2016
Jkt 241001
suitable for copying and electronic
filing. If you submit comments by mail
and would like to know that they
reached the facility, please enclose a
stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope.
FMCSA will consider all comments
and material received during the
comment period and may change this
notice based on your comments.
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as
documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to
https://www.regulations.gov and insert
the docket number, ‘‘FMCSA–2016–
0325’’ in the ‘‘Keyword’’ box and click
‘‘Search.’’ Next, click ‘‘Open Docket
Folder’’ button and choose the
document listed to review. If you do not
have access to the Internet, you may
view the docket online by visiting the
Docket Management Facility in Room
W12–140 on the ground floor of the
DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Background
As prescribed in the FAST Act, the
goal of the MCSAP is to ensure that
there is a partnership to establish
programs to improve motor carrier,
commercial motor vehicle (CMV), and
driver safety to support a safe and
efficient surface transportation system.
MCSAP makes targeted investments to
promote CMV safety, including the
transportation of passengers and
hazardous materials. FMCSA
encourages the States and Territories to
invest in activities likely to maximize
reductions in the number and severity
of CMV crashes and fatalities resulting
from such crashes. This is accomplished
by adopting and enforcing effective
motor carrier, CMV, and driver safety
regulations and practices consistent
with Federal requirements, assessing
and improving statewide performance
by setting program goals, and meeting
performance standards, measures, and
benchmarks.
Since Fiscal Year (FY) 1983, the
Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), FMCSA’s predecessor agency,
or FMCSA have awarded MCSAP funds
annually to the States after submission
of a satisfactory Commercial Vehicle
Safety Plan (CVSP). Pursuant to FMCSA
regulation, CVSPs are due to the Agency
on August 1 of the fiscal year preceding
the requested funds.
Often safety initiatives can only be
properly evaluated after lengthy
implementation periods. The removal of
the annual CVSP requirement is
PO 00000
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74863
intended to provide States/Territories
with additional flexibility to continue
these initiatives for a longer period,
such that funding can be appropriate
requested and CMV crash reduction
benefits can be documented. In
addition, the use of multiple-year plans
will reduce the States’/Territories’
administrative burdens associated with
submitting the plan each year. With
implementation of multi-year plans, an
annual, full submission of the CVSP
will no longer be required. Only annual
data and budget updates might be
needed, depending on changes in the
States’/Territories’ operations and/or
annual MCSAP funding allocation.
It is noted that the period of
performance for MCSAP grants did not
change under the FAST Act, so MCSAP
funding will continue to be available to
the State/Territory for the fiscal year of
award and for the next fiscal year.
FMCSA codified the FAST Act
changes to remove the annual
requirements for the plan in the final
rule titled, ‘‘Amendments to Implement
Grants Provisions of the Fixing
America’s Surface Transportation Act.’’
This rule was published in the Federal
Register on October 14, 2016 [81 FR
71002].
Additionally, the FAST Act requires
that FMCSA publish each approved
State/Territory multiple-year plan, and
each annual update thereto, on a
publically accessible Internet Web site
of the Department of Transportation not
later than 30 days after the date the
Secretary approves the plan or update.
49 U.S.C. 311029(c)(3).
Questions
To assist FMCSA in developing the
information technology system, form,
and procedures for submission of a
multiple-year plan, FMCSA requests
information primarily from the MCSAP
agencies responsible for developing and
submitting the plan in response to the
following questions:
1. How many years should a multiyear plan cover (i.e., 2 years, 3 years, 5
years, etc.)? Please explain and provide
a rationale for the specific length of time
between full plans.
2. Should the length (e.g., 2 years, 3
years, etc.) of a multi-year plan be fixed
for all States/Territories or should
States/Territories be able to vary the
length? Please explain.
3. How many years long is the State’s
Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)?
Should the CVSP be aligned with length
of the SHSP? Please explain.
4. Can your State/Territory provide
complete and accurate data to support a
performance-based, multi-year plan? If
so, how many years?
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5. What data elements, certifications,
and documents required under 49 CFR
part 350 should be revised from or
added to the current CVSP format to
capture multiple years (e.g., State
certification, etc.)? Please explain how
they should be revised.
6. Would your State/Territory be
confident submitting a multi-year plan
knowing that FMCSA’s program
authorizations (i.e., U.S. Congressional
legislation that continues one or more
programs) are expiring in the next year?
Two Years? If so or if not, please
explain.
7. Should a State/Territory be
required to submit a full application on
Grants.gov only once for a multi-year
plan or annually? Please explain.
8. Should FMCSA institute the multiyear CVSP at one time for all States/
Territories, or is a phased-in approach,
with a proportionate number of States
submitting such plans over the time
period of the multi-year plan (e.g., half
of States over a two-year plan, a third
of States for a three-year plan, etc.), be
a more advantageous implementation
method? Please explain.
9. Are there other factors, concerns
and/or elements that FMCSA should
consider in the implementation of
multi-year plans? Please provide
specifics regarding these additional
considerations.
10. In moving to a multi-year CVSP
with annual updates, in order to
enhance usability of the electronic
CVSP (eCVSP) application, what
additional features should FMCSA add?
Please be specific in providing
recommendations for additional
features.
11. FMCSA is considering requiring
certain CVSP data fields to be validated
or updated annually. Examples of such
data fields include prior-year activity
objectives, current-year activity goals,
current-year spending plans, etc. What
additional data fields do you believe
should be updated annually and why?
12. Should the annual update be a
mechanism within the eCVSP tool’s
multi-year CVSP or a completely
separate module with the eCVSP tool?
Please explain.
13. What data elements and
documents should be revised from, or
added to, the current CVSP format to
capture the annual update? Please
explain how they should be revised.
14. Should the FMCSA require States/
Territories to provide detailed spending
plans or only require grantees to
estimate their costs utilizing the SF–
424A budget categories for the multiyear plan and annual update in the
eCVSP tool? Please explain how your
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17:43 Oct 26, 2016
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preference would enhance the CVSP
planning process.
After consideration of the information
received in response to this notice,
FMCSA will prescribe the procedures
required by the FAST Act through a
future Federal Register notice.
Issued on: October 20, 2016.
T.F. Scott Darling, III,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016–25980 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket Number FRA–2016–0098]
Notice of Application for Approval of
Discontinuance or Modification of a
Railroad Signal System
In accordance with part 235 of Title
49 Code of Federal Regulations and 49
U.S.C. 20502(a), this document provides
the public notice that by a document
dated October 3, 2016, CSX
Transportation (CSX) petitioned the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
seeking approval for the discontinuance
or modification of a signal system. FRA
assigned the petition Docket Number
FRA–2016–0098.
Applicant: CSX Transportation, Mr.
Jody Cox, Chief Engineer,
Communications & Signals, 500 Water
Street, Speed Code J–350,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
CSX proposes to retire CSX rules for
Control Point (CP) 511, Traffic Control
(TC) 510, and Yard Limit (YL–S) 508 on
all tracks and operate under Rule 502,
Other Than Main Track, between
Milepost (MP) CA–664.9 and RH West
MP BB–4.7, on the Cincinnati Terminal
Subdivision, Louisville Division,
Cincinnati, OH.
All existing power switches would
remain in place, controlled by the yard
master, and all existing signals would be
retired and replaced with switch
position indicators. In support of its
request, CSX indicates the signal
system, CSX rules TC–510 and YL–S
508, is no longer needed for present-day
operation.
A copy of the petition, as well as any
written communications concerning the
petition, is available for review online at
www.regulations.gov and in person at
the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
(DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590. The Docket
Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
PO 00000
Frm 00103
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
Interested parties are invited to
participate in these proceedings by
submitting written views, data, or
comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in
connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a
hearing. If any interested party desires
an opportunity for oral comment, they
should notify FRA, in writing, before
the end of the comment period and
specify the basis for their request.
All communications concerning these
proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number and may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• Web site: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Operations Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal Holidays.
Communications received by
December 12, 2016 will be considered
by FRA before final action is taken.
Comments received after that date will
be considered as far as practicable.
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of any written
communications and comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the document, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). In
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT
solicits comments from the public to
better inform its processes. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including
any personal information the
commenter provides, to
www.regulations.gov as described in the
system of records notice (DOT/ALL–14
FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy. See also https://
www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice for
the privacy notice of regulations.gov.
Robert C. Lauby,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,
Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–25975 Filed 10–26–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74862-74864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25980]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0325]
Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Multiyear Plans
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice: Request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act
requires the Secretary to prescribe procedures for a State to submit
multiple-year plans for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
(MCSAP) grants. FMCSA seeks information to improve development and
implementation of multiple-year plans.
DATES: Responses to these questions must be received on or before
November 28, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2016-0325 using any of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number
for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments received without
change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or visit Room W12-140
on the
[[Page 74863]]
ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The on-line FDMS is available 24 hours each
day, 365 days each year. If you want acknowledgment that we received
your comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or
postcard or print the acknowledgement page that appears after
submitting comments on-line.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Liberatore, Chief, State
Programs Division, FMCSA, (202) 366-3030 or by email at
Thomas.Liberatore@dot.gov. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and
related materials.
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
notice (FMCSA-2016-0325), indicate the specific section of this
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material
online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of
these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing
address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your
document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov and
put the docket number, ``FMCSA-2016-0325'' in the ``Keyword'' box, and
click ``Search.'' When the new screen appears, click on ``Comment
Now!'' button and type your comment into the text box in the following
screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual
or on behalf of a third party and then submit. If you submit your
comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic
filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they
reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard
or envelope.
FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the
comment period and may change this notice based on your comments.
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov and
insert the docket number, ``FMCSA-2016-0325'' in the ``Keyword'' box
and click ``Search.'' Next, click ``Open Docket Folder'' button and
choose the document listed to review. If you do not have access to the
Internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket
Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the DOT West
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Background
As prescribed in the FAST Act, the goal of the MCSAP is to ensure
that there is a partnership to establish programs to improve motor
carrier, commercial motor vehicle (CMV), and driver safety to support a
safe and efficient surface transportation system. MCSAP makes targeted
investments to promote CMV safety, including the transportation of
passengers and hazardous materials. FMCSA encourages the States and
Territories to invest in activities likely to maximize reductions in
the number and severity of CMV crashes and fatalities resulting from
such crashes. This is accomplished by adopting and enforcing effective
motor carrier, CMV, and driver safety regulations and practices
consistent with Federal requirements, assessing and improving statewide
performance by setting program goals, and meeting performance
standards, measures, and benchmarks.
Since Fiscal Year (FY) 1983, the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), FMCSA's predecessor agency, or FMCSA have awarded MCSAP funds
annually to the States after submission of a satisfactory Commercial
Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP). Pursuant to FMCSA regulation, CVSPs are due
to the Agency on August 1 of the fiscal year preceding the requested
funds.
Often safety initiatives can only be properly evaluated after
lengthy implementation periods. The removal of the annual CVSP
requirement is intended to provide States/Territories with additional
flexibility to continue these initiatives for a longer period, such
that funding can be appropriate requested and CMV crash reduction
benefits can be documented. In addition, the use of multiple-year plans
will reduce the States'/Territories' administrative burdens associated
with submitting the plan each year. With implementation of multi-year
plans, an annual, full submission of the CVSP will no longer be
required. Only annual data and budget updates might be needed,
depending on changes in the States'/Territories' operations and/or
annual MCSAP funding allocation.
It is noted that the period of performance for MCSAP grants did not
change under the FAST Act, so MCSAP funding will continue to be
available to the State/Territory for the fiscal year of award and for
the next fiscal year.
FMCSA codified the FAST Act changes to remove the annual
requirements for the plan in the final rule titled, ``Amendments to
Implement Grants Provisions of the Fixing America's Surface
Transportation Act.'' This rule was published in the Federal Register
on October 14, 2016 [81 FR 71002].
Additionally, the FAST Act requires that FMCSA publish each
approved State/Territory multiple-year plan, and each annual update
thereto, on a publically accessible Internet Web site of the Department
of Transportation not later than 30 days after the date the Secretary
approves the plan or update. 49 U.S.C. 311029(c)(3).
Questions
To assist FMCSA in developing the information technology system,
form, and procedures for submission of a multiple-year plan, FMCSA
requests information primarily from the MCSAP agencies responsible for
developing and submitting the plan in response to the following
questions:
1. How many years should a multi-year plan cover (i.e., 2 years, 3
years, 5 years, etc.)? Please explain and provide a rationale for the
specific length of time between full plans.
2. Should the length (e.g., 2 years, 3 years, etc.) of a multi-year
plan be fixed for all States/Territories or should States/Territories
be able to vary the length? Please explain.
3. How many years long is the State's Strategic Highway Safety Plan
(SHSP)? Should the CVSP be aligned with length of the SHSP? Please
explain.
4. Can your State/Territory provide complete and accurate data to
support a performance-based, multi-year plan? If so, how many years?
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5. What data elements, certifications, and documents required under
49 CFR part 350 should be revised from or added to the current CVSP
format to capture multiple years (e.g., State certification, etc.)?
Please explain how they should be revised.
6. Would your State/Territory be confident submitting a multi-year
plan knowing that FMCSA's program authorizations (i.e., U.S.
Congressional legislation that continues one or more programs) are
expiring in the next year? Two Years? If so or if not, please explain.
7. Should a State/Territory be required to submit a full
application on Grants.gov only once for a multi-year plan or annually?
Please explain.
8. Should FMCSA institute the multi-year CVSP at one time for all
States/Territories, or is a phased-in approach, with a proportionate
number of States submitting such plans over the time period of the
multi-year plan (e.g., half of States over a two-year plan, a third of
States for a three-year plan, etc.), be a more advantageous
implementation method? Please explain.
9. Are there other factors, concerns and/or elements that FMCSA
should consider in the implementation of multi-year plans? Please
provide specifics regarding these additional considerations.
10. In moving to a multi-year CVSP with annual updates, in order to
enhance usability of the electronic CVSP (eCVSP) application, what
additional features should FMCSA add? Please be specific in providing
recommendations for additional features.
11. FMCSA is considering requiring certain CVSP data fields to be
validated or updated annually. Examples of such data fields include
prior-year activity objectives, current-year activity goals, current-
year spending plans, etc. What additional data fields do you believe
should be updated annually and why?
12. Should the annual update be a mechanism within the eCVSP tool's
multi-year CVSP or a completely separate module with the eCVSP tool?
Please explain.
13. What data elements and documents should be revised from, or
added to, the current CVSP format to capture the annual update? Please
explain how they should be revised.
14. Should the FMCSA require States/Territories to provide detailed
spending plans or only require grantees to estimate their costs
utilizing the SF-424A budget categories for the multi-year plan and
annual update in the eCVSP tool? Please explain how your preference
would enhance the CVSP planning process.
After consideration of the information received in response to this
notice, FMCSA will prescribe the procedures required by the FAST Act
through a future Federal Register notice.
Issued on: October 20, 2016.
T.F. Scott Darling, III,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-25980 Filed 10-26-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
