Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 10067-10068 [2021-03203]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 31 / Thursday, February 18, 2021 / Notices programs of States and metropolitan areas before they are eligible for FTA funding. As described under the evaluation criteria, FTA may consider whether a project is consistent with or already included in these plans when evaluating a project. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES f. Standard Assurances The applicant assures that it will comply with all applicable Federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, directives, FTA circulars, and other Federal administrative requirements in carrying out any project supported by the FTA grant. The applicant acknowledges that it is under a continuing obligation to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement issued for its project with FTA. The applicant understands that Federal laws, regulations, policies, and administrative practices might be modified from time to time and may affect the implementation of the project. The applicant agrees that the most recent Federal requirements will apply to the project, unless FTA issues a written determination otherwise. The applicant must submit the Certifications and Assurances before receiving a grant if it does not have current certifications on file. 3. Reporting Post-award reporting requirements include the electronic submission of Federal Financial Reports and Milestone Progress Reports in FTA’s electronic grants management system. Recipients of funds made available through this NOFO are also required to regularly submit data to the National Transit Database. Applicant should include any goals, targets, and indicators referenced in their application in the Executive Summary of the TrAMS application. As part of completing the annual certifications and assurances required of FTA grant recipients, a successful applicant must report on the suspension or debarment status of itself and its principals. If the award recipient’s active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of an award made pursuant to this Notice, the recipient must comply with the Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters reporting requirements described in Appendix XII to 2 CFR part 200. G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts For further information concerning this notice, please contact the Low-No Program Manager, Amy Volz, by phone VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Feb 17, 2021 Jkt 253001 at 202–366–7484, or by email at amy.volz@dot.gov. A TDD is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 800–877–8339. In addition, FTA will post answers to questions and requests for clarifications on FTA’s website at https://www.transit.dot.gov/ funding/grants/lowno. To ensure applicants receive accurate information about eligibility or the program, applicants are encouraged to contact FTA directly, rather than through intermediaries or third parties, with questions. FTA staff may also conduct briefings on the FY 2021 competitive grants selection and award process upon request. H. Other Information This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.’’ FTA will consider applications for funding only from eligible recipients for eligible projects listed in Section C. Complete applications must be submitted through GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on April 12, 2021. For issues with GRANTS.GOV, please contact GRANTS.GOV by phone at 1– 800–518–4726 or by email at support@ grants.gov. Contact information for FTA’s regional offices can be found on FTA’s website at www.fta.dot.gov. Matthew J. Welbes, Executive Director. [FR Doc. 2021–03180 Filed 2–17–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–57–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2020–0027–N–35] Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On December 10, 2020, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 10067 Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 22, 2021. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular ICR by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 493–6132 or kim.toone@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On December 10, 2020, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 79559. FRA received no comments in response to this 60-day notice. Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collection of information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. Federal law requires OMB to approve or disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)–(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(b); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes the 30-day notice informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication to best ensure having their full effect. Comments are invited on the following ICR regarding: (1) Whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 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; (3) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public, including the use of automated collection techniques DATES: E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM 18FEN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 10068 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 31 / Thursday, February 18, 2021 / Notices or other forms of information technology. The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires: Title: Metrics and Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Rail Service. OMB Control Number: 2130–0632.1 Abstract: On October 16, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, Public Law 110–432, 122 Stat. 4907 (PRIIA). Section 207 of PRIIA requires FRA and Amtrak jointly to develop new or improved metrics and minimum standards for measuring the performance and service quality of intercity passenger train operations, including cost recovery, ontime performance and minutes of delay, ridership, on-board services, stations, facilities, equipment, and other services Section 207 also calls for consultation with the Surface Transportation Board, rail carriers over whose rail lines Amtrak trains operate, States, Amtrak employees, and groups representing Amtrak passengers, as appropriate. Section 207 further provides that the metrics, at a minimum, must include: the percentage of avoidable and fully allocated operating costs covered by passenger revenues on each route; ridership per train mile operated; measures of on-time performance and delays incurred by intercity passenger trains on the rail lines of each rail carrier; and, for long-distance routes, measures of connectivity with other routes in all regions currently receiving Amtrak service and the transportation needs of communities and populations that are not well-served by other forms of intercity transportation. Section 207 also provides that the FRA Administrator must collect the necessary data and publish a quarterly report on the performance and service quality of intercity passenger train operations, including Amtrak’s cost recovery, ridership, on-time performance and minutes of delay, causes of delay, on-board services, stations, facilities, equipment, and other services. In connection with the Congressional mandate, FRA’s Metrics and Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Rail Service final rule (49 CFR part 273) sets forth a number of metrics that must be collected. 85 FR 72971. On November 23, 2020, FRA published a request for emergency processing of a collection of 1 The correct OMB control number for this collection is 2130–0632. The number was mistakenly listed incorrectly as 2130–0623 in the Federal Register notice published December 10, 2020. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Feb 17, 2021 Jkt 253001 information because FRA could not reasonably comply with normal clearance procedures to timely collect ridership data metrics and certified schedule metrics as required by 49 CFR 273.5(b) and (c). 85 FR 74783. This ICR request covers all metrics set forth in the final rule, including those covered by the emergency clearance. Type of Request: Revision to a currently approved information collection. Affected Public: Amtrak. Form(s): N/A. Respondent Universe: 2 1 (Amtrak). Frequency of Submission: Varied. Total Estimated Annual Responses: 117. Total Estimated Annual Burden: 3 507 hours. Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: $66,365.00. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA informs all interested parties that a respondent is not required to respond to, conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520. Brett A. Jortland, Acting Chief Counsel. [FR Doc. 2021–03203 Filed 2–17–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2021–0006–N–1] Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR. SUMMARY: 2 As noted in the 60-day notice, the respondent universe for the required reporting in 49 CFR 273.5(c)(2) is 24 railroads. 3 As also noted in the 60-day notice, the estimates for the first year include one-time start up burdens and the annual response, burden and total cost equivalent estimates are expected to decrease after the first year of this 3-year ICR period. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 19, 2021. DATES: Submit comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR to Ms. Hodan Wells, Information Collection Clearance Officer at email: hodan.wells@dot.gov or telephone: (202) 493–0440, and Mr. John Purnell, Information Collection Clearance Officer at email: john.purnell@dot.gov or telephone: (202) 493–0500. 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. ADDRESSES: The PRA, 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 to allow comment on information collection activities before seeking OMB approval of the activities. See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically, FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR regarding: (1) Whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (2) 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; (3) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1). FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (1) Reduce reporting burdens; (2) organize information collection requirements in a ‘‘user-friendly’’ format to improve the use of such information; and (3) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501. The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB clearance as the PRA requires: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM 18FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 31 (Thursday, February 18, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10067-10068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03203]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2020-0027-N-35]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice 
announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and 
its expected burden. On December 10, 2020, FRA published a notice 
providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular ICR by 
selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' 
or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Kim Toone, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer at (202) 493-6132 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its 
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to 
issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection 
activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. See 44 U.S.C. 
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On December 10, 2020, FRA 
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on 
the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 85 FR 79559. FRA 
received no comments in response to this 60-day notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve the proposed collection of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. Federal law 
requires OMB to approve or disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 
60 days after the 30-day notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)-(c); 5 
CFR 1320.12(b); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB 
believes the 30-day notice informs the regulated community to file 
relevant comments and affords the agency adequate time to digest public 
comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. 
Therefore, respondents should submit their respective comments to OMB 
within 30 days of publication to best ensure having their full effect.
    Comments are invited on the following ICR regarding: (1) Whether 
the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly 
execute its functions, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (2) 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; (3) ways 
for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
being collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of information 
collection activities on the public, including the use of automated 
collection techniques

[[Page 10068]]

or other forms of information technology.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Metrics and Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Rail 
Service.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0632.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The correct OMB control number for this collection is 2130-
0632. The number was mistakenly listed incorrectly as 2130-0623 in 
the Federal Register notice published December 10, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Abstract: On October 16, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into 
law the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, Public 
Law 110-432, 122 Stat. 4907 (PRIIA). Section 207 of PRIIA requires FRA 
and Amtrak jointly to develop new or improved metrics and minimum 
standards for measuring the performance and service quality of 
intercity passenger train operations, including cost recovery, on-time 
performance and minutes of delay, ridership, on-board services, 
stations, facilities, equipment, and other services
    Section 207 also calls for consultation with the Surface 
Transportation Board, rail carriers over whose rail lines Amtrak trains 
operate, States, Amtrak employees, and groups representing Amtrak 
passengers, as appropriate.
    Section 207 further provides that the metrics, at a minimum, must 
include: the percentage of avoidable and fully allocated operating 
costs covered by passenger revenues on each route; ridership per train 
mile operated; measures of on-time performance and delays incurred by 
intercity passenger trains on the rail lines of each rail carrier; and, 
for long-distance routes, measures of connectivity with other routes in 
all regions currently receiving Amtrak service and the transportation 
needs of communities and populations that are not well-served by other 
forms of intercity transportation.
    Section 207 also provides that the FRA Administrator must collect 
the necessary data and publish a quarterly report on the performance 
and service quality of intercity passenger train operations, including 
Amtrak's cost recovery, ridership, on-time performance and minutes of 
delay, causes of delay, on-board services, stations, facilities, 
equipment, and other services.
    In connection with the Congressional mandate, FRA's Metrics and 
Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Rail Service final rule (49 
CFR part 273) sets forth a number of metrics that must be collected. 85 
FR 72971. On November 23, 2020, FRA published a request for emergency 
processing of a collection of information because FRA could not 
reasonably comply with normal clearance procedures to timely collect 
ridership data metrics and certified schedule metrics as required by 49 
CFR 273.5(b) and (c). 85 FR 74783. This ICR request covers all metrics 
set forth in the final rule, including those covered by the emergency 
clearance.
    Type of Request: Revision to a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Amtrak.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: \2\ 1 (Amtrak).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ As noted in the 60-day notice, the respondent universe for 
the required reporting in 49 CFR 273.5(c)(2) is 24 railroads.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Frequency of Submission: Varied.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 117.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: \3\ 507 hours.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ As also noted in the 60-day notice, the estimates for the 
first year include one-time start up burdens and the annual 
response, burden and total cost equivalent estimates are expected to 
decrease after the first year of this 3-year ICR period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$66,365.00.
    Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), 
FRA informs all interested parties that a respondent is not required to 
respond to, conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Brett A. Jortland,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-03203 Filed 2-17-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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