Agency Information Collection Activities: Approval of Information Collection, 42424-42427 [2023-13939]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2023 / Notices
participants where we rolled out
changes made to the AV TEST website
based upon earlier feedback from
participants to improve the conveyance
of information to the public. We
encourage participants and the public to
contact the agency on ways to further
improve the AV TEST experience.6
Prior to committing resources, the
agency would like further information
on the need and scope of the real-world
deployment of ADS vehicles.
Lastly, Auto Innovators suggested,
NHTSA should proactively encourage
states to share information on statewide
AV policies or initiatives as part of the
AV TEST program, as this information
is not only critical for public
transparency, but also an important
resource for manufacturers that need to
develop systems to account for
operational and policy related
differences between regions.
In response, the agency has
proactively reached out to states and
encouraged them to participate in this
voluntary program. In discussion with
the states, the agency recognizes that
each state has their own priorities with
respect to ADS vehicles and may have
limited resources or interest to
participate in AV TEST. The agency
continues to encourage state
participation, however, as noted earlier
this is a voluntary program.
NHTSA appreciates the commenters’
input and will keep this input in mind
when considering future approaches to
ADS technologies.
Public Comments Invited: You are
asked to comment on any aspects of this
information collection, including (a)
whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as
6 ADSInformationDesk@dot.gov.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:33 Jun 29, 2023
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amended; 49 CFR 1.49; and DOT Order
1351.29.
Chou-Lin Chou,
Associate Administrator, National Center for
Statistics and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2023–13902 Filed 6–29–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT–OST–2023–0063]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Approval of Information
Collection
AGENCY:
Office of the Secretary (OST),
DOT.
60-Day notice and request for
comments.
ACTION:
The Department of
Transportation (DOT) invites public
comments on our intention to request
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval for an information
collection in accordance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. The collection is
necessary for administration of the
Multimodal Project Discretionary Grants
(MPDG). This includes three funding
opportunities: the ‘‘National
Infrastructure Project Assistance grants
program (Mega),’’ the ‘‘Nationally
Significant Multimodal Freight and
Highways Projects grants program
(INFRA)’’, and the ‘‘Rural Surface
Transportation Grant program (Rural)’’.
The MPDG provides Federal financial
assistance for surface transportation
infrastructure projects—including
highway and bridge, intercity passenger
rail, railway-highway grade and
separation, wildlife crossing, public
transportation, marine highway, and
freight and multimodal projects, or
groups of such projects, of national or
regional significance, as well as to
projects to improve and expand the
surface transportation infrastructure in
rural areas.
DATES: Written comments should be
submitted by August 29, 2023.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not
duplicate your docket submissions,
please submit them by only one of the
following means:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Ground Floor Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery: West Building
Ground Floor, Room W–12–140 1200
New Jersey Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number
is 202–366–9329.
Instructions: To ensure proper
docketing of your comment, please
include the agency name and docket
number [DOT–OST–2023–0063] at the
beginning of your comments. All
comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information regarding this
notice, please contact the Office of the
Secretary via email at MPDGgrants@
dot.gov, or call Paul Baumer at (202)
366–1092. A TDD is available for
individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing at 202–366–3993.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: New
Collection. OMB number will be issued
after the collection is approved.
Title: Multimodal Project
Discretionary Grant (MPDG).
Form Numbers: None.
Type of Review: New Information
Collection Request (ICR).
Background: The Office of the
Secretary (‘‘OST’’) within the
Department of Transportation (DOT)
provides financial assistance for surface
transportation infrastructure projects—
including to highway and bridge,
intercity passenger rail, railwayhighway grade and separation, wildlife
crossing, public transportation, marine
highway, and freight and multimodal
projects, or groups of such projects, of
national or regional significance, as well
as to projects to improve and expand the
surface transportation infrastructure in
rural areas. Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117–58, November
15, 2021) (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,
or BIL) provided funds to the
Department across three programs to
invest in projects of national or regional
significance—the National
Infrastructure Project Assistance grants
program, found under 49 U.S.C. 6701
(‘‘Mega’’), the Nationally Significant
Multimodal Freight and Highways
Projects grants program, found at 23
U.S.C. 117 (Infrastructure for Rebuilding
America or ‘‘INFRA’’), and the Rural
Surface Transportation Grant program,
found at 23 U.S.C. 173 (‘‘Rural’’). To
help streamline the process for
applicants, the Department has
combined the applications for the Mega,
INFRA, and Rural programs into the
MPDG common application.
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2023 / Notices
The Nationally Significant
Multimodal Freight and Highways
Projects grants program (‘‘INFRA’’) (23
U.S.C. 117) was established in the
Fixing American’s Surface
Transportation Act of 2015 (‘‘FAST
ACT’’), Public Law 114–94 sec. 1105,
and continued in the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law
117–58 (2021). OST is referring to these
grants as ‘‘FASTLANE’’ or ‘‘INFRA’’
Discretionary Grants, depending on the
year of award.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
established two new programs along
with the reauthorization of INFRA. The
Mega Program, known statutorily as the
National Infrastructure Project
Assistance program (49 U.S.C. 6701),
will support large, complex projects that
are difficult to fund by other means and
likely to generate national or regional
economic, mobility, or safety benefits.
The Rural Surface Transportation Grant
Program (23 U.S.C. 173) will support
projects to improve and expand the
surface transportation infrastructure in
rural areas to increase connectivity,
improve the safety and reliability of the
movement of people and freight, and
generate regional economic growth and
improve quality of life.
The DOT combined these three
programs into single Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO) to provide a more
efficient application process for project
sponsors. While they remain separate
programs for the purposes of award, the
programs share many common
characteristics. Because of these shared
characteristics, it is possible for many
projects to be eligible and considered for
multiple programs using a single
application.
This notice seeks comments on the
proposed information collection, which
will collect information necessary to
support the ongoing oversight and
administration of previous awards, the
evaluation and selection of new
applications, the funding agreement
negotiation stage for new awards, and
the evaluation of the programs.
The reporting requirements for the
program is as follows:
To be considered to receive a MPDG
grant, a project sponsor must submit an
application to DOT containing a project
narrative, as detailed in the NOFO. The
project narrative should include the
information necessary for the
Department to determine that the
project satisfies eligibility requirements
as warranted by law.
After the award announcement the
Department will send out a voluntary
survey to all applicants and webinar
participants to help evaluate the
application process.
Following the announcement of a
funding award, the recipient and DOT
will negotiate and sign a funding
agreement. In the agreement, the
recipient must describe the project that
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DOT agreed to fund, which is the
project that was described in the MPDG
application or a reduced-scope version
of that project. The agreement also
includes project schedule milestones, a
budget, and project-related climate
change and equity planning and
policies.
During the project monitoring stage,
grantees will submit reports on the
financial condition of the project and
the project’s progress. Grantees will
submit progress and monitoring reports
to the Government on a quarterly basis
until completion of the project. The
progress reports will include an SF–425,
Federal Financial Report, and other
information determined by the
administering DOT Operating
Administration. This information will
be used to monitor grantees’ use of
Federal funds, ensuring accountability
and financial transparency in the MPDG
programs.
For the purposes of estimating the
information collection burden below for
new applicants and awardees, the
Department is assuming that for each
year 2023–2025, the Department will
review approximately 500 applications
in Year 1, negotiate 45 funding
agreements in Year 2, and begin
quarterly project monitoring for 45
projects in Year 3. For a new applicant
in 2023, their burden will be 100 hours
in 2023, 6 hours in 2024, and 20 hours
in 2025. See Table 1 below:
TABLE 1
Year 1
(2023)
Respondent
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2023
2023
2023
2023
2024
2024
2024
2024
2025
2025
2025
2025
Applicant (500) ....
Survey (700) .......
Awardee (45) ......
Recipient (45) .....
Applicant (500) ....
Survey (700) .......
Awardee (45) ......
Recipient (45) .....
Applicant (500) ....
Survey (700) .......
Awardee (45) ......
Recipient (45) .....
Year 3
(2025)
Total
Hours
Frequency
Hours
Frequency
Hours
Frequency
100
0.5
........................
........................
........................
0.5
........................
........................
........................
0.5
........................
........................
1
1
........................
........................
........................
1
........................
........................
........................
1
........................
........................
........................
........................
6
........................
100
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
1
........................
1
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
5
........................
........................
6
........................
100
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
4
........................
........................
1
........................
1
........................
........................
........................
This Notice is separately estimating
the information collection burden for
projects awarded from 2016–2022.
Approximately 60 of these projects are
in the project monitoring phase in Year
1, while 47 projects are still negotiating
funding agreements. In Year 2,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Year 2
(2024)
19:33 Jun 29, 2023
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approximately 30 of these projects will
begin project monitoring, while
approximately 20 projects will cease
reporting once their projects are
completed. In Year 3, 10 projects will
begin project monitoring while 20
projects will cease reporting. The
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50,000
350
270
900
50,000
350
270
........................
50,000
350
........................
........................
individual burden for a project awarded
from 2016–2021 will depend on when
they were selected, when they
completed negotiation of their funding
agreement, and when their project
reaches completion. See Table 2 below:
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2023 / Notices
TABLE 2
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Respondent
Total
Number
2016–2022 Awardee
2016–2022 Recipient
2016–2022 Project
Closed ...................
Hrs
Freq
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Freq
Number
Hrs
Freq
4
5
1
4
10
77
4
5
1
4
0
64
4
5
1
4
200
3,800
0
0
0
20
0
0
43
0
0
................
Application Stage
To be considered to receive a MPDG
grant, a project sponsor must submit an
application to DOT containing a project
narrative, as detailed in the NOFO. The
project narrative should include the
information necessary for the
Department to determine that the
project satisfies eligibility requirements.
Applications must be submitted
through www.Grants.gov. Instructions
for submitting applications can be found
at https://www.transportation.gov/
19:33 Jun 29, 2023
Hrs
47
70
The Department’s estimated burden
for this information collection is the
following:
For New Applications:
Expected Number of Respondents:
Approximately 500 per year.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 100 hours for each new
Application;
For Funding Agreements:
Expected Number of Respondents:
Approximately 45 in Year 1, 2 and 3.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 6 hours for each new Funding
Agreement.
For Project Monitoring:
Expected Number of Respondents:
Approximately 47 in Year 1, 93 in Year
2, 130 in Year 3.
Frequency: Quarterly.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 5 hours for each request for
Quarterly Progress and Monitoring
Report;
For Program Evaluation (Survey):
Expected Number of Respondents:
Approximately 700 per year.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per
Response: 0.5 hours for each
application;
Estimated Total 3-year Burden on
Respondents: 80,750 hours. (New
Applicants [75,000 hrs], Survey [1,050
hrs] New Awardees/Recipients [700 hrs]
+ Prior Awardees/Recipients [4000
hrs]).
The following is detailed information
and instructions regarding the specific
reporting requirements for each report
identified above:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Number
Jkt 259001
grants/mpdg-how-apply. The
application must include the Standard
Form 424 (Application for Federal
Assistance), Standard Form 424C
(Budget Information for Construction
Programs), cover page, and the Project
Narrative.
The application should include a
table of contents, maps, and graphics, as
appropriate, to make the information
easier to review. The Department
recommends that the application be
prepared with standard formatting
preferences (i.e., a single-spaced
document, using a standard 12-point
font such as Times New Roman, with
1-inch margins). The project narrative
may not exceed 25 pages in length,
excluding cover pages and table of
contents. The only substantive portions
that may exceed the 25-page limit are
documents supporting assertions or
conclusions made in the 25-page project
narrative. If possible, website links to
supporting documentation should be
provided rather than copies of these
supporting materials. If supporting
documents are submitted, applicants
should clearly identify within the
project narrative the relevant portion of
the project narrative that each
supporting document supports. At the
applicant’s discretion, relevant
materials provided previously to a
modal administration in support of a
different USDOT financial assistance
program may be referenced and
described as unchanged.
OST estimates that it takes
approximately 100 person-hours to
compile an application package for a
MPDG application. Since OST expects
to receive 500 applications per funding
round, the total hours required are
estimated to be 50,00 hours (100 hours
× 500 applications = 50,000 hours) on a
one-time basis, per funding round.
Program Evaluation Stage (Survey)
To understand the MPDG grant
process from the applicant’s point of
view, OST plans to send out a survey
after all award decisions have been
made. This survey will go to all
applicants, both successful and
unsuccessful, as well as webinar
participants that did not apply and will
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take approximately .5 hours to
complete.
Funding Agreement Stage
DOT enters a funding agreement with
each recipient. In the agreement, the
recipient describes the project that DOT
agreed to fund, which is typically the
project that was described in the MPDG
application or a reduced-scope version
of that project. The agreement also
includes a project schedule, budget, and
project related climate change and
equity planning and policies.
OST estimates that it takes
approximately 6 person-hours to
respond to provide the information
necessary for funding agreements. Based
on previous rounds of MPDG awards,
OST estimates that there will likely be
45 agreements negotiated per additional
funding round. The total hours required
are estimated to be 270 (6 hours × 45
agreements = 270 hours) on a one-time
basis, per funding round.
Project Monitoring Stage
OST requires each recipient to submit
quarterly reports during the project to
ensure the proper and timely
expenditure of Federal funds under the
grant.
The requirements comply with 2 CFR
part 200 and are restated in the funding
agreement. During the project
monitoring stage, the grantee will
complete Quarterly Progress Reports to
allow DOT to monitor the project budget
and schedule.
OST estimates that it takes
approximately 5 person-hours to
develop and submit a quarterly progress
report. OST expects approximately 45
projects to be awarded per funding
round, while grants awarded in prior
years will reach completion during the
year and would no longer need to
submit these reports. OST expects
recipients and awardees from 2016–
2021 will require 3800 hours to submit
project monitoring reports while new
recipients and awardees will require
900 hours from 2023–2025.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as
amended; and 49 CFR 1:48.
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2023 / Notices
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26,
2023.
John Augustine,
Director of the Office of Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation, Office of the Under
Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[OMB Control No. 2900–0020]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
Agency Information Collection
Activity: Designation of Beneficiary
Government Life Insurance and
Supplemental Designation of
Beneficiary Government Life
Insurance; Withdrawn
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
AGENCY:
[FR Doc. 2023–13939 Filed 6–29–23; 8:45 am]
Veterans Benefits
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
ACTION: Notice; withdrawal.
Internal Revenue Service
Open Meeting of the Taxpayer
Advocacy Panel Joint Committee;
Correction
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Treasury.
ACTION:
Notice of meeting; correction.
In the Federal Register that
was originally published on June 22,
2023, the day for this meeting is being
corrected to Monday, July 24, 2023, at
3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. All other
meeting details remain unchanged. This
meeting will be held via teleconference.
SUMMARY:
The meeting will be held
Monday, July 24, 2023.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rosalind Matherne at 1–888–912–1227
or 202–317–4115.
Notice is
hereby given pursuant to section
10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app. (1988) that
an open meeting of the Taxpayer
Advocacy Panel Joint Committee will be
held Monday, July 24, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Time via teleconference. This
meeting was previously announced in
the Federal Register June 22, 2023 at 88
FR 40927. The public is invited to make
oral comments or submit written
statements for consideration. For more
information, please contact Rosalind
Matherne at 1–888–912–1227 or 202–
317–4115, or write TAP Office, 1111
Constitution Ave. NW, Room 1503,
Washington, DC 20224 or contact us at
the website: https://www.improveirs.org.
The agenda will include reports from
the committees, and subcommittee
discussions on priorities the TAP will
focus on for the 2023 year. Public input
is welcomed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: June 26, 2023.
Kevin Brown,
Acting Director, Taxpayer Advocacy Panel.
[FR Doc. 2023–13898 Filed 6–29–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:33 Jun 29, 2023
Jkt 259001
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023,
the Veterans Benefits Administration
(VA), published a notice in the Federal
Register announcing an opportunity for
public comment on the proposed
collection Designation of Beneficiary
Government Life Insurance (VA Form
29–336) and Supplemental Designation
of Beneficiary Government Life
Insurance (VA Form 29–336a). This
notice was published in error; therefore,
this document corrects that error by
withdrawing this FR notice, document
number 2023–13529.
DATES: As of June 27, 2023, the FR
notice published at 88 FR 122 on
Tuesday, June 27, 2023, is withdrawn.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise
and Integration, Data Governance
Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266–4688
or email maribel.aponte@va.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FR Doc.
2023–13529, published on Tuesday,
June 27, 2023, is withdrawn by this
notice.
SUMMARY:
AGENCY:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
By direction of the Secretary.
Maribel Aponte,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
Enterprise and Integration/Data Governance
Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023–13911 Filed 6–29–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900–0020]
Agency Information Collection
Activity: Designation of Beneficiary
Government Life Insurance and
Supplemental Designation of
Beneficiary Government Life Insurance
Veterans Benefits
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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42427
Veterans Benefits
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA), is announcing an
opportunity for public comment on the
proposed collection of certain
information by the agency. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, Federal agencies are required to
publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of
information, including each proposed
extension of a currently approved
collection, and allow 60 days for public
comment in response to the notice.
DATES: Written comments and
recommendations on the proposed
collection of information should be
received on or before August 29, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
on the collection of information through
Federal Docket Management System
(FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to
Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits
Administration (20M33), Department of
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email to
nancy.kessinger@va.gov. Please refer to
‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0020’’ in any
correspondence. During the comment
period, comments may be viewed online
through FDMS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise
and Integration, Data Governance
Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266–4688
or email maribel.aponte@va.gov. Please
refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0020’’
in any correspondence.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Under the PRA of 1995, Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor.
This request for comment is being made
pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
PRA.
With respect to the following
collection of information, VBA invites
comments on: (1) whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of VBA’s
functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of VBA’s estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information; (3) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
the use of other forms of information
technology.
Authority: Public Law 104–13; 44
U.S.C. 3501–3521.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42424-42427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13939]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DOT-OST-2023-0063]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Approval of Information
Collection
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), DOT.
ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments
on our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
approval for an information collection in accordance with the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection is
necessary for administration of the Multimodal Project Discretionary
Grants (MPDG). This includes three funding opportunities: the
``National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants program (Mega),''
the ``Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects
grants program (INFRA)'', and the ``Rural Surface Transportation Grant
program (Rural)''. The MPDG provides Federal financial assistance for
surface transportation infrastructure projects--including highway and
bridge, intercity passenger rail, railway-highway grade and separation,
wildlife crossing, public transportation, marine highway, and freight
and multimodal projects, or groups of such projects, of national or
regional significance, as well as to projects to improve and expand the
surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by August 29, 2023.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not duplicate your docket submissions,
please submit them by only one of the following means:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building Ground Floor
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W-12-140
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
Instructions: To ensure proper docketing of your comment, please
include the agency name and docket number [DOT-OST-2023-0063] at the
beginning of your comments. All comments received will be posted
without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding this
notice, please contact the Office of the Secretary via email at
[email protected], or call Paul Baumer at (202) 366-1092. A TDD is
available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-
3993.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: New Collection. OMB number will be issued
after the collection is approved.
Title: Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG).
Form Numbers: None.
Type of Review: New Information Collection Request (ICR).
Background: The Office of the Secretary (``OST'') within the
Department of Transportation (DOT) provides financial assistance for
surface transportation infrastructure projects--including to highway
and bridge, intercity passenger rail, railway-highway grade and
separation, wildlife crossing, public transportation, marine highway,
and freight and multimodal projects, or groups of such projects, of
national or regional significance, as well as to projects to improve
and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15,
2021) (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL) provided funds to the
Department across three programs to invest in projects of national or
regional significance--the National Infrastructure Project Assistance
grants program, found under 49 U.S.C. 6701 (``Mega''), the Nationally
Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects grants program,
found at 23 U.S.C. 117 (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America or
``INFRA''), and the Rural Surface Transportation Grant program, found
at 23 U.S.C. 173 (``Rural''). To help streamline the process for
applicants, the Department has combined the applications for the Mega,
INFRA, and Rural programs into the MPDG common application.
[[Page 42425]]
The Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects
grants program (``INFRA'') (23 U.S.C. 117) was established in the
Fixing American's Surface Transportation Act of 2015 (``FAST ACT''),
Public Law 114-94 sec. 1105, and continued in the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 (2021). OST is referring to
these grants as ``FASTLANE'' or ``INFRA'' Discretionary Grants,
depending on the year of award.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established two new programs
along with the reauthorization of INFRA. The Mega Program, known
statutorily as the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program
(49 U.S.C. 6701), will support large, complex projects that are
difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or
regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. The Rural Surface
Transportation Grant Program (23 U.S.C. 173) will support projects to
improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural
areas to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of
the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic
growth and improve quality of life.
The DOT combined these three programs into single Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO) to provide a more efficient application process for
project sponsors. While they remain separate programs for the purposes
of award, the programs share many common characteristics. Because of
these shared characteristics, it is possible for many projects to be
eligible and considered for multiple programs using a single
application.
This notice seeks comments on the proposed information collection,
which will collect information necessary to support the ongoing
oversight and administration of previous awards, the evaluation and
selection of new applications, the funding agreement negotiation stage
for new awards, and the evaluation of the programs.
The reporting requirements for the program is as follows:
To be considered to receive a MPDG grant, a project sponsor must
submit an application to DOT containing a project narrative, as
detailed in the NOFO. The project narrative should include the
information necessary for the Department to determine that the project
satisfies eligibility requirements as warranted by law.
After the award announcement the Department will send out a
voluntary survey to all applicants and webinar participants to help
evaluate the application process.
Following the announcement of a funding award, the recipient and
DOT will negotiate and sign a funding agreement. In the agreement, the
recipient must describe the project that DOT agreed to fund, which is
the project that was described in the MPDG application or a reduced-
scope version of that project. The agreement also includes project
schedule milestones, a budget, and project-related climate change and
equity planning and policies.
During the project monitoring stage, grantees will submit reports
on the financial condition of the project and the project's progress.
Grantees will submit progress and monitoring reports to the Government
on a quarterly basis until completion of the project. The progress
reports will include an SF-425, Federal Financial Report, and other
information determined by the administering DOT Operating
Administration. This information will be used to monitor grantees' use
of Federal funds, ensuring accountability and financial transparency in
the MPDG programs.
For the purposes of estimating the information collection burden
below for new applicants and awardees, the Department is assuming that
for each year 2023-2025, the Department will review approximately 500
applications in Year 1, negotiate 45 funding agreements in Year 2, and
begin quarterly project monitoring for 45 projects in Year 3. For a new
applicant in 2023, their burden will be 100 hours in 2023, 6 hours in
2024, and 20 hours in 2025. See Table 1 below:
Table 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1 (2023) Year 2 (2024) Year 3 (2025)
Respondent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total
Hours Frequency Hours Frequency Hours Frequency
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 Applicant (500).................... 100 1 .............. .............. .............. .............. 50,000
2023 Survey (700)....................... 0.5 1 .............. .............. .............. .............. 350
2023 Awardee (45)....................... .............. .............. 6 1 .............. .............. 270
2023 Recipient (45)..................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 5 4 900
2024 Applicant (500).................... .............. .............. 100 1 .............. .............. 50,000
2024 Survey (700)....................... 0.5 1 .............. .............. .............. .............. 350
2024 Awardee (45)....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 6 1 270
2024 Recipient (45)..................... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
2025 Applicant (500).................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 100 1 50,000
2025 Survey (700)....................... 0.5 1 .............. .............. .............. .............. 350
2025 Awardee (45)....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
2025 Recipient (45)..................... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Notice is separately estimating the information collection
burden for projects awarded from 2016-2022. Approximately 60 of these
projects are in the project monitoring phase in Year 1, while 47
projects are still negotiating funding agreements. In Year 2,
approximately 30 of these projects will begin project monitoring, while
approximately 20 projects will cease reporting once their projects are
completed. In Year 3, 10 projects will begin project monitoring while
20 projects will cease reporting. The individual burden for a project
awarded from 2016-2021 will depend on when they were selected, when
they completed negotiation of their funding agreement, and when their
project reaches completion. See Table 2 below:
[[Page 42426]]
Table 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Respondent --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total
Number Hrs Freq Number Hrs Freq Number Hrs Freq
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016-2022 Awardee......................... 47 4 1 10 4 1 0 4 1 200
2016-2022 Recipient....................... 70 5 4 77 5 4 64 5 4 3,800
2016-2022 Project Closed.................. 0 0 0 20 0 0 43 0 0 .........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department's estimated burden for this information collection
is the following:
For New Applications:
Expected Number of Respondents: Approximately 500 per year.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 100 hours for each new
Application;
For Funding Agreements:
Expected Number of Respondents: Approximately 45 in Year 1, 2 and
3.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 6 hours for each new Funding
Agreement.
For Project Monitoring:
Expected Number of Respondents: Approximately 47 in Year 1, 93 in
Year 2, 130 in Year 3.
Frequency: Quarterly.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 5 hours for each request for
Quarterly Progress and Monitoring Report;
For Program Evaluation (Survey):
Expected Number of Respondents: Approximately 700 per year.
Frequency: Once.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 0.5 hours for each
application;
Estimated Total 3-year Burden on Respondents: 80,750 hours. (New
Applicants [75,000 hrs], Survey [1,050 hrs] New Awardees/Recipients
[700 hrs] + Prior Awardees/Recipients [4000 hrs]).
The following is detailed information and instructions regarding
the specific reporting requirements for each report identified above:
Application Stage
To be considered to receive a MPDG grant, a project sponsor must
submit an application to DOT containing a project narrative, as
detailed in the NOFO. The project narrative should include the
information necessary for the Department to determine that the project
satisfies eligibility requirements.
Applications must be submitted through www.Grants.gov. Instructions
for submitting applications can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/grants/mpdg-how-apply. The application must
include the Standard Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance),
Standard Form 424C (Budget Information for Construction Programs),
cover page, and the Project Narrative.
The application should include a table of contents, maps, and
graphics, as appropriate, to make the information easier to review. The
Department recommends that the application be prepared with standard
formatting preferences (i.e., a single-spaced document, using a
standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins).
The project narrative may not exceed 25 pages in length, excluding
cover pages and table of contents. The only substantive portions that
may exceed the 25-page limit are documents supporting assertions or
conclusions made in the 25-page project narrative. If possible, website
links to supporting documentation should be provided rather than copies
of these supporting materials. If supporting documents are submitted,
applicants should clearly identify within the project narrative the
relevant portion of the project narrative that each supporting document
supports. At the applicant's discretion, relevant materials provided
previously to a modal administration in support of a different USDOT
financial assistance program may be referenced and described as
unchanged.
OST estimates that it takes approximately 100 person-hours to
compile an application package for a MPDG application. Since OST
expects to receive 500 applications per funding round, the total hours
required are estimated to be 50,00 hours (100 hours x 500 applications
= 50,000 hours) on a one-time basis, per funding round.
Program Evaluation Stage (Survey)
To understand the MPDG grant process from the applicant's point of
view, OST plans to send out a survey after all award decisions have
been made. This survey will go to all applicants, both successful and
unsuccessful, as well as webinar participants that did not apply and
will take approximately .5 hours to complete.
Funding Agreement Stage
DOT enters a funding agreement with each recipient. In the
agreement, the recipient describes the project that DOT agreed to fund,
which is typically the project that was described in the MPDG
application or a reduced-scope version of that project. The agreement
also includes a project schedule, budget, and project related climate
change and equity planning and policies.
OST estimates that it takes approximately 6 person-hours to respond
to provide the information necessary for funding agreements. Based on
previous rounds of MPDG awards, OST estimates that there will likely be
45 agreements negotiated per additional funding round. The total hours
required are estimated to be 270 (6 hours x 45 agreements = 270 hours)
on a one-time basis, per funding round.
Project Monitoring Stage
OST requires each recipient to submit quarterly reports during the
project to ensure the proper and timely expenditure of Federal funds
under the grant.
The requirements comply with 2 CFR part 200 and are restated in the
funding agreement. During the project monitoring stage, the grantee
will complete Quarterly Progress Reports to allow DOT to monitor the
project budget and schedule.
OST estimates that it takes approximately 5 person-hours to develop
and submit a quarterly progress report. OST expects approximately 45
projects to be awarded per funding round, while grants awarded in prior
years will reach completion during the year and would no longer need to
submit these reports. OST expects recipients and awardees from 2016-
2021 will require 3800 hours to submit project monitoring reports while
new recipients and awardees will require 900 hours from 2023-2025.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1:48.
[[Page 42427]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2023.
John Augustine,
Director of the Office of Infrastructure Finance and Innovation, Office
of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-13939 Filed 6-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
