Agency Information Collection Activities: Approval of Information Collection, 23626-23628 [2024-07055]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
confidential claim highlighting or
denoting the CCI portions. If possible,
please provide a summary of your
submission that can be made available
to the public.
In the event MARAD receives a
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
request for the information, procedures
described in the Department’s FOIA
regulation at 49 CFR 7.29 will be
followed. Only information that is
ultimately determined to be confidential
under those procedures will be exempt
from disclosure under FOIA.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic
form of all comments received into any
of our dockets by the name of the
individual submitting the comment (or
signing the comment, if submitted on
behalf of an association, business, labor
union, etc.). For information on DOT’s
compliance with the Privacy Act, please
visit https://www.transportation.gov/
privacy.
(Authority: 49 CFR 1.93(a), 46 U.S.C. 55103,
46 U.S.C. 12121)
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–07143 Filed 4–3–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–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.
30-Day notice and request for
comments.
ACTION:
The proposed information
collection request (ICR) renewal
described below will be submitted to
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval, as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA). The Department of
Transportation (DOT) is soliciting
public comments on this proposed
collection renewal. 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
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
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Jkt 262001
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. The DOT on its own made
additional changes to update time and
estimated costs. Additionally, DOT
removed the program evaluation stage
(survey) and will submit that separately
if conducted.
DATES: Written comments should be
submitted by May 6, 2024.
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 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)
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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.
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 § 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
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, and the funding agreement
negotiation stage for new awards.
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.
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)
Respondent
2023
2023
2023
2024
2024
2024
2025
2025
2025
Applicant (500) ..............................................
Awardee (45) ................................................
Recipient (45) ...............................................
Applicant (500) ..............................................
Awardee (45) ................................................
Recipient (45) ...............................................
Applicant (500) ..............................................
Awardee (45) ................................................
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,
Year 2
(2024)
Year 3
(2025)
Total
Hours
Frequency
Hours
Frequency
Hours
Frequency
100
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
1
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
6
..................
100
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
1
..................
1
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
5
..................
6
..................
100
..................
..................
..................
..................
4
..................
1
..................
1
..................
..................
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
50,000
270
900
50,000
270
..................
50,000
..................
..................
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:
TABLE 2
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Respondent
Total
Number
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
2016–2022 Awardee ..................................
2016–2022 Recipient .................................
2016–2022 Project Closed .........................
47
70
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.
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Hrs
Freq
4
5
0
Number
1
4
0
10
77
20
Hrs
Freq
4
5
0
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:
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Number
1
4
0
0
64
43
Hrs
Freq
4
5
0
1
4
0
200
3,800
............
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.
Estimated Total 3-Year Burden on
Respondents: 79,700 hours. (New
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Applicants [75,000 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 1inch 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
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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.
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.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
Notice of OFAC Sanctions Actions
Office of Foreign Assets
Control, Treasury.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
The U.S. Department of the
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is publishing the names
of one or more persons that have been
placed on OFAC’s Specially Designated
Nationals and Blocked Persons List
(SDN List) based on OFAC’s
determination that one or more
applicable legal criteria were satisfied.
All property and interests in property
subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these
persons are blocked, and U.S. persons
are generally prohibited from engaging
in transactions with them.
SUMMARY:
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for effective date(s).
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
OFAC: Bradley T. Smith, Director, tel.:
202–622–2490; Associate Director for
Global Targeting, tel.: 202–622–2420;
Assistant Director for Licensing, tel.:
202–622–2480; Assistant Director for
Regulatory Affairs, tel.: 202–622–4855;
or the Assistant Director for Sanctions
Compliance & Evaluation, tel.: 202–622–
2490.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability
The SDN List and additional
information concerning OFAC sanctions
programs are available on OFAC’s
website (https://www.treasury.gov/ofac).
Notice of OFAC Action[s]
On March 25, 2024, OFAC
determined that the property and
interests in property subject to U.S.
jurisdiction of the following persons are
blocked under the relevant sanctions
authorities listed below.
BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P
John Augustine,
Director of the Office of Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation, Office of the Under
Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024–07055 Filed 4–3–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 66 (Thursday, April 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23626-23628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07055]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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: 30-Day notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The proposed information collection request (ICR) renewal
described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The Department of Transportation (DOT) is
soliciting public comments on this proposed collection renewal. 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. The DOT on its own made additional
changes to update time and estimated costs. Additionally, DOT removed
the program evaluation stage (survey) and will submit that separately
if conducted.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by May 6, 2024.
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.
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
[[Page 23627]]
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, and the funding agreement negotiation
stage for new awards.
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.
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 Awardee (45)........... .......... .......... 6 1 .......... .......... 270
2023 Recipient (45)......... .......... .......... .......... .......... 5 4 900
2024 Applicant (500)........ .......... .......... 100 1 .......... .......... 50,000
2024 Awardee (45)........... .......... .......... .......... .......... 6 1 270
2024 Recipient (45)......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........
2025 Applicant (500)........ .......... .......... .......... .......... 100 1 50,000
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:
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.
Estimated Total 3-Year Burden on Respondents: 79,700 hours. (New
[[Page 23628]]
Applicants [75,000 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.
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.
John Augustine,
Director of the Office of Infrastructure Finance and Innovation, Office
of the Under Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024-07055 Filed 4-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
