Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection, 107190-107191 [2024-31393]

Download as PDF khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES 107190 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 250 / Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / Notices Inc., filed a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for an exemption from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to abandon an approximately 3.8mile rail line between milepost 0.1 and the end of the line, all of which is located in Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn. (the Line).1 The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 37920 and has no stations. According to KXHR, it is seeking authority to abandon the Line because the traffic and revenues from the sole shipper, Ergon Terminaling, Inc. (Ergon), are insufficient to cover the costs of maintaining and operating the Line. (Pet. 3–5.) KXHR states that Ergon has significantly reduced its use of the Line, (id. at 5), and as a result, KXHR faces significant hardship from continued operation of the Line at a loss, (id. at 4). According to KXHR, since 2019, it has not received enough revenue to sustain operations, receiving an average of 8.2 carloads per year from 2019–2024. (Id.) KXHR states that the average revenue per year over the last five years for the Line is $5,343.00, and the operating costs of the Line currently exceed the average revenue generated from the Line by over 90%. (Id.) KXHR does not anticipate current traffic volumes will increase significantly. (Id.) Additionally, KXHR states that its initiatives to market and develop new local businesses on the Line have failed. (Id. at 6.) According to KXHR, portions of the Line are situated in a rapidly developing area, with the first 1.5 miles expanding into a mixed-use residential/ commercial development area, making it extremely costly and unlikely for new shippers or industries to make use of or require freight services. (Id.) Moreover, KXHR states that a tunnel at milepost 0.1 requires significant rehabilitation efforts to ensure continued safe and efficient operations on the Line.2 (Id.) KXHR states that, given the Line’s limited and unpredictable traffic and the lack of projected future traffic, there is no way the Line can be operated profitably. (Id.) According to KXHR, Ergon can, and has, used alternative modes, such as barge and truck, for its transportation needs. (Id. at 4–5.) KXHR states that it notified Ergon around October 2024 that it planned to seek abandonment authority and terminate its common carrier obligations over the Line and served Ergon with a copy of its petition. (Id. at 6–7.) KXHR further states that 1 On December 17, 2024, KXHR filed an errata with an updated map. 2 According to KXHR, the state of the tunnel currently limits the type of freight that can traverse the Line, furthering limiting KXHR’s potential for new traffic. (Pet. 6 n.8.) VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:56 Dec 30, 2024 Jkt 265001 there are no overhead operations on the Line. (Id. at 7.) KXHR states that, based on information in its possession, the Line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any documentation in KXHR’s possession will be made available promptly to those requesting it. The interest of railroad employees will be protected by the conditions set forth in Oregon Short Line Railroad— Abandonment Portion Goshen Branch Between Firth & Ammon, in Bingham & Bonneville Counties, Idaho, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). By issuing this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption proceeding pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be issued by March 31, 2025. Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) will be due no later than 120 days after the filing of the petition for exemption, or 10 days after service of a decision granting the petition for exemption, whichever occurs sooner. Persons interested in submitting an OFA must first file a formal expression of intent to file an offer by January 10, 2025, indicating the type of financial assistance they wish to provide (i.e., subsidy or purchase) and demonstrating that they are preliminarily financially responsible. See 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(1)(i). The Line may be suitable for other public use, including interim trail use. Any request for a public use condition under 49 CFR 1152.28 or for interim trail use/railbanking under 49 CFR 1152.29 will be due no later than January 21, 2025.3 All pleadings, referring to Docket No. AB 580 (Sub-No. 1X), must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing on the Board’s website or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on KXHR’s representative, Crystal M. Zorbaugh, Mullins Law Group PLLC, 2001 L St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036. Replies to the petition are due on or before February 10, 2025. Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment procedures may contact the Board’s Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at (202) 245–0238 or refer to the full abandonment regulations at 49 CFR part 1152. Questions concerning environmental issues may be directed to the Board’s Office of Environmental 3 Filing fees for OFAs and trail use requests can be found at 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25) and (27), respectively. PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Analysis (OEA) at (202) 245–0294. If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call (202) 245–0245. OEA will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) (or environmental impact statement (EIS), if necessary), which will be served upon all parties of record and upon any other agencies or persons who comment during its preparation. Other interested persons may contact OEA to obtain a copy of the EA (or EIS). EAs in abandonment proceedings normally will be made available within 60 days of the filing of the petition. The deadline for submission of comments on the EA generally will be within 30 days of its service. Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. Decided: December 23, 2024. By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Stefan Rice, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2024–31375 Filed 12–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration [Docket No. FHWA–2024–0085] Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Please submit comments by January 30, 2025. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 0085 by any of the following methods: Website: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Fax: 1–202–493–2251. Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM 31DEN1 khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 250 / Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / Notices W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derek Constable, (202) 366–4606, Office of Bridges and Structures, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue Southeast, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on October 25, 2024, at [89 FR 85282]. There were no comments received. Title: FY24 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP). Background: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public Law 118–42, Section 126, March 9, 2024, provides $250 million to be awarded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for a Competitive Highway Bridge Program. Eligible applicants are States that have a population density of less than 115 individuals per square mile and less than 26% of total bridges classified as in good condition; or greater than or equal to 5.2% of total bridges classified in poor condition. States meeting the population criteria and that have greater than 14% of total bridges classified as in poor condition are eligible to receive no less than $32,500,000. The funds shall be used for highway bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects on public roads that demonstrate cost savings by bundling multiple highway bridge projects. Population density is calculated based on the latest available data from the decennial census conducted under section 14(a) of title 13, United States Code. Percentages of bridge counts are based on the National Bridge Inventory as of June 2023. [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public Law 118–42, Section 126, March 9, 2024] Population density is calculated based on the latest available data on March 9, 2024, the date which the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, became law. Resident population density is used. The percentages are based on number of bridges. Funds shall be obligated by September 30, 2027. Based on these requirements, eligible applicants are the State Departments of VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:31 Dec 30, 2024 Jkt 265001 Transportation (State DOTs) of Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. State DOTs that are eligible to receive no less than $32,500,000 include Iowa, Maine, South Dakota, and West Virginia. Awards will be made only to a State DOT. Applications by non-State Dot entities must be submitted by the State DOT in which they are located. Each application will require the following project narrative: • A discussion and supporting information that describes the project description, location, and project parties, • a discussion and supporting information on proposed project funding including the sources and availability of funds to supplement a grant award and to supplement the Federal share, • a discussion and supporting information on how the project meets the CHBP merit criteria, • a discussion and supporting information on project readiness and environmental status to include discussion and supporting information on technical feasibility, project schedule, status of required approvals including environmental permits and reviews, status of State, metropolitan, and local planning document approvals, and an assessment of project risks and mitigation strategies. Each applicant selected for CHBP grant funding will be required to execute a project agreement which is a type of grant agreement for administration of funds to a State DOT in FHWA’s Fiscal Management System. In the agreement, the recipient must describe the project that FHWA agreed to fund, which is the project that was described in the application or a reduced-scope version of that project. The agreement also includes project schedule milestones, a budget, and project-related goals. Each applicant selected for CHBP grant funding (awardee) will be required to collect and report project monitoring information. This will include information on the project’s performance using performance indicators supplied by FHWA that relate to CHBP goals. Performance reporting continues for several years after project construction is completed. Each awardee will submit progress and monitoring reports on a quarterly basis until completion of the project as determined by FHWA. This information will be used to monitor awardees’ use PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 107191 of Federal funds, ensuring accountability and financial transparency. These requirements will be further detailed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity This notice seeks comments on the proposed information collection, which will collect information necessary to support the evaluation of applications and selection of project awards, the funding agreement negotiation stage for awards, and project monitoring. Respondents: Any eligible State DOT can submit as many as three applications. A limit of three applications will be specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. There are 18 eligible States. Frequency: Annually. Estimated Average Burden per Response: 100 hours per respondent per application. In addition, each awarded project is estimated to require 60 hours for negotiating and signing the funding agreement and project monitoring reporting including performance indicator and financial monitoring. FHWA is estimates that project monitoring will occur for four years. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: It is estimated that the respondents will complete approximately 27 applications for an estimated total of 2,700 burden hours. In addition, it is estimated that there will be 18 awarded projects for an estimated total of 1,080 additional burden hours. There are 3,780 total annual burden hours. Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FHWA’s performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB’s clearance of this information collection. Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on: December 26, 2024. Jazmyne Lewis, Information Collection Officer. [FR Doc. 2024–31393 Filed 12–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM 31DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107190-107191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31393]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2024-0085]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments 
for a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request 
described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
to approve a new information collection. We are required to publish 
this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by January 30, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
0085 by any of the following methods:
    Website: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov.
    Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room

[[Page 107191]]

W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derek Constable, (202) 366-4606, 
Office of Bridges and Structures, Federal Highway Administration, 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue Southeast, 
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a Federal Register Notice with 
a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on 
October 25, 2024, at [89 FR 85282]. There were no comments received.
    Title: FY24 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP).
    Background: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public Law 
118-42, Section 126, March 9, 2024, provides $250 million to be awarded 
by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for a Competitive Highway 
Bridge Program.
    Eligible applicants are States that have a population density of 
less than 115 individuals per square mile and less than 26% of total 
bridges classified as in good condition; or greater than or equal to 
5.2% of total bridges classified in poor condition. States meeting the 
population criteria and that have greater than 14% of total bridges 
classified as in poor condition are eligible to receive no less than 
$32,500,000. The funds shall be used for highway bridge replacement or 
rehabilitation projects on public roads that demonstrate cost savings 
by bundling multiple highway bridge projects. Population density is 
calculated based on the latest available data from the decennial census 
conducted under section 14(a) of title 13, United States Code. 
Percentages of bridge counts are based on the National Bridge Inventory 
as of June 2023. [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public Law 
118-42, Section 126, March 9, 2024]
    Population density is calculated based on the latest available data 
on March 9, 2024, the date which the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2024, became law. Resident population density is used. The percentages 
are based on number of bridges. Funds shall be obligated by September 
30, 2027.
    Based on these requirements, eligible applicants are the State 
Departments of Transportation (State DOTs) of Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, 
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, 
Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, 
Wisconsin, and Wyoming. State DOTs that are eligible to receive no less 
than $32,500,000 include Iowa, Maine, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
    Awards will be made only to a State DOT. Applications by non-State 
Dot entities must be submitted by the State DOT in which they are 
located.
    Each application will require the following project narrative:
     A discussion and supporting information that describes the 
project description, location, and project parties,
     a discussion and supporting information on proposed 
project funding including the sources and availability of funds to 
supplement a grant award and to supplement the Federal share,
     a discussion and supporting information on how the project 
meets the CHBP merit criteria,
     a discussion and supporting information on project 
readiness and environmental status to include discussion and supporting 
information on technical feasibility, project schedule, status of 
required approvals including environmental permits and reviews, status 
of State, metropolitan, and local planning document approvals, and an 
assessment of project risks and mitigation strategies.
    Each applicant selected for CHBP grant funding will be required to 
execute a project agreement which is a type of grant agreement for 
administration of funds to a State DOT in FHWA's Fiscal Management 
System. In the agreement, the recipient must describe the project that 
FHWA agreed to fund, which is the project that was described in the 
application or a reduced-scope version of that project. The agreement 
also includes project schedule milestones, a budget, and project-
related goals.
    Each applicant selected for CHBP grant funding (awardee) will be 
required to collect and report project monitoring information. This 
will include information on the project's performance using performance 
indicators supplied by FHWA that relate to CHBP goals. Performance 
reporting continues for several years after project construction is 
completed. Each awardee will submit progress and monitoring reports on 
a quarterly basis until completion of the project as determined by 
FHWA. This information will be used to monitor awardees' use of Federal 
funds, ensuring accountability and financial transparency.
    These requirements will be further detailed in the Notice of 
Funding Opportunity
    This notice seeks comments on the proposed information collection, 
which will collect information necessary to support the evaluation of 
applications and selection of project awards, the funding agreement 
negotiation stage for awards, and project monitoring.
    Respondents: Any eligible State DOT can submit as many as three 
applications. A limit of three applications will be specified in the 
Notice of Funding Opportunity. There are 18 eligible States.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 100 hours per respondent per 
application. In addition, each awarded project is estimated to require 
60 hours for negotiating and signing the funding agreement and project 
monitoring reporting including performance indicator and financial 
monitoring. FHWA is estimates that project monitoring will occur for 
four years.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: It is estimated that the 
respondents will complete approximately 27 applications for an 
estimated total of 2,700 burden hours. In addition, it is estimated 
that there will be 18 awarded projects for an estimated total of 1,080 
additional burden hours. There are 3,780 total annual burden hours.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of 
the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that 
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic 
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. 
The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request 
for OMB's clearance of this information collection.
    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: December 26, 2024.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-31393 Filed 12-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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