Research and Innovative Technology Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing notice that it intends to hold a Distracted Driving Summit (The Summit) to exchange information and ideas on the best possible methods to reduce the number of crashes and deaths due to distracted driving.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) is requesting public comments on the proposed direction, goals, and objectives for the multi-modal ITS Program over the next five years. Comments will be used to shape a multi-year, strategic, research agenda that will result in an ITS Program Strategic Plan in October 2009. Respondents to this RFI are invited to comment on any of the items; in particular, respondents are encouraged

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 7, 2008 (73 FR 58709).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS requiring U.S. large certificated air carriers to submit two true and complete copies of its annual audit that is made by an independent public accountant. If a carrier does not have an annual audit, the carrier must file a statement that no audit has been performed. Comments are requested concerning whether (1) The audit reports are needed by BTS and DOT; (2) BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden; (3) there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; and (4) there are ways to minimize reporting burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This notice announces, pursuant to section 10(A)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Public Law 72-363; 5 U.S.C. app. 2), a meeting of the BTS Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics (ACTS). The meeting will be held Thursday, July 31, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington DC, on the 1st Floor, West Building, in the Oklahoma City Room. The ACTS, established under section 6007 of Public Law 102-240, Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, December 18, 1991, and chartered on June 19, 1995, was created to advise the Director of BTS on transportation statistics and analyses, including whether or not the statistics and analysis disseminated by the BTS are of high quality and are based upon the best available objective information. The following is a summary of the meeting's agenda: (1) Introductions and Opening Remarks; (2) Program Update (a) Safety Data, (b) System Performance Data; (3) Challenges in Collecting and Disseminating National Transportation Statistics; (4) Identifying Transportation Data Needs; (5) General Discussion; and (6) Public Comments and Closing Remarks. Since access to the DOT building is controlled, all persons who plan to attend the meeting must notify Mrs. Tonya Tinsley-Grisham, the Committee Management Officer at (202) 366- 6268 prior to July 31, 2008. Individuals attending the meeting must report to the Lobby of the West Building for admission to the building. Attendance is open to the public, but limited space is available. With the approval of the Chair, members of the public may present oral statements at the meeting. Non-committee members wishing to present oral statements or obtain information should also contact Mrs. Tinsley- Grisham. Questions about the agenda or written comments may be submitted by U.S. Mail to: U.S. Department of Transportation, BTS, Attention: Robert A. Monniere, Room E35-330, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590 or faxed to (202) 366-3640. BTS requests that written comments be submitted prior to the meeting. Persons with a disability requiring special services, such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired, should contact Mrs. Tinsley- Grisham at (202) 366-6268 at least seven calendar days prior to the meeting. Notice of this meeting is provided in accordance with the FACA and the General Service Administration regulations (41 CFR part 102-3) covering management of Federal advisory committees.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) , this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on March 19, 2008 (73 FR 14872).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting financial, traffic and operating statistics from small certificated and commuter air carriers. Small certificated air carriers (operate aircraft with 60 seats or less or with 18,000 pounds of payload capacity or less) currently must file the two quarterly schedules listed below: F-1 Report of Financial Data, F-2 Report of Aircraft Operating Expenses and Related Statistics, and Commuter air carriers must file the Schedule F-1 Report of Financial Data, Commenters should address whether BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden and if there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected.

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), is assessing the current user needs and systems requirements of the inland (terrestrial) component of NDGPS. This assessment is in preparation for making a recommendation to the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee (https://www.pnt.gov) on the need to continue to operate the inland component of the NDGPS system, and to make a decision on funding the NDGPS. The assessment may recommend other funding sources for future maintenance or enhancement of NDGPS, or shared sponsorship with other Federal and non-Federal agencies and entities, including the private sector. If no transportation requirements or other federal user requirements are identified as a result of the needs assessment, and if there are no other Federal or other funding sources willing to sponsor or partner in sponsoring NDGPS, DOT would develop a decommissioning plan for NDGPS.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for extension of currently approved Report of Passengers Denied Confirmed Space. Earlier, a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on January 19, 2007 (72 FR 2591). The agency did not receive any comments to its previous notice.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval for a new information collection related to the use of and satisfaction with the nation's transportation system.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting reports on the number of passengers holding confirmed reservations that voluntarily or involuntarily give up their seats when the airline oversells the flight. Comments are requested concerning whether (a) the collection is still needed by the Department of Transportation; (b) BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden; (c) there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; and (d) there are ways to minimize reporting burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department) announced its National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network (the Congestion Initiative), a bold and comprehensive national program to reduce congestion on the Nation's roads, rails, runways, and waterways. One major component of the Congestion Initiative is the Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA). By separate notice in the Federal Register, the Department has solicited metropolitan areas to enter into UPAs to demonstrate strategies with a combined track record of effectiveness in reducing traffic congestion. See Applications for Urban Partnership Agreements as Part of Congestion Initiative, (71 FR 71231) dated December 8, 2006. To support this national strategy, the Department intends to award cooperative agreements to one or more successful jurisdictions to operationally test, demonstrate, and evaluate region- wide innovative technology based congestion mitigation strategies. The purpose of this notice is to solicit proposals by metropolitan areas to the Intelligent Transportation Systems Operational Testing to Mitigate Congestion (ITS-OTMC) Program for funding the implementation of innovative congestion-reducing technologies. The Department may provide successful jurisdictions up to $100 million over three years through the ITS-OTMC Program in support of innovative technology-based strategies to reduce congestion. This notice is one of three solicitations being issued by the Department in connection with the Congestion Initiative. See below ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coordination with Other Congestion Initiative Solicitations.''

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval for a new information collection related to the evaluation of a five-year demonstration/research program on voluntary reporting of close calls and near misses in the rail environment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 10, 2006 (71 FR 27313) and the comment period ended on July 9, 2006. The 60-day notice produced no comments.

Pursuant to section 5208 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), is developing a 5-year transportation research and development strategic plan. The purpose of this notice is to invite interested parties to review and submit comments on the draft Strategic Research, Development and Technology Plan of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The plan can be found by using the above docket number at https://dms.dot.gov.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for extension of currently approved reporting requirements. Earlier, a Federal Register Notice with a 60- day comment period was published on February 3, 2006 (71 FR 5904). The agency did not receive any comments to its previous notice.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for extension of currently approved reporting requirements. Earlier, a Federal Register Notice with a 60- day comment period was published on February 3, 2006 (71 FR 5905). The agency did not receive any comments to its previous notice.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting reports from air carriers on the aggregated indebtedness balance of a political candidate or party for Federal office. The reports are required when the aggregated indebtedness is over $5,000 on the last day of a month.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS requiring certificated air carriers to preserve accounting records, consumer complaint letters, reservation reports and records, system reports of aircraft movements, etc. Also, public charter operators and overseas military personnel charter operators are required to retain certain contracts, invoices, receipts, bank records and reservation records.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval for a new information collection related to the Nation's ferry operations. The information to be collected will be used to inventory existing ferry operations and to periodically update the report required by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) (P.L. 105-178), section 1207(c).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 17, 2004 (69 FR 75602).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of currently approved collections. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 30-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 17, 2004 (69 FR 75601).

Two new administrations, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, are being established within the United States Department of Transportation pursuant to the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act. Each new administration is established effective February 20, 2005. Accordingly, by this action, the Secretary delegates to the Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, functions required for the operation of each new administration. In addition, this final rule renames chapters I and XI of subtitle B of title 49 CFR.