Research and Innovative Technology Administration July 9, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 to make changes to an existing information collection related to the Nation's ferry operations (National Census of Ferry Operators, OMB Control Number2139-0009). The data collected for the national census of ferry operators (NCFO) have historically been used to produce a descriptive database of existing ferry operations. Recently enacted MAP-21 legislation (Pub. L. 112-141, section 1121(b)), requires that the NCFO data be used by The Federal Highway Administration for funding allocations based on a specific set of formulae. As a result, BTS is proposing the elimination of census questions that do not support the MAP-21 requirements; while adding items needed to support the FHWA's funding algorithms. As with all previous NCFO initiatives, business sensitive information provided by ferry operators will not be made public. The Information provided will however, be shared with FHWA in order to support their funding allocations as dictated in MAP-21. For copies of the old and new NCFO questionnaires with edits, please contact the project director.