Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review
| Published date | 28 October 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 68411 |
| Record Number | 2020-23782 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Federal Transit Administration,Transportation Department |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 209 (Wednesday, October 28, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68411-68412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23782]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[FTA Docket No. FTA 2020-0010]
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs)
abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the
information collection and their expected burdens.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 27, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
Comments are Invited On: Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Department, including whether the information will have practical
utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the
proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its
full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tia Swain, Office of Administration,
Management Planning Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Mail Stop TAD-
10, Washington, DC 20590 (202) 366-0354 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
Public Law 104-13, Section 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised
at 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part
1320, require Federal agencies to issue two notices seeking public
comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve
paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1),
1320.12. On October 18, 2019, FTA published a 60-day notice (84 FR
56012) in the Federal Register soliciting comments on the ICR that the
agency was seeking OMB approval. FTA received no comments after issuing
this 60-day notice. Accordingly, DOT announces that these information
collection activities have been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR
1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5
CFR 1320.12(c).
Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C.
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or
disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day
notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also
60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30-day notice
informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords
the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication
to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
The summaries below describe the nature of the information
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by
the PRA.
Title: Charter Service Operations.
OMB Control Number: 2132-0543.
Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved information
collection.
Abstract: FTA recipients may only provide charter bus service with
FTA-funded facilities and equipment if the charter service is
incidental to the provision of transit service (49 U.S.C. 5323(d)).
This restriction protects charter service providers from unauthorized
competition by FTA recipients.
The requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5323(d) are implemented in FTA's
charter regulation (Charter Service Rule) at 49 CFR part 604. Amended
in 2008, the Charter Service Rule now contains five (5) provisions that
impose information collection requirements on FTA recipients of
financial assistance from FTA under Federal Transit Law.
First, 49 CFR Section 604.4 requires all applicants for Federal
financial assistance under Federal Transit Law, unless otherwise
exempted under 49 CFR 604.2, to enter into a ``Charter Service
Agreement,'' contained in the Certifications and Assurances for FTA
Assistance Programs. The Certifications and Assurances become a part of
the Grant Agreement or Cooperative Agreement for Federal financial
assistance upon receipt of Federal funds. The rule requires each
applicant to submit one Charter Service Agreement for each year that
the applicant intends to apply for the Federal financial assistance
specified above.
Second, 49 CFR 604.14(3) requires a recipient of Federal funds
under Federal Transit Law, unless otherwise exempt, to provide email
notification to all registered charter providers in the recipient's
geographic service area each time the recipient receives a request for
charter service that the recipient is interested in providing.
[[Page 68412]]
Third, 49 CFR 604.12(c) requires a recipient, unless otherwise
exempt under 49 CFR 604.2, to submit on a quarterly basis records of
all instances that the recipient provided charter service.
Fourth, 49 CFR 604.13 requires a private charter provider to
register on FTA's Charter Registration website at http://ftawebprod.fta.dot.gov/CharterRegistration/ in order to qualify as a
registered charter service provider and receive email notifications by
recipients that are interested in providing a requested charter
service. The rule requires that a registered charter service provider
must update its information on the Charter Registration website at
least once every two years. Currently, there are a total of 287
registered private charter service providers. Registration has
consistently decreased over the years.
Lastly, 49 CFR 604.7 permits recipients to provide charter service
to Qualified Human Service Organizations (QHSO) under limited
circumstances. QHSOs that do not receive Federal funding under programs
listed in Appendix A to Part 604 and seek to receive free or reduced
rate services from recipients must register on FTA's Charter
Registration website (49 CFR 604.15(a)).
Respondents: State and local government, business or other for-
profit institutions, and non-profit institutions.
Estimated Annual Respondents: 2,180 respondents.
Estimated Annual Burden on Respondents: 403.3 hours (0.05 hours for
each of the 1,676 Recipient respondents under 49 CFR 604.4. 1.25 hours
for each of the 90 Recipient respondents under 49 CFR 604.12, 0.50
hours for each of the 90 Recipient respondents under 49 CFR 604.14.
0.50 hours for each of the 37 non-profit respondents, and 0.50 hours
for each of the estimated 287 for-profit respondents.
Frequency: Annually, bi-annually, quarterly, and as required.
Nadine Pembleton,
Director Office of Management Planning.
[FR Doc. 2020-23782 Filed 10-27-20; 8:45 am]
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