Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: July 29, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 145)]

[Notices]

[Page 40581]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29jy98-125]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-98-4077]

Notice of Request for Clearance of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY: 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 FHWA to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new information collection. This information collection will be used to: (1) Gather information from motor carriers regarding their expectations/experience with compliance reviews conducted by the FHWA Office of Motor Carriers (OMC); and (2) provide a baseline to measure improvements in customer satisfaction. The information collected from the survey will help the OMC assess the usefulness of the compliance review process, including whether the reviews are being conducted in a business-like manner, and what additional services and information the OMC could provide.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: All signed, written comments should refer to the docket number that appears in the heading of this document and must be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001. All comments received will be available for examination at the above address between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Schafer, (202) 366-2953, Office of Motor Carriers, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Motor Carrier Assessment of Compliance Reviews.

Background: The mission of the FHWA's OMC is to promote safe transportation of passengers and goods on the Nation's highways. In the performance of its duties, the OMC conducts periodic compliance reviews with motor carriers in each State. The reviews are normally held at the motor carrier's principal place of business. Compliance reviews are investigations of the carrier's operation to determine whether they meet the safety fitness standards. To meet the safety fitness standards, a motor carrier must demonstrate that it has adequate safety management controls in place which function effectively to ensure acceptable compliance with applicable safety requirements. Upon completion of a compliance review, FHWA assigns the carrier either a satisfactory, conditional, or unsatisfactory rating. A satisfactory rating means the carrier has established and is using adequate safety management controls that meet FHWA's safety fitness standards. A conditional rating means a carrier has adequate controls that could result in violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. An unsatisfactory rating means that the carrier has inadequate controls that have resulted in violations of the regulations. Compliance reviews can result in enforcement actions against a carrier for violations of safety regulations. A civil fine is a primary enforcement tool used by the FHWA to induce regulatory compliance.

A survey of selected review participants will provide the information necessary for the OMC to assess these compliance reviews so that ongoing improvements to the compliance review process can be accomplished. The information will be collected on a standardized questionnaire, via mail or by telephone. Respondents will be advised of the purpose for the survey and the confidentiality of their responses, either by an accompanying letter or orally by telephone. The questionnaire will request respondents to provide information pertaining to the compliance review process (i.e., notification, purpose and length of the review). The information will be collected from motor carriers shortly after FHWA or State officials complete a compliance review. It is estimated that approximately 9,200 compliance reviews are conducted annually. Of the 9,200 reviews, surveys will be conducted for approximately 1,500 reviews. The results of the surveys will be analyzed and presented in a report to the management of the OMC. This report will be used for ongoing improvements to the compliance review process.

Respondents: The individuals asked to respond to the survey will be the motor carrier employee who signed for receipt of the compliance review.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 250 hours.

Frequency: Collection will occur following completion of each of the 1,500 reviews which will be identified for the survey.

Public Comments Invited: Interested parties are invited to send comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, including, but not limited to: (1) The necessity and utility of the information collection for the proper performance of the functions of the FHWA; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of the collected information. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

Electronic Availability: An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the Federal Register electronic bulletin board service (telephone number: 202-512-1661). Internet users may reach the Federal Register's WWW site at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su__docs.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322(a), 329(a), 31133(a); and 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on: July 23, 1998. George S. Moore, Jr., Associate Administrator for Administration.

[FR Doc. 98-20231Filed7-28-98; 8:45 am]

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