[Federal Register: November 1, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 212)]
[Notices]
[Page 65372]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01no00-98]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2000-8033]
Notice of Request for Comments on Renewing the Approval for an
Information Collection: Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This action informs the public that FMCSA intends to request
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew approval for the
information collection required by the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance
Program. That information consists of grant application preparation,
quarterly reports, and electronic data documenting the results of
driver/vehicle inspections performed by the states. This notice is
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.
DATES: You must submit comments by January 2, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or submit electronically at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://dmses.dot.gov/submit.
Be sure to include the docket number appearing in
the heading of this document on your comment. All comments received
will be available for examination and copying at the above address from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
If you would like to be notified when your comment is received, you
must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may print the
acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments
electronically.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James D. McCauley, (202) 366-0133,
Office of Safety Programs, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC,
20590. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., e.t., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
OMB Number: 2126-0010.
Background: Sections 401-404 of the Surface Transportation
Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA) established a program of financial
assistance to states for the purpose of implementing programs to
enforce (a) Federal rules, regulations, standards, and orders
applicable to commercial motor vehicle safety; and (b) compatible state
rules, regulations, standards, and orders. This grant-in-aid program is
known as the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). The
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) added
programs, such as drug interdiction, traffic enforcement, and size and
weight activities to the core program established by the STAA.
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) further
revised the MCSAP by broadening its purpose beyond enforcement
activities and programs by requiring participating states to assume
greater responsibility for improving motor carrier safety. The TEA-21
required states to develop performance-based plans reflecting national
priorities and performance goals, revised the MCSAP funding
distribution formula, and created a new incentive funding program. As a
result, States are given greater flexibility in designing programs to
address national and State goals for reducing the number and severity
of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) accidents. The implementing
regulations were published in a final rule in the March 21, 2000,
Federal Register at 65 FR 15092.
In order to qualify for a grant, participating states must submit a
Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP). After the grant is awarded,
states must submit inspection data and quarterly reports explaining
work activities and accomplishments. The FMCSA monitors and evaluates a
state's progress under its approved CVSP. The agency also determines
whether a change in the state's level of effort is required to meet the
intended objectives of the CVSP. If a state fails to operate within the
guidelines of the approved CVSP or does not remedy any identified
deficiencies or incompatibilities in a timely manner, the FMCSA may
cease participation in that state's CVSP. This information collection
provides the basis for these responsibilities and decisions.
The quarterly report and inspection data are collected
electronically. States continue to submit the CVSP in hard copy. The
estimated annual burden for this collection has been significantly
reduced due to increased use of information technology.
Respondents: State and local MCSAP lead agencies.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: Grant application preparation: 832
hours; quarterly report preparation: 333 hours; inspection data upload:
6,667 hours. The above figures reflect 20 percent of the total
estimated hours to perform the activities listed since MCSAP reimburses
up to 80 percent of the eligible costs incurred in the administration
of an approved plan as set forth in 49 CFR 350.303, 350.309 and
350.311.
Public Comments Invited: We invite you to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including, but not limited to (1) whether
the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the FMCSA, including whether the information has
practical utility; (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 information collected.
Electronic Access and Filing: You may submit or retrieve comments
online through the Docket Management System (DMS) at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://dmses.dot.gov/submit.
Acceptable formats include: MS Word (versions 95
to 97), MS Word for Mac (versions 6 to 8), Rich Text File (RTF),
American Standard Code Information Interchange (ASCII)(TXT), Portable
Document Format (PDF), and WordPerfect (versions 7 to 8). The DMS is
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission
and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section
of the web site.
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202)
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's
home page at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nara.gov/fedreg
and the Government Printing Offices's web page at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.73.
Issued on: October 17, 2000.
Clyde J. Hart, Jr.,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-27974 Filed 10-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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