Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 148 / Wednesday, August 2, 2006 / Notices 43835 

the Secretary to establish a technical 

advisory committee to collect and 

evaluate technical input from 

appropriate Federal, State, and local 

officials with responsibility for 

transportation; transportation and trade 

associations; emergency management 

officials; freight providers; the general 

public; and other entities and persons 

determined to be appropriate by the 

Secretary to ensure a diverse range of 

views. (SAFETEA–LU, § 1909(b)(8)). 

The Surface Transportation Policy and 

Revenue Technical Advisory Committee 

is necessary and in the public interest. 

A. Notice Of Intent To Establish An 

Advisory Committee And Request For 

Comment: In accordance with the 

requirements of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (FACA, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), 

an agency of the Federal government 

cannot establish or utilize a group of 

people in the interest of obtaining 

consensus advice or recommendations 

unless that group is chartered as a 

Federal advisory committee. The 

purpose of this notice is to indicate the 

DOT’s intent to create a Federal 

advisory committee to collect and 

evaluate technical input as directed in 

section 1909(b)(8) of the SAFETEA–LU. 

B. Name Of Committee: Surface 

Transportation Policy and Revenue 

Technical Advisory Committee (STPR–

TAC). 

C. Purpose And Objective: The STPR–

TAC will collect comments and evaluate 

technical information provided by 

stakeholders regarding the needs and 

financing of surface transportation as 

described in sections 1909(b)(5), (6), and 

(7). The STPR–TAC will report directly 

to the Secretary of Transportation. With 

the Secretary’s approval, the TAC may 

assist with the work of the Revenue 

Commission including assisting with 

the collection and evaluation of 

technical information on the needs and 

financing of surface transportation as 

described in sections 1909(b)(5), (6), and 

(7) of SAFETEA–LU. With the 

Secretary’s approval, and at the request 

of the Revenue Commission, the TAC, 

or individual TAC members, may be 

asked to assist with the incorporation of 

their work into the Revenue 

Commission’s report to Congress. This 

may include drafting specific sections of 

the report or providing substantive 

technical reviews of the report, as it is 

prepared. The TAC may also participate 

in other matters closely related to the 

work of the Revenue Commission as 

approved by the Secretary. 

The STPR–TAC will not exercise 

program management or regulatory 

development responsibilities and will 

make no decisions directly affecting the 

programs on which it provides advice. 

The STPR–TAC will provide technical 

advice to the Secretary of 

Transportation, or as directed to the 

Revenue Commission, from a 

knowledgeable and independent 

perspective. 

D. Balanced Membership Plans: The 

TAC’s membership shall be large 

enough to promote deliberations, but 

shall include only the number necessary 

to ensure the breadth and balance of 

expertise required to accomplish its 

purpose. Members of the TAC should 

possess the requisite skills and abilities 

to collect technical information and to 

provide meaningful advice and 

recommendations on the needs and 

financing of surface transportation as 

described in sections 1909(b)(5), (6), and 

(7). 

This document gives notice of the 

purpose of the STPR–TAC and affords 

those interested working on the STPR–

TAC the opportunity to submit an 

application to the DOT. The procedure 

for submitting an application is set out 

in paragraph E of this notice. 

The DOT is aware that there are many 

more potential organizations and 

participants than there are membership 

opportunities on the STPR–TAC. It is 

very important to recognize that 

interested persons who are not selected 

for membership on the STPR–TAC can 

make valuable contributions to the work 

of the STPR–TAC. Interested persons 

and organizations may request to be 

placed on the STPR–TAC mailing list 

and may submit written comments to 

the STPR–TAC. 

Advisory committee meetings must be 

open to the public except where closed 

or partially-closed, as determined 

proper and consistent with the 

exemptions of the Government in the 

Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c). Any 

member of the public is welcome to 

attend the open STPR–TAC meetings, 

and, as provided in FACA, may contact 

and communicate with the STPR–TAC 

directly. Time will be set-aside during 

open meetings for this purpose, 

consistent with the STPR–TAC’s need 

for sufficient time to complete its 

deliberations. 

E. Applications for Membership: Each 

application for membership or 

nomination to the STPR–TAC should 

include: 

(1) The name of the applicant or 

nominee and a statement of interest in 

the purpose and objectives of the STPR–

TAC; 

(2) References and a justification in 

support of the applicant’s or nominee’s 

unique qualifications for participation 

on the TAC; and 

(3) A written commitment that the 

applicant or nominee would participate 

in good faith. 

Every effort will be made to select 

STPR–TAC members who can make 

significant contributions to the advisory 

committee’s efforts. A balance is needed 

and weight is given to a variety of 

factors including, but not limited to, 

geographical distribution, gender, 

minority status, organization, and 

expertise. 

F. Duration: The STPR–TAC will 

terminate 2 years after the date of the 

filing of the STPR–TAC charter unless 

prior to that time the charter is extended 

in accordance with the FACA and other 

applicable requirements. 

G. Notice of Establishment: After 

evaluating applications as a result of 

this Notice, the Department will issue a 

notice announcing the establishment 

and composition of the STPR–TAC. 

(Authority: Section 1909(b)(8) of Pub. L. 109–

59) 

Issued on: July 27, 2006. 

Maria Cino, 

Acting Secretary of Transportation. 

[FR Doc. E6–12436 Filed 8–1–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Highway Administration 

Environment Impact Statement: 

Jefferson and St. Clair Counties, AL 

AGENCY: Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent. 

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this 

notice to advise the public that an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

will be prepared for a proposed highway 

project in Jefferson and St. Clair 

Counties, Alabama. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Catherine A. Batey, Acting Division 

Administrator, Federal Highway 

Administration, Alabama Division 

Office, 500 Eastern Blvd, Suite 200, 

Montgomery, AL 36117–2018, 

Telephone: (334) 223–7370. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

FHWA, in cooperation with the 

Alabama Department of Transportation, 

will prepare an EIS for Federal-aid 

Project STPAA–PE00(6). The proposed 

project would involve an extension of 

the Birmingham Northern Beltline from 

Interstate 59 in Trussville, Jefferson 

County, to Interstate 20 in the vicinity 

of Leeds, St. Clair County, Alabama, for 

a distance of about 10 miles. 

The Birmingham Northern Beltline is 

a planned limited access facility 


wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
43836 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 148 / Wednesday, August 2, 2006 / Notices 

intended to provide a circumferential 

expressway system around the 

Birmingham metropolitan area. The 

extension of the Beltline that is 

proposed under this project is 

considered necessary to provide a 

connecting link between Interstate 59 to 

Interstate 20. 

Alternatives under consideration 

include (1) Taking no action; and (2) 

constructing a new multi-lane, limited 

access highway on new location. 

Incorporated into and studied with the 

various build alternatives within the 

corridor study limits, will be proposed 

interchange locations and designs at the 

crossing of U.S. 411 (S.R. 20) and the 

route terminus at Interstate 20. 

Input for further defining the purpose 

and need for the proposed project and 

additional alternatives will be 

accomplished via the following. Letters 

describing the proposed action and 

soliciting comments will be sent to 

appropriate Federal, State, and local 

agencies, and to private organizations 

and citizens who have previously 

expressed or are known to have interest 

in this proposal. Agencies will also be 

invited by letter to attend a formal 

Scoping Meeting. A series of public 

meetings will be held within the 

corridor study area. In addition, a public 

hearing will be held upon approval of 

the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will be 

available for public and agency review 

and comment prior to the public 

hearing. Public notice will be given of 

the time and place of the meetings and 

hearing. To ensure that the full range of 

issues related to this proposed action 

are addressed and all significant issues 

identified, comments and suggestions 

are invited from all interested parties. 

Comments or questions concerning this 

proposed action should be directed to 

the FHWA contact person identified in 

the address provided above. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning 

and Construction. The regulations 

implementing Executive Order 12372 

regarding intergovernmental consultation on 

Federal programs and activities apply to this 

program.) 

Issued on July 27, 2006. 

Bill Van Luchene, 

Acting Division Administrator, Montgomery, 

AL. 

[FR Doc. 06–6631 Filed 8–1–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

Proposed Agency Information 

Collection Activities; Comment 

Request 

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice and Request For 

Comments. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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 

ICRs describe the nature of the 

information collection and their 

expected burden. The Federal Register 

notice with a 60-day comment period 

soliciting comments on the following 

collections of information was 

published on May 15, 2006 (71 FR 

28076). 

DATES: Comments must be submitted on 

or before September 1, 2006. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and 

Evaluation Division, RRS–21, Federal 

Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont 

Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, 

DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6292), 

or Victor Angelo, Office of Support 

Systems, RAD–43, Federal Railroad 

Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., 

NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 

20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6470). 

(These telephone numbers are not tollfree.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), Pub. L. No. 104–13, § 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 May 15, 2006, 

FRA published a 60-day notice in the 

Federal Register soliciting comment on 

ICRs that the agency was seeking OMB 

approval. 71 FR 28076. FRA received no 

comments in response to this notice. 

Before OMB decides whether to 

approve this proposed collection 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 revised requirements are 

being submitted for clearance by OMB 

as required by the PRA. 

Title: State Safety Participation 

Regulations and Remedial Actions. 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0509. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Affected Public: Businesses. 

Form(s): 6180.33/61/67/96/96A/109/ 

110/111/112. 

Abstract: The collection of 

information is set forth under 49 CFR 

Part 212, and requires qualified state 

inspectors to provide various reports to 

FRA for monitoring and enforcement 

purposes concerning state investigative, 

inspection, and surveillance activities 

regarding railroad compliance with 

Federal railroad safety laws and 

regulations. Additionally, railroads are 

required to report to FRA actions taken 

to remedy certain alleged violations of 

law. 

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 

10,359. 

Title: Certification of Glazing 

Materials. 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0525. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Affected Public: Businesses. 

Form(s): N/A. 

Abstract: The collection of 

information is set forth under 49 CFR 

Part 223, which requires the 

certification and permanent marking of 

glazing materials by the manufacturer. 

The manufacturer is also responsible for 

making available test verification data to 

railroads and FRA upon request. Annual 

Estimated Burden Hours: 119. 

Addressee: Send comments regarding 

these information collections to the 

Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs, Office of Management and 

Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., 

Washington, DC 20503; Attention: FRA 

Desk Officer. 

Comments are invited on the 

following: Whether the proposed 

collections of information are necessary 


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