[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45694-45695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22969]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-97-2800]


Notice of Request for Reinstatement of an Expired Information 
Collection; Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3051, 3506(c)(2)(A)), the FHWA is requesting public comment on 
its intent to ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
reinstate the expired information collection required by the Motor 
Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). That information consists of 
Basic and Special Grant preparation, and that which documents the 
results of driver/vehicle inspections performed by the States.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Signed, written comments should refer to the docket number 
that appears at the top 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 a.m. and 5 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. James D. McCauley, Department of 
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590, Office of Motor Carrier Safety and 
Technology, (202) 366-0133. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 web page at: <a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/
su__docs">http://www.access.gpo.gov/
su__docs</a>.
    Title: MCSAP Grants.
    OMB Number: 2125-0536.
    Background: Sections 401-404 of the Surface Transportation 
Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA) established a program of

[[Page 45695]]

financial assistance to the States' implementation of programs for the 
enforcement of (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 Safety 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.
    Pursuant to the STAA, in order to qualify for a grant, 
participating States must submit a plan which is adequate to promote 
the objectives of Section 402 and meet a number of specified 
requirements. Section 402(c) of the STAA requires that the Secretary, 
on the basis of reports submitted by the State agency and the 
Secretary's own inspections make a continuing evaluation of the manner 
in which each State is carrying out its approved plan. This provision 
is implemented in 49 CFR 350.19 and Appendix B, paragraph G.
    In order for the Secretary (i.e. Federal Highway Administration 
[FHWA]) to make this evaluation, it is necessary for the State to 
provide and/or maintain information concerning past, present, and 
future enforcement activity. The application by a State for a grant 
must contain the information required by 49 CFR 350.9 or 350.11, 350.13 
and 350.15. This information is necessary to enable the FHWA to 
determine whether a State meets the statutory and administrative 
criteria to be eligible for a grant. It is necessary that a State's 
work activities and accomplishments be reported so that FHWA may 
monitor and evaluate a State's progress under its approved plan and 
make the determinations and decisions required of 49 CFR 350.19, 
350.23, and 350.25.
    The FHWA is required to determine whether any changes are needed in 
a State's efforts to meet the intended objectives of its plans. In the 
event of nonconformity to any approved plan and failure on the part of 
a State to remedy deficiencies, the FHWA is required to take action to 
cease Federal participation in the plan. The final rule in the Federal 
Register, Vol. 49, No. 189 was published September 27, 1984. The rules 
mandated by the ISTEA of 1991, which amend the STAA were published in 
the Federal Register on Tuesday, September 8, 1992 (57 FR 174).
    Respondents: State MCSAP lead agencies.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: Basic Grant preparation: 2,240 
hours; Special Grant preparation: 1,120 hours; inspection data upload: 
66,667 hours.
    Interested parties are invited to send comments regarding any 
aspect of these information collections, including, but not limited to: 
(1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the FHWA, 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 collected information.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 315 and 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued On: August 13, 1997.
George S. Moore,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-22969 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
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