Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 39505 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket No. FRA–2018–0008–N–5] 

Proposed Agency Information 

Collection Activities; Comment 

Request 

AGENCY: Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of information collection; 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice 

announces that FRA is forwarding the 

renewal Information Collection Request 

(ICR) abstracted below to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and comment. The ICR describes 

the information collection and its 

expected burden. On April 26, 2018, 

FRA published a notice providing a 60- 

day period for public comment on the 

ICR. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before 

September 10, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments 

on the ICR to the Office of Information 

and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 

Management and Budget, 725 17th 

Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, 

Attention: FRA Desk Officer. Comments 

may also be sent via email to OMB at 

the following address: oira_

submissions@omb.eop.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Robert Brogan, Information Collection 

Clearance Officer, Office of Railroad 

Safety, Regulatory Analysis Division, 

RRS–21, Federal Railroad 

Administration, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Room W33–497, 

Washington, DC 20590 (Telephone: 

(202) 493–6292); or Ms. Kim Toone, 

Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, Office of Administration, Office 

of Information Technology, RAD–20, 

Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W34–212, 

Washington, DC 20590 (Telephone: 

(202) 493–6132). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 

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), and 1320.12. On April 26, 

2018, FRA published a 60-day notice in 

the Federal Register soliciting comment 

on the ICR for which it is now seeking 

OMB approval. See 83 FR 18391. 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 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. 

Comments are invited on the 

following ICR regarding: (1) Whether the 

information collection activities are 

necessary for FRA to properly execute 

its functions, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) the accuracy of FRA’s estimates of 

the burden of the information collection 

activities, including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used to 

determine the estimates; (3) ways for 

FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information being 

collected; and (4) ways to minimize the 

burden of information collection 

activities on the public, including the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. 

The summary below describes the ICR 

that FRA will submit for OMB clearance 

as the PRA requires. 

Title: Steam Locomotive Inspection 

and Maintenance Standards (Formerly 

Steam Locomotive Inspection). 

OMB Control Number: 2130–0505. 

Abstract: The Locomotive Boiler 

Inspection Act (LBIA) of 1911 required 

each railroad subject to the Act to file 

copies of its rules and instructions for 

the inspection of locomotives. The 

original LBIA was expanded to cover all 

steam locomotives and tenders, and all 

their parts and appurtenances. As 

amended, this Act requires railroads to 

inspect and repair steam locomotives to 

ensure they operate safely. Per the LBIA, 

the Steam Locomotive Inspection and 

Maintenance Standards (49 CFR part 

230) were established to provide more 

specific standards that ensure steam 

locomotive safety. Currently, as 

amended in 1999, the collection of 

information for part 230 is used 

primarily by tourist or historic railroads 

and by locomotive owners/operators to 

track steam locomotive service days and 

show that required inspections and 

maintenance are complete. The 

collection of information is also used by 

FRA and State rail safety inspectors to 

verify compliance with required 

inspection and maintenance standards, 

helping ensure steam locomotives are 

‘‘safe and suitable’’ for service. 

Type of Request: Extension without 

change of a current information 

collection. 

Affected Public: Steam Locomotive 

Owners/Operators. 

Form(s): FRA–1; FRA–2; FRA–3; 

FRA–4; FRA–5. 

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 

4,868. 

Total Estimated Annual Burden: 

18,865 hours. 

Under 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 

1320.5(b) and 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA 

informs all interested parties that it may 

not conduct or sponsor and a 

respondent is not required to respond to 

a collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520. 

Juan D. Reyes III, 

Chief Counsel. 

[FR Doc. 2018–17076 Filed 8–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Transit Administration 

Program Guidance for Metropolitan 

Planning Program and State Planning 

and Research Program Grants: 

Availability of Final Circular 

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration 

(FTA), U.S. Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of availability of final 

circular. 

SUMMARY: The FTA has placed on its 

website final guidance in the form of 

FTA Circular 8100.1D, ‘‘Program 

Guidance For Metropolitan Planning 

and State Planning and Research 

Program Grants.’’ The final circular 

updates the Circular 8100.1C, ‘‘Program 

Guidance For Metropolitan Planning 

and State Planning and Research 

Program Grants,’’ to reflect various 

changes in law and to incorporate 

provisions of the U.S. Department of 

Transportation (DOT) regulations, 

‘‘Uniform Administrative Requirements, 

Cost Principles, and Audit 

Requirements for Federal Awards. 

DATES: September 10, 2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Victor Austin, Office of Planning and 


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39506 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 

Environment (TPE), Federal Transit 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, phone: 202–366–2996, 

or email victor.austin@dot.gov. Legal 

questions may be addressed to Helen 

Serassio, Office of Chief Counsel (TCC), 

Federal Transit Administration, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, phone: 

202–366–1974, or email helen.serassio@

dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability of Final Circular 

You may download an electronic 

copy of the circular from FTA’s website 

at http://www.transit.dot.gov. Paper 

copies of the circular may be obtained 

by calling FTA’s Administrative 

Services Help Desk at 202–366–4865. 

Table of Contents 

I. Overview 

II. Updates to Circular 8100.1 

A. Chapter I—Introduction and 

Background 

B. Chapter II—Metropolitan Planning 

Program 

C. Chapter III—State Planning and 

Research Programs 

D. Chapter IV—Consolidated Planning 

Grants 

E. Chapter V—Application Instructions 

F. Appendices 

I. Overview 

FTA is updating its Program Guidance 

for Metropolitan Planning and State 

Planning and Research Program Grants 

Circular (Circular) to incorporate 

changes to FTA’s programs resulting 

from enactment of FTA’s most recent 

authorizing legislation, the Fixing 

America’s Surface Transportation 

(FAST) Act (Pub. L. 114–94, Dec. 4, 

2015), as well as the Moving Ahead for 

Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP– 

21) (Pub. L. 112–141, July 6, 2012); 

promulgation of Department of 

Transportation (DOT) regulations, 

‘‘Uniform Administrative Requirements, 

Cost Principles, and Audit 

Requirements for Federal Awards,’’ at 2 

CFR part 1201, as well as ‘‘Statewide 

and Nonmetropolitan Transportation 

Planning; Metropolitan Transportation 

Planning,’’ at 23 CFR part 450; and 

changes in terms as used in FTA’s new 

electronic award and application 

system, the Transit Award and 

Management System (TrAMS). 

On December 26, 2014, DOT adopted 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) regulatory guidance, ‘‘Uniform 

Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for 

Federal Awards’’ (Uniform Guidance), 2 

CFR part 200, now incorporated by 

reference in DOT regulations, 2 CFR 

part 1201. The Uniform Guidance 

streamlines and adds to the guidance 

formerly found in eight OMB circulars, 

which have been superseded by 2 CFR 

part 200. While 2 CFR part 1201 adopts 

most of the Uniform Guidance, part 

1201 does contain several DOT-specific 

provisions. 

DOT regulations, 2 CFR part 1201, 

apply to any FTA award and any 

amendments thereto signed by an 

authorized FTA official on or after 

December 26, 2014. These regulations 

supersede 49 CFR part 18, ‘‘Uniform 

Administrative Requirements for Grants 

and Cooperative Agreements to State 

and Local Governments,’’ and 49 CFR 

part 19, ‘‘Uniform Administrative 

Requirements for Grants and 

Agreements with Institutions of Higher 

Education, Hospitals, and Other NonProfit Organizations,’’ except that grants 

and cooperative agreements executed 

before December 26, 2014, continue to 

be subject to 49 CFR parts 18 and 19 as 

in effect on the date of such grants or 

agreements. 

MAP–21 established a performancebased management approach to the 

statewide and metropolitan 

transportation planning process to 

ensure the most efficient investment of 

Federal transportation funds. Although 

MAP–21 made several changes to the 

planning process, the legislation did not 

make substantive changes to the 

eligibilities for the Metropolitan 

Planning Program (MPP). MAP–21 did 

change the eligibilities of the State 

Planning and Research Program (SPRP) 

to include only funds for grants and 

contracts to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5304, 

5305, and 5306. 

Sections 5303 and 5304, as amended 

by the FAST Act, require metropolitan 

planning organizations (MPOs) and 

States to develop transportation plans 

and transportation improvement 

programs through a performance-driven, 

outcome-based approach to planning. 

Under the FAST Act, MPOs continue to 

develop Unified Planning Work 

Programs, Metropolitan Transportation 

Plans, Transportation Improvement 

Programs, and Public Participation 

Plans. 

On May 27, 2016, FTA and FHWA 

published in the Federal Register the 

Final Rule on Statewide and 

Nonmetropolitan Transportation 

Planning; Metropolitan Transportation 

Planning (81 FR 34049), 23 CFR part 

450, to implement the changes to the 

planning process established by MAP– 

21 and the FAST Act. This Circular uses 

the joint regulations at 23 CFR part 450 

as the foundation for its program 

guidance. 

In addition to addressing changes to 

Federal law, the final Circular reflects 

terminology changes for consistency 

with FTA’s new electronic award and 

management system, TrAMS. 

This notice provides a summary of 

changes to FTA Circular 8100.1, 

‘‘Program Guidance for Metropolitan 

Planning and State Planning and 

Research Program Grants.’’ Given that 

this update reflects existing statute and 

regulations developed with notice and 

comment, contains no additional 

interpretation of statute or regulations, 

and imposes no new requirements on 

grantees, FTA is not soliciting public 

comments. The final Circular 8100.1D 

becomes effective on September 10, 

2018 and supersedes Circular 8100.1C. 

II. Updates to Circular 8100.1 

A. Chapter I—Introduction and 

Background 

Chapter I covers general information 

regarding FTA, FTA’s authorizing 

legislation, Grants.gov, and how to 

contact FTA; this chapter also includes 

definitions and acronyms used in the 

Circular. In Section 5, FTA added and 

amended numerous definitions and 

acronyms to be consistent with other 

FTA circulars, 49 U.S.C. chapter 53 as 

amended by the FAST Act and MAP– 

21, the Uniform Guidance, and TrAMS. 

For example, TEAM references are 

replaced by TrAMS references 

throughout the document. In Section 6, 

FTA added programmatic changes 

triggered by MAP–21 and the FAST Act, 

discussing the performance-based 

management approach to the statewide 

and metropolitan transportation 

planning process. 

B. Chapter II—Metropolitan Planning 

Program 

Chapter II provides an overview of the 

entire MPP with regard to its statutory 

authority and program goals. It defines 

the role of the individual States, MPOs, 

and FTA, and explains the program’s 

relationship to other FTA funded 

programs. The chapter also provides 

information on eligible planning 

activities, steps required in developing 

a Unified Planning Work Program 

(UPWP), the MPP assistance formula 

and notification, the grant agreement, 

and the administration of MPP grants. In 

Section 1, FTA added a suggestion that 

to the extent possible, a single 

agreement among all responsible parties 

should be developed. In Section 2, 

eligible grant activities under the MPP, 

FTA added ‘‘studies relating to . . . 

performance-based planning, safety, and 

transit asset management,’’ ‘‘developing 

and updating the metropolitan planning 

agreements between the MPO, the 

State(s), and the providers of public 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 39507 

transportation serving the metropolitan 

planning area,’’ and ‘‘peer reviews and 

exchanges of . . . performance-based 

planning.’’ FTA removed ‘‘arts and 

artistic design’’ from the list of eligible 

grant activities to comply with 49 U.S.C. 

5323, as amended by the FAST Act. In 

Section 4, FTA reordered subsections 

identifying the components of a UPWP. 

In Section 9, FTA added programs 

created by MAP–21 and the FAST Act, 

and removed references to programs 

repealed by MAP–21 and the FAST Act. 

C. Chapter III—State Planning and 

Research Program 

Chapter III provides an overview of 

the SPRP in terms of its statutory 

authority and program goals, and 

explains the program’s relationship to 

and coordination with other FTAfunded programs. The chapter also 

defines the role of the individual States 

and FTA, and provides information on 

eligible grant activities, SPRP assistance 

formula and notification, and State 

planning activities. In Section 2, FTA 

removed ‘‘training and educational 

activities’’ and ‘‘human resource 

program activities’’ from the list of 

eligible grant activities for the SPRP 

because the statutory basis for their 

eligibility was removed by MAP–21. In 

Section 5, FTA added programs created 

by MAP–21 and the FAST Act, and 

removed references to programs 

repealed by MAP–21 and the FAST Act. 

D. Chapter IV—Consolidated Planning 

Grants 

Chapter IV provides information on 

the Consolidated Planning Grant (CPG) 

Program, a program administered by 

FTA and FHWA. The CPG Program 

allows FTA and FHWA funding that 

supports metropolitan and statewide 

transportation planning to be combined 

into a single consolidated grant, which 

fosters a cooperative effort between the 

Federal agencies and the participating 

States to streamline the delivery of their 

planning programs by providing the 

flexibility to transfer the planning funds 

to either FTA or FHWA for processing. 

In Section 1, FTA clarified that FTA 

funds used for metropolitan planning in 

a CPG are allowed to have the same 

match ratio as the FHWA Metropolitan 

Planning funds. 

E. Chapter V—Application Instructions 

Chapter V details the application 

process of MPOs and States that apply 

for and receive funds from MPP and 

SPRP grants. FTA made no substantive 

changes to this chapter. 

F. Appendices 

FTA made minor, clarifying edits to 

the appendices. 

Issued in Washington, DC. 

K. Jane Williams, 

Acting Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2018–17032 Filed 8–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration 

[Docket No. PHMSA–2017–0129] 

Pipeline Safety: Underground Natural 

Gas Storage Facility User Fee 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of agency action. 

SUMMARY: On December 8, 2017, 

PHMSA published a notice and request 

for comments in the Federal Register 

titled: ‘‘Underground Natural Gas 

Storage Facility User Fee’’ seeking 

comments from underground natural 

gas storage facility (UNGS) operators on 

a proposal to use UNGS annual report 

data in the user fee rate structure. 

PHMSA received two comments in the 

docket. We are publishing this notice to 

address the comments received and to 

announce that PHMSA has used UNGS 

annual report data about the number of 

wells in the user fee rate structure for 

the Pipeline Safety Fund’s Underground 

Natural Gas Storage Facility Safety 

Account. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Crystal Stewart by telephone at 202– 

366–1524, by fax at 202–366–4566, by 

email at Crystal.Stewart@dot.gov, or by 

mail at U.S. Department of 

Transportation, PHMSA, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue SE., PHP–2, Washington, 

DC 20590–0001. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget 

Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) 

(Pub. L. 99–272, sec. 7005), codified in 

part at section 60301 of title 49, United 

States Code, authorizes the assessment 

and collection of user fees to fund the 

pipeline safety activities conducted 

under chapter 601 of title 49. On June 

22, 2016, President Obama signed into 

law the ‘‘Protecting our Infrastructure of 

Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 

2016’’ (Pub. L. 114–183) (PIPES Act of 

2016). Section 12 of the PIPES Act of 

2016 mandates that PHMSA issue 

regulations for UNGS facilities, 

authorizes user fees on operators of 

these facilities, and directs PHMSA to 

prescribe procedures to collect those 

fees upon appropriation. Section 2 of 

the PIPES Act of 2016 authorizes $8 

million per year to be appropriated from 

those fees for each of FY 2017–2019 for 

the newly established Underground 

Natural Gas Storage Facility Safety 

Account in the Pipeline Safety Fund. 

After Congress appropriates funds to 

this account for fiscal year (FY) 2018 

and beyond, PHMSA will collect user 

fees from the operators of the facilities. 

Summary of Comments 

The December 8, 2017 notice advised 

all UNGS facility operators of a 

proposed PHMSA pipeline user fee 

assessment and rate structure (82 FR 

58045). During the one-month response 

period, PHMSA received comments 

from two commenters on the proposed 

UNGS user fee billing methodology: 

WBI Energy Transmission Inc., and 

National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation. 

The comments can be found at http:// 

www.regulations.gov in Docket Number 

PHMSA–2017–0129. WBI Energy 

Transmission Inc., submitted comments 

supporting the rate structure proposed 

by PHMSA in the December 8, 2017 

notice. The remaining comment is 

summarized below with PHMSA’s 

response: 

Comment: National Fuel Gas Supply 

Corporation stated that well count alone 

is not an appropriate measure for 

determining a user fee since larger wells 

will require more regulatory oversight 

than smaller wells. 

Response: Each well penetrating an 

underground natural gas storage 

reservoir represents a risk. Currently, 

PHMSA intends to apply a consistent 

level of regulatory oversight to all wells, 

regardless of size. As PHMSA 

implements its underground storage 

inspection program, we may gain 

insights leading to a user fee 

methodology more reflective of 

regulatory oversight effort. 

Underground Natural Gas Storage 

Facility User Fee Plan 

During the FY 2018 user fee process, 

PHMSA has used calendar year (CY) 

2016 annual report data for gas 

transmission pipelines, hazardous 

liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural 

gas facilities. Using CY 2016 data 

ensures adequate time to verify annual 

report data quality and still be able to 

send user fee assessments promptly 

after appropriation. PHMSA does not 

have CY 2016 annual report data for 

underground natural gas storage 

facilities. Congress appropriated UNGS 

funds for FY 2018, and PHMSA has 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES