[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 68127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22355]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration


Agency Information Collection; Activity Under OMB Review; 
National Ferry Database

AGENCY: Research & Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Bureau 
of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) described below is being forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval for a new 
information collection related to the Nation's ferry operations. The 
ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on August 30, 2005 (70 FR 51409) and the comment period ended 
on October 30, 2005. The 60-day notice produced no comments.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by December 9, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. June Taylor Jones, Passenger 
Travel Program Manager, Room 3430, RITA, BTS, Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 
Telephone (202) 366-4743, Fax (202) 493-0568 or e-mail 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f59f809b90db9f9a9b9086b5919a81db929a83"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c4659424902464342495f6c484358024b435a">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Ferry Study.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    OMB Control Number: New.
    Affected Public: Ferry operators nationwide.
    Number of Respondents: 300.
    Number of Responses: 300.
    Total Annual Burden: 100 hours (Average estimate of 20 minutes to 
complete the survey for each of 300 resulting in a total of 6000 
minutes or 100 hours).
    Abstract: The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA--
21) (Pub. L. 105-178), section 1207(c), directed the Secretary of 
Transportation to conduct a study of ferry transportation in the United 
States and its possessions. In 2000, the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) Office of Intermodal and Statewide Planning conducted a survey 
of approximately 250 known ferry operators. The Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU; H.R. 3, Section 1801(e)) requires that the Secretary, 
acting through the BTS, shall establish and maintain a national ferry 
database containing information on routes, vessels, passengers and 
vehicles carried, funding sources and such other information as the 
Secretary considers useful. Data collection will rely on a written 
survey. An electronic version of the questionnaire will also be 
available to respondents on request. Data will be collected from the 
entire population of ferry operators (estimate 300 or less). The survey 
will ask respondents to provide information on: (1) Points served; (2) 
amount and source of Federal, State, and/or local funds used in the 
past 24 months; (3) type of ownership; (4) number of passengers and 
vehicles carried in the past 12 months; (5) any new routes expected to 
be added within the next five years; and (6) highways that are 
connected by the ferries. It is estimated that the survey will take, on 
average, 20 minutes to complete for a total burden of 100 hours (300 
respondents*20 minutes/60 = 100 hours).
    The National Ferry Database may collect business sensitive 
information. The confidentiality of these data will be protected under 
49 CFR 7.17. In accordance with this regulation, only statistical and 
non-sensitive business information will be made available through 
publications and public use data files. The statistical public use data 
are intended to provide an aggregated source of information on ferry 
boat operations nationwide.

ADDRESSES: The agency seeks public comments on its proposed information 
collection. Comments should address whether the information will have 
practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology. Send comments to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: BTS Desk Officer.

    Issued in Washington, DC on this 2nd day of November, 2005.
William Bannister,
Assistant Director, Office of Advanced Studies, Research and Advanced 
Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 
Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 05-22355 Filed 11-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-HY-P


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