[Federal Register: January 30, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 20)] [Notices] [Page 4685] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr30ja98-103] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Office of the Secretary Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate the information collection entitled Highway Safety and Improvement Program and Priorities. 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 in 62 FR 58767, October 30, 1997. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 2, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All signed, written comments should refer to the docket number that appears below in 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 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kenneth Epstein, Office of Highway Safety, (202) 366-2157, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard/envelope. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) [FHWA Docket No. 2983] Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired. Affected Public: The overall annual reporting burden is shared by the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Title: Highway Safety and Improvement Program and Priorities. OMB No: 2125-0025. Abstract: Each year all States and Territories are required to report to the Secretary of Transportation on the progress being made in implementing the Highway Safety Improvement Programs (Rail-Highway Crossings and Hazard Elimination) and the effectiveness of these programs. The Secretary is required to report annually to the Congress on the progress of the safety programs based upon the information reported by the States. The FHWA receives the program information from the States. Numerical data are processed and stored in the computerized Highway Safety Evaluation System. A report is then prepared for Congress providing the required information on the effectiveness of highway safety improvement projects. Congress uses the contents of this report when determining the level of funding for the Highway Safety Improvement Programs and when modifying these programs. The information collected by the States in the survey of all public roads includes motor vehicle accident data, traffic volume data, and highway inventory data. This information is used by the States to identify hazards and to determine what safety improvements would be cost-effective when mitigating those hazards. Without this process fewer lives would be saved and fewer injuries averted by the Highway Safety Improvement Programs administered by the FHWA. Estimated Total Annual Burden: The annual reporting burden is estimated to be 11,220 hours. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention FHWA Desk Officer. Your comments to OMB are best assured of having its full impact if OMB receives them within 30 days of publication. This does not affect the deadline for the public to comment on DOT proposed regulations. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department'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. Issued in Washington, DC, on January 6, 1998. Phillip A. Leach, Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation. [FR Doc. 98-2301 Filed 1-29-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-62-P