[Federal Register: March 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 40)] [Notices] [Page 10256-10257] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02mr98-128] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. 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 28, 1997 (62 FR 45694-45695). DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 1, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James D. McCauley, Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Title: Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP). OMB Number: 2125-0536. Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired. Affected Public: State MCSAP lead agencies. Abstract: Sections 401-404 of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA) established a program of financial assistance to the States' implementation of programs for the enforcement of (a) Federal rules, regulations, standards, and orders applicable to commercial motor vehicle [[Page 10257]] 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) 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, 250.13 and 250.15. 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. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 14,498 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. 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 February 20, 1998. Vanester M. Williams, Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation. [FR Doc. 98-5279 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-62-P