Notices. Notice of Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA, Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Other Federal Agencies
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BILLING CODE 4910-13-M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in Utah AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA, Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Other Federal Agencies. SUMMARY: This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA, USACE, and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139( *l* )(1).
The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Browns Park Road, Red Creek to Colorado State Line in Daggett County, Utah. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project. DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is advising the public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139( *l* )(1). A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions on the highway project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before May 19, 2008. If the Federal law that authorizes judicial review of a claim provides a time period of less than 180 days for filing such claim, then that shorter time period still applies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FHWA: Mr. Edward T. Woolford, Environmental Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 2520 West 4700 South, Suite 9A, Salt Lake City, Utah 84118, Telephone
(801)963-0182. The FHWA Utah Division Office's normal business hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. [MST]. For UDOT: Ms. Rebecka Stromness, Environmental Program Manager, Utah Department of Transportation, 4501 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119, Telephone
(801)965-4327. For USACE: Mr. Nathan Green, U.S. Corp. of Engineers, Colorado/Gunnison Basin, 400 Road Avenue, Room 142, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501 or Telephone
(970)243-1199. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that the FHWA, USACE, and other Federal agencies have taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139( *l* )(1) by issuing licenses, permits, and approvals for the following highway project in the State of Utah: Browns Park Road, Red Creek to Colorado State Line in the State of Utah. The selected alternative and least environmentally damaging practicable alternative (LEPDA) will address and rectify safety and mobility deficiencies and improve emergency response times on the existing Browns Park Road by linking Browns Park Road in Utah that junctions with U.S. Highway 191 (Scenic Byway) near the Utah-Wyoming border, to Colorado State Route 318, a distance of approximately 16.8 miles. The selected alternative generally follows the existing Browns Park Road alignment except for the Jesse Ewing Canyon portion, which would be routed to the west to reduce grades and provide a safer route of travel. The actions by the Federal agencies, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS)for the project, approved on March 31, 2006, in the FHWA Record of Decision
(ROD)issued on July 27, 2006, and in other documents in the FHWA project files. The FEIS, ROD, and other project records are available by contacting the FHWA or the Utah Department of Transportation at the addresses provided above. The FHWA FEIS and ROD can be viewed and downloaded from the project Web site at *http://www.udot.utah.gov/* or viewed at public libraries in the project area. The USACE decision and permit (USACE Permit SPK-2007-1461) are available by contacting U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were taken, including but not limited to: 1. General: National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)[42 U.S.C. 4321-4351]; Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C. 109 and 23 U.S.C. 128]. 2. Air: Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401-7671(q)]. 3. Land: Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]; Landscaping and Scenic Enhancement (Wildflowers) [23 U.S.C. 319]. 4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 and Section 1536]; Marine Mammal Protection Act [16 U.S.C. 1361]; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661-667(d)]; Migratory Bird Treaty Act [16 U.S.C. 703-712]. 5. Historic and Cultural Resources: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended [16 U.S.C. 470(f) et seq.]; Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C. 470(aa)-470(ll)]; Archeological and Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 469-469(c)]; Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001-3013]. 6. Social and Economic: Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000(d)-2000(d)(1)]; American Indian Religious Freedom Act [42 U.S.C. 1996]; Farmland Protection Policy Act
(FPPA)[7 U.S.C. 4201-4209]. 7. Wetlands and Water Resources: Clean Water Act (Section 404, Section 401, Section 319) [33 U.S.C. 1251-1377]; Land and Water Conservation Fund
(LWCF)[16 U.S.C. 4601-4604]; Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA)[42 U.S.C. 300(f)-300(j)(6)]; Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 [33 U.S.C. 401-406]; Wild and Scenic Rivers Act [16 U.S.C. 1271-1287]; Emergency Wetlands Resources Act, [16 U.S.C. 3921, 3931]; Wetlands Mitigation [23 U.S.C. 103(b)(6)(M) and 133(b)(11)]; Flood Disaster Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. 4001-4128. 8. Executive Orders: E.O. 11990 Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988 Floodplain Management; E.O. 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations; E.O. 11593 Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Resources; E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites; E.O. 13287 Preserve America; E.O. 13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments; E.O. 11514 Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality; E.O. 13112 Invasive Species. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program) Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) Issued on: Wednesday, November 14, 2007. Walter C. Waidelich, Jr., Division Administrator, Salt Lake City. [FR Doc. E7-22734 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration [Docket No: FTA-2007-0012] National Transit Database: Strike Adjustments for Urbanized Area Apportionments AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of New Policy on Strike Adjustments for Urbanized Area Formula Grant Apportionment Data. SUMMARY: This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on changes to the Federal Transit Administration's
(FTA)National Transit Database
(NTD)policy on strike adjustments. On March 12, 2007, FTA provided notice to NTD reporters that it was changing its policy on strikes, to permit transit agencies to request an adjustment to their NTD data that are used in the apportionment of Urbanized Area Formula Grants to offset the effect of strikes, retroactive to the 2005 Report Year. FTA invites the public to comment on this policy change. DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 21, 2007. FTA will consider comments filed after this date to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket ID Number FTA-2007-0012] at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the online instructions for submitting comments *Fax:* 202-493-2251. *Mail:* Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001. *Hand Delivery or Courier:* West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. *Instructions:* When submitting comments, you must use docket number FTA-2007-0012. This will ensure that your comment is placed in the correct docket. If you submit comments by mail, you should submit two copies and include the above docket number. Note that all comments received will be posted, without change, to *http://www.regulations.gov* including any personal identifying information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program issues, John D. Giorgis, Office of Budget and Policy,
(202)366-5430 (telephone);
(202)366-7989 (fax); or *john.giorgis@dot.gov* (e-mail). For legal issues, Richard Wong, Office of the Chief Counsel,
(202)366-0675 (telephone);
(202)366-3809 (fax); or *richard.wong@dot.gov* (e-mail). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The National Transit Database
(NTD)is the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) primary database for statistics on the transit industry. Congress established the NTD to “help meet the needs of * * * the public for information on which to base public transportation service planning * * * ” (49 U.S.C 5335). Currently, over 650 transit agencies in urbanized areas report to the NTD through an Internet-based reporting system. Each year, performance data from these submissions are used to apportion over $4 billion of FTA funds under the Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program. These data are also used in the annual National Transit Summaries and Trends report, the biennial Conditions and Performance Report to Congress, and in meeting FTA's obligations under the Government Performance and Results Act. For many years, it was FTA's policy to not adjust performance data submitted to the NTD to offset the effect of strikes. On March 12, 2007, FTA provided notice to NTD reporters that it was changing its policy on strikes, to permit transit agencies to request an adjustment to their NTD data that are used in the apportionment of Urbanized Area Formula Program Funds to offset the effect of strikes, retroactive to the 2005 Report Year. An internal review in FTA found that this policy had not been subject to public notice-and-comment at that time. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5334(l), FTA now invites comments on this change. II. Proposed Policy Change FTA proposes to allow urbanized area transit agencies to request that their NTD data submissions be adjusted to offset the effects of strikes for purposes of the apportionment of Urbanized Area Formula Program Grants. Requesting transit agencies must provide FTA with documentation for the duration of the strike. FTA will then use the transit agency's NTD submissions to project performance data for the time period in question. These projections would then be added to the transit agency's NTD submission in the data sets used by FTA for the calculation of the apportionments of Urbanized Area Formula Program Grants (Section 5307 and Section 5309 Grants). The NTD data in all publicly-available data sets and data products would remain unadjusted, and would reflect the actual NTD submission for the agency. FTA proposes this policy change because the Section 5307 and Section 5309 Grant Programs are fundamentally designed to support the capital needs of transit agencies in urbanized areas. As such, various performance data are used to approximate the relative capital needs of the various urbanized areas. These capital needs are unaffected by strikes, even though strikes may produce a substantial decrease in the performance data for an urbanized area. Further, FTA proposes to make this policy retroactive to the FY 2005 Report Year, to allow urbanized areas that were negatively impacted by strikes in the 2005 and 2006 Report Years in the formula apportionment to avail themselves of this policy. Issued in Washington, DC, this 15th day of November 2007. James S. Simpson, Administrator. [FR Doc. E7-22766 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-57-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration [Docket No: FTA-2007-0013] National Transit Database: Amendments to Safety & Security Reporting Manual AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Availability of Proposed Amendments to the 2008 National Transit Database Safety & Security Reporting Manual. SUMMARY: This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on changes to the Federal Transit Administration's
(FTA)2008 *National Transit Database
(NTD)Safety & Security Reporting Manual (Safety & Security Manual)* . Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5335, FTA requires those transit agencies that are reporting to the NTD from urbanized areas to provide reports within 30 days of a major safety or security incident, and to provide a monthly report on minor safety and security incidents. In an ongoing effort to improve the NTD reporting system, and to be responsive to the needs of NTD data users and of the transit agencies reporting to the NTD, FTA annually refines and clarifies the Safety & Security Module reporting requirements through revisions to the Safety & Security Manual. DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 21, 2007. FTA will consider comments filed after this date to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT Docket ID Number FTA-2007-0013] at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. *Fax:* 202-493-2251. *Mail:* Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001. *Hand Delivery or Courier:* West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. *Instructions:* When submitting comments you must use docket number FTA-2007-0013. This will ensure that your comment is placed in the correct docket. If you submit comments by mail, you should submit two copies and include the above docket number. Note that all comments received will be posted, without change, to *http://www.regulations.gov* including any personal identifying information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program issues, John D. Giorgis, Office of Budget and Policy,
(202)366-5430 (telephone);
(202)366-7989 (fax); or *john.giorgis@dot.gov* (e-mail). For legal issues, Richard Wong, Office of the Chief Counsel,
(202)366-0675 (telephone);
(202)366-3809 (fax); or *richard.wong@dot.gov* (e-mail). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The National Transit Database
(NTD)is the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) primary database for statistics on the transit industry. Congress established the NTD to “help meet the needs of * * * the public for information on which to base public transportation service planning * * *” (49 U.S.C 5335). Currently, over 650 transit agencies in urbanized areas report to the NTD through an Internet-based reporting system. Since 2002, the NTD has included an expanded Safety & Security Module in order to meet the increased public interest in transit safety and security data. Data from the Safety & Security NTD Module are used by FTA's Office of Safety and Security, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Transportation Safety Board, and in the biennial *Conditions and Performance Report to Congress.* NTD reporters are required to submit a report on major incidents to the Safety & Security Module within 30 days of the incident, and to submit a monthly summary report of minor incidents within 30 days of the end of the month. FTA is not proposing to change these requirements. In an ongoing effort to improve the NTD reporting system, and to be responsive to the needs of NTD data users and of the transit agencies reporting to the NTD, FTA annually refines and clarifies the Safety & Security Module reporting requirements through revisions to the *Safety & Security Manual* . This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on changes to the 2008 *Safety & Security Manual* . For purposes of comparison, the 2007 *Safety & Security Manual* can be reviewed on the NTD Web site, *http://www.ntdprogram.gov* . II. Proposed Changes in the 2008 Safety & Security Manual Format Changes FTA is overhauling the format of the NTD Safety & Security Module by instituting an interactive approach for major incident reporting. Instead of completing a static form, reporters will instead receive questions on an interactive basis, based on responses provided to the initial questions. This will greatly reduce reporting burden, by only providing reporters with questions relevant to the major incident reported. It will also reduce the number of validation errors, as reporters will be less likely to miss questions relevant to the major incident being reported, and so leave them blank. The “Non-Major Incident” form has been renamed the “Security Summary Report Form” to better reflect the data collected. The form has also been redesigned for conciseness and to reduce reporting burden. Eliminated Data Elements FTA proposes dropping the requirement to provide the latitude and longitude of major incidents, except for ferryboat incidents, where such coordinates will still be required. FTA has found that latitude and longitude were inconsistently reported in the past, and believes that a verbal description of the incident location will provide the needed information for major incidents occurring on modes other than ferryboat. FTA proposes dropping the requirement to provide the time zone in which the incident occurred. FTA notes that the time zone of the incident can be determined from the incident location in almost all cases. Major Incident Threshold FTA proposes to greatly simplify the threshold requirements for reporting a major incident. A major incident will now consist of any occurrence exceeding one of the following three thresholds: • One or more fatalities; • One or more reportable injuries (involving immediate medical transportation away from the scene); or • Total property damage in excess of $25,000. Previously, the property damage threshold was $7,500 for certain types of collisions. The increased threshold is established to decrease reporting burden, and to match the threshold used by FTA's State Safety Oversight Program. Also, the previous threshold for injuries was one or more injuries for occurrences involving rail transit, on a rail right-of-way, or at a grade crossing, but the threshold was two or more injuries for all other occurrences. Occurrences with only one injury, but not meeting the threshold for a major incident, were reported on the monthly minor incident summary report form. FTA is establishing a threshold of one reportable injury for all occurrences, as it will be much simpler for reporters to understand, and in order to support the streamlining of the monthly minor incident summary form. In addition, the following types of incidents will always constitute a major incident, without regard to the preceding thresholds: • A mainline derailment; • A fire requiring suppression; and • A hazardous material spill posing an immediate threat to life, health, or the environment. Previously, all mainline derailments were considered to be major incidents, and the new definitions continue to reflect this. FTA is now including fires and hazardous material spills as major incidents, but is only requiring limited information on the location and cause of the incident. Thus, the reporting burden will not be substantially increased for those fires and hazardous material spills that were previously reported as minor incidents. FTA previously also required a major incident report for “evacuations due to life safety reasons.” FTA's experience with Safety & Security reporting, however, has indicated that “evacuations due to life safety reasons” always occur in conjunction with some other type of incident. As such, FTA has removed this “evacuations due to life safety reasons” as a threshold criterion. However, FTA still requires transit agencies to report “evacuations due to life safety reasons” whenever such an evacuation occurs in conjunction with another incident. Additionally, FTA has eliminated the requirement for reporters to distinguish between the “primary occurrence” and the “secondary occurrence” for a major incident. Instead, reporters will simply report all data for an incident, without having to make a judgment as to what aspects of the incident were “primary” or “secondary.” This was done to reduce the reporting burden. Definition of Fatalities FTA will now consider suicides to be a fatality. This is done to reduce the substantial confusion caused by excluding suicides from the definition of “fatalities.” Additionally, research has indicated that many safety practices can reduce the number of suicides, and as such, FTA finds it prudent to include suicides in overall safety statistics. Certification FTA has added a standard form for the annual Chief Executive Officer
(CEO)certification of data reported to the Safety & Security Module. This is done to reduce reporting burden on CEOs, and to provide a convenient summary of the key safety and security data elements for the CEO for review. This will also help the reporting transit agency identify any unintended errors or omissions from their Safety & Security Module submission. “Acts of God” At the request of several reporting transit agencies, FTA has added “Acts of God” as a causal factor of an occurrence producing fatalities, injuries, or more than $25,000 in property damage. Lighting Conditions For reporting on collisions, FTA is requesting transit agencies to report on the “lighting conditions” of the collision, in particular, if there was “light in the eyes” of the operator of either the transit vehicle or the other vehicle involved in the collision. Other Changes The NTD system now automatically requires the Safety & Security Configuration Form (the S&S-30 Form) to be completed prior to completing the first monthly report. Previously, reporters could provide monthly incident data without completing this Form. This automatic control is instituted to reduce the validation burden, as reporters will now receive an automatic notice if they attempt to provide incident data without having completed the S&S-30 Form. Also, FTA has modified the available answers to many of the questions from the old Safety & Security forms to reduce unneeded answers, and to fill in gaps where the previously provided answers did not account for all possible reporting situations. These changes are non-substantive in nature, as they do not add any additional reporting requirements, but may be found in the full 2008 Safety & Security Reporting Manual, available on the NTD Web site at *http://www.ntdprogram.gov.* Issued in Washington, DC, this 15th day of November, 2007. James S. Simpson, Administrator. [FR Doc. E7-22768 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-57-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as 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 27, 2007. No comments were received. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 21, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Murray A. Bloom, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. *Telephone:*
(202)366-5320; or *E-Mail:* *Murray.Bloom@dot.gov* . Copies of this collection can also be obtained from that office. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maritime Administration (MARAD). *Title of Collection:* Part 380, Subpart B—Application for Designation of Vessels as American Great Lakes Vessels. *Type of Request:* Extension of currently approved information collection. *OMB Control Number:* 2133-0521. *Expiration Date of Approval:* Three years from date of approval by the Office of Management and Budget. *Affected Public:* Shipowners of merchant vessels. *Form Numbers:* None. *Abstract:* In accordance with Public Law 101-624, the Secretary of Transportation issued requirements for the submission of applications for designation of vessels as American Great Lakes Vessels. Owners who wish to have this designation must certify that their vessel(s) meets certain criteria established in 46 CFR part 380. *Expiration Date of Approval:* Three years from date of approval by the Office of Management and Budget. *Annual Estimated Burden Hours:* 1.25 hours. *Addressee:* Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, *Attention:* MARAD Desk Officer. *Comments are invited on:* Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 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. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect, if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. Dated: November 14, 2007. Christine S. Gurland, Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. E7-22687 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-81-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA-2007-27181 (Notice No. 07-10)] Information Collection Activities AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: The Information Collection Request
(ICR)entitled “Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning Grants” is being revised to implement a statutory provision authorizing PHMSA to request information from states concerning fees related to the transportation of hazardous materials. In addition, this ICR is being revised to include more detailed information from grantees to enable us to more accurately evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program in meeting emergency response planning and training needs. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the ICR will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)for revision and extension. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 21, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the burden estimates, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, *Attention:* Desk Officer for PHMSA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. We invite commenters to address the following issues:
(1)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;
(2)the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection;
(3)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4)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. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Boothe or T. Glenn Foster, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (PHH-11), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone
(202)366-8553. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping requests. This notice identifies an information collection PHMSA is submitting to OMB for revision under OMB Control Number 2137-0586. This collection is contained in 49 CFR part 110, Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning Grants. We are revising the information collection to implement a statutory provision authorizing PHMSA to request information from states concerning fees related to the transportation of hazardous materials. In addition, we are revising the current information collection to include more detailed information from grantees to enable us to more accurately evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program in meeting emergency response planning and training needs. A. HMEP Program The Hazardous Materials and Emergency Preparedness
(HMEP)grants program, as mandated by the Federal hazardous materials transportation law (Federal hazmat law; 49 U.S.C. 5101 *et seq.* ) provides Federal financial and technical assistance to states and Indian tribes to “develop, improve, and carry out emergency plans” within the National Response System and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 (Title III), 42 U.S.C. 11001 *et seq.* The grants are used to develop, improve, and implement emergency plans; to train public sector hazardous materials emergency response employees to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials; to determine flow patterns of hazardous materials within a state and between states; and to determine the need within a state for regional hazardous materials emergency response teams. The HMEP grants program is funded by registration fees collected from persons who offer for transportation or transport certain hazardous materials in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce. Federal hazmat law specifies that HMEP grant funds are to be allocated based on the needs of states and Indian tribes for emergency response planning and training, considering a number of factors including whether the state or tribe imposes and collects a fee on the transportation of hazardous materials and whether the fee is used only to carry out a purpose related to the transportation of hazardous materials. 49 U.S.C. 5116(b)(4). Accordingly, the HMEP grant application procedures in 49 CFR part 110 require applicants to submit a statement explaining whether the applicant assesses and collects fees for the transportation of hazardous materials and whether those fees are used solely to carry out purposes related to the transportation of hazardous materials. In addition, section 5125(f) of the Federal hazmat law permits a state, political subdivision of a state, or Indian tribe to impose a fee related to the transportation of hazardous materials only if the fee is fair and used for a purpose related to transporting hazardous materials, including enforcement and planning, developing, and maintaining a capability for emergency response. In accordance with § 5125, the Department of Transportation may require a state, political subdivision of a state, or Indian tribe to report on the fees it collects, including:
(1)The basis on which the fee is levied;
(2)the purposes for which the revenues from the fee are used; and
(3)the total amount of annual revenues collected from the fee. Until now, we have not proposed asking states, political subdivisions, or Indian tribes to report this information. B. 60-Day Notice On July 5, 2007, we published a **Federal Register** notice [72 FR 36754] with a 60-day comment period, soliciting comments on revisions to the instructions for submitting an HMEP grant application. The revisions are intended to increase the transparency of the programs funded by HMEP grants and to enable us to more accurately evaluate the effectiveness of the HMEP program in meeting emergency response planning and training needs. Specifically, in accordance with the statutory mandate in 49 U.S.C. 5116(b)(4) and 5125(f), we proposed to revise the grant application to request applicants to respond to the following questions: 1. Does your state or tribe assess a fee or fees in connection with the transportation of hazardous materials? 2. If the answer to question 1 is “yes,” a. What state agency administers the fee? b. What is the amount of the fee and the basis on which the fee is assessed? Examples of the bases on which fees may be assessed include:
(1)An annual fee for each company which transports hazardous materials within your state or tribal territory;
(2)a fee for each truck or vehicle used to transport hazardous materials within your state or tribal territory;
(3)a fee for certain commodities or quantities of hazardous materials transported in your state or tribal territory; or
(4)a fee for each hazardous materials shipment transiting your state or tribal territory. c. Is company size considered when assessing the fee? For instance, do companies meeting the Small Business Administration's
(SBA)definition of a small business pay the same or lesser fee amount than companies that do not meet the SBA definition? d. For what purpose(s) is the revenue from the fee used? For example, is the revenue used to support hazardous materials transportation enforcement programs? Is the fee used to support planning, developing, and maintaining an emergency response capability? e. What is the total annual amount of the revenue collected for the last fiscal year or 12-month accounting period? In addition, to assist us to evaluate the effectiveness of the HMEP grant program, we proposed to ask grant recipients to report the following specific information regarding the planning and training activities funded by the HMEP grants and to provide an overall evaluation of the effectiveness of their programs: Planning Grants 1. Did you complete or update assessments of commodity flow patterns in your jurisdiction? If so, how many and what were the results of those assessments? What was the amount of planning dollars devoted to this effort? What percentage of total planning dollars does this represent? 2. Did you complete or update assessments of the emergency response capabilities in your jurisdiction? What factors did you consider to complete such assessments? How many assessments were completed and what were the results of those assessments? What was the amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP planning grant funds does this represent? 3. Did you develop or improve emergency plans for your jurisdiction? If so, how many plans were either developed or updated? Briefly describe the outcome of this effort. What was the amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP planning grant funds does this represent? 4. Did you conduct emergency response drills or exercises in support of your emergency plan? How many exercises or drills did you conduct? Briefly describe the drill or exercise (tabletop, computer simulation, real-world simulation, or other drill or exercise), the number and types of participants, including shipper or carrier participants, and lessons learned. What was the amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP planning grant funds does this represent? 5. Did you use HMEP planning grant funds to provide technical staff in support of your emergency response planning program? If so, what was the amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP planning grant funds does this represent? 6. How many Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) are located in your jurisdiction? How many LEPCs were assisted using HMEP funds? What was the amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to such assistance? What percentage of total HMEP planning grant funds does this represent? Training Grants 1. Did you complete an assessment of the training needs of the emergency response personnel in your jurisdiction? What factors did you consider to complete the assessment? What was the result of that assessment? What was the amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP training grants funds does this represent? 2. Provide details concerning the number of individuals trained in whole or in part using HMEP training grant funds. You should include separate indications for the numbers of fire, police, emergency medical services
(EMS)or other personnel who were trained and the type of training provided based on the categories listed in standards published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at 29 CFR 1910.120 pertaining to emergency response training. (Note that “other” personnel include public works employees, accident clean-up crews, and liaison and support officers. Note also that if HMEP training grant funds were used in any way to support the training, such as for books or equipment, you should show that the training was partially funded by HMEP training grant funds.) What was the amount of training dollars devoted to this effort? What percentage of total training dollars does this represent? 3. Did you incur expenses associated with training and activities necessary to monitor such training, including, for example, examinations, critiques, and instructor evaluations? What was the amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this activity? What percentage of total HMEP training grant funds does this represent? 4. Did you provide incident command systems training? If so, provide separate indications for the numbers of fire, policy, EMS, or other personnel who were trained. What was the amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP training grant funds does this represent? 5. Did you develop new training using HMEP training grant funds in whole or in part, such as training in handling specific types of incidents of specific types of materials? If so, briefly describe the new programs. Was the program qualified using the HMEP Curriculum Guidelines process? What was the amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP training grant funds does this represent? 6. Did you use HMEP training grant funds to provide staff to manage your training program to increase benefits, proficiency, and rapid deployment of emergency responders? If so, what was the amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? What percentage of total HMEP training grant funds does this represent? 7. Do you have a system in place for measuring the effectiveness of emergency response to hazardous materials incidents in your jurisdiction? Briefly describe the criteria you use (total response time, total time at an accident scene, communication among different agencies or jurisdictions, or other criteria). How many state and local response teams are located in your jurisdiction? What is the estimated coverage of these teams (e.g., the percent of state jurisdictions covered)? Overall Program Evaluation 1. Using a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor), how well has the HMEP grants program met your need for preparing hazmat emergency responders? 2. Using a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor), how well do you think the HMEP grants program will meet your future needs? 3. What areas of the HMEP grants program would you recommend for enhancement? II. Discussion of Comments The comment period for the 60-Day notice closed on September 5, 2007. PHMSA received 16 comments from the following companies, organizations, and individuals:
(1)The American Trucking Association (ATA);
(2)Colorado Emergency Planning Commission;
(3)Kevin Crawford;
(4)Robert E. Dopp;
(5)Delaware Emergency Management Agency;
(6)the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME);
(7)Lyle Milby;
(8)Timothy Gablehouse;
(9)Steven Goza;
(10)Donald K. Hall;
(11)the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC);
(12)the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI);
(13)Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Commission;
(14)James J. Plum;
(15)Daniel Roe; and
(16)the State of Wisconsin/Department of Military Affairs Wisconsin Emergency Management. On October 12, 2007, we received an additional comment from the Interested Parties for Hazardous Materials Transportation (Interested Parties) which had been filed with OMB. In addition, the National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials and the Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Response Commission submitted letters to OMB and copied PHMSA in response to the October 12 comment from the Interested Parties. All comments are included in the docket for this notice and are available for review at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at *http://www.regulations.gov.* Commenters expressing support for revisions to the HMEP application kit include ATA, IME, NEI, and NTTC. These commenters generally agree that additional information from grantees will assist PHMSA to evaluate the emergency response funding needs of states and Indian tribes and promote more effective use of HMEP grant funds. For example, in expressing its support, ATA, the national representative of over 37,000 trucking companies, states that the information being sought by PHMSA is critical to the effective administration of the HMEP grant program. In its support of the proposed revisions, NEI states that although limited resources will be expended responding to the additional questions, the net result is a better use of funds nationwide and improved responses to events involving hazardous materials. Similarly, NTTC, a trade association comprised of 210 trucking companies, states the additional information resulting from the HMEP revisions is necessary to “ensure proper funds allocation based on need under the HMEP grant program,” and will enable PHMSA “to better determine whether states' fees are properly apportioned and being utilized for purposes associated with hazardous materials transportation.” In its comments, IME, the safety and security association of the commercial explosives industry, states that because its members are both shippers and carriers subject to fees that support the HMEP grants program, it has a keen interest in how these funds are used. The commenter supports PHMSA's efforts to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of its grants program through the proposed questions, and asserts that utilizing the HMEP grant application process is the least burdensome method to capture the information authorized by section 5125 of the Federal hazmat law. In its October 12 comment sent to OMB and copied to PHMSA, the Interested Parties suggest that the additional questions will aid the agency's risk-based approach while ensuring that legislative intent is achieved. Commenters opposing the revisions include Colorado Emergency Planning Commission; Kevin Crawford; Delaware Emergency Management Agency; Robert E. Dopp; Lyle Milby; Timothy Gablehouse; Steven Goza; Donald K. Hall; Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Commission; James J. Plum; Daniel Roe; and the State of Wisconsin/Department of Military Affairs Wisconsin Emergency Management. The comments address three inter-related areas:
(1)The need for the additional information, particularly the information on fees;
(2)concern that funding may be reduced or eliminated based on grantees' responses to the additional questions; and
(3)whether the additional information collection burden resulting from the additional questions is off-set by measurable benefits. These comments are addressed below. In addition, the National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials and the Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Response Commission submitted letters to OMB and copied PHMSA in response to the October 12 comment from the Interested Parties. Both commenters question the motivation of the Interested Parties for submitting its comment and express opposition to the revisions of this ICR. A. Need for the Additional Information Several commenters suggest that PHMSA's motivation in proposing to collect more detailed information on hazardous materials fees is to make it easier for hazardous materials shippers and carriers to challenge the fees. These commenters assert that aggrieved industry parties already have sufficient tools to pursue challenges to specific fees by utilizing the preemption provisions in Federal hazmat law and that information on hazardous materials fees assessed by state or tribal governments is already available through other sources. One commenter suggests that PHMSA “should have the industries claiming that they pay fees to the states and tribes (and perhaps local entities), identify themselves to PHMSA, at the Secretary of Transportation's request. The facility could identify the state/tribe and agency to which they pay those fees and the amount of the fees, so that U.S. DOT nationally could wrap its arms around the issue to determine if there is, in fact, an identifiable problem.” A second commenter suggests that PHMSA conduct a further study of the proposed revisions to the grant application kit, such as convening a stakeholder's forum to include both state and tribal governments and industry representation to discuss issues related to the assessment and uses of hazardous materials fees. Commenters are not correct that PHMSA is proposing to require HMEP grant applicants to submit information concerning hazardous materials fees as a means to assist hazardous materials shippers or carriers to challenge those fees through preemption or other means. In awarding HMEP grants, PHMSA is required by the Federal hazmat law to consider whether the state or tribe imposes and collects a fee on the transportation of hazardous materials and whether the fee is used only to carry out a purpose related to the transportation of hazardous materials. The information we are requesting in the revised grant application kit is consistent with our statutory mandate. We disagree with the commenters that suggest information concerning hazardous materials fees assessed by state or tribal governments is readily available through other sources. We have considered utilizing internet or other resources, but generally we have found that the information is not consistently available or reliably accurate. We note in this regard that commenters' suggestions concerning other methods for collecting information on state or tribal hazardous materials fees, such as through a separate survey or stakeholder meeting, would impose a similar or greater burden on respondents as the questions we propose to add to the grant application kit. Moreover, the overall response from state or tribal governments to such methods would likely be somewhat less than the overall response to the questions in the grant application kit and would not provide data to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program. B. Reduced Funding A number of commenters express concern that HMEP grant funding for individual state or tribal governments may be reduced or eliminated as a result of responses by the applicants to the additional questions. For instance, Mr. Johnnie L. Smith of the State of Wisconsin/Department of Military Affairs Wisconsin Emergency Management states that “It would be inappropriate to withhold or reduce a state's HMEP funding not supported by the appropriate legal action.” The commenter continues by stating that “* * * there is no reason why the emergency management community should be penalized by lost or reduced funding and why essential planning and training should not be performed.” The Colorado Emergency Planning Commission writes that “The collection of additional information in the manner advocated by petitioner and other commenters is unjustified because their suggested use of that information is improper.” Mr. Kevin Crawford comments that “As HMEP funding is the bulk of the resources * * * industry's efforts to penalize states by artificially evaluating the use of funds is ill-conceived at best.” In proposing additional questions for inclusion in the grant application kit, PHMSA has no intent to penalize grant recipients by the reduction or elimination of grant funds. Rather, our purpose in proposing the revised questions is to enable us to work with grantees to promote the effective use of HMEP grant funds and identify additional state or Indian tribe emergency response planning and training needs. We note in this regard that the HMEP grant program was established over 15 years ago and has continued with few changes since its initial implementation. HMEP grantees have used program funds to train first responders; conduct commodity flow studies; write or update emergency plans; conduct emergency response exercises; and assist local emergency planning committees. As indicated above, the HMEP grant program is funded by registration fees paid by hazardous materials shippers and carriers. It is incumbent on the agency administering the grant program as well as the grantees themselves to ascertain that the program is accountable to those who fund it and is as effective as possible in meeting its emergency response planning and training goals. The information we are requesting will provide data to evaluate emergency response planning and training programs conducted by states and Indian tribes. The development of accurate output information will also summarize the achievements of the HMEP grant program. This is especially important in light of the increase in grant funding authorized under the Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act (Title VII of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), enacted on August 10, 2005. Under the Act, authorized funding for the HMEP grant program effectively doubles, from $14.3 million to $28 million. The information we seek from grantees will enhance emergency response preparedness and response by allowing PHMSA and its state and tribal partners to target gaps in current planning and training efforts and focus on strategies that have been proven to be effective. C. Increased Information Collection Burden Many of the commenters who oppose the proposed revisions to the grant application kit consider them to be an excessive burden on applicants without a measurable benefit or an identified use of the information. For example, Ms. Montressa Jo Elder of the Oklahoma Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Commission comments that “These burdens are not trivial. Our local emergency planning committees and most of our rural fire departments are volunteer groups. Devoting time and energy to reports detracts from their other very important missions.” Mr. Daniel Roe states that “the proposed notice is going to place quite a burden not only on states, but on all funding recipients, to include tribes, locals and others.” The commenter further states that “funds that clearly are productively used for planning and training functions and are now adequately documented will be diverted to administrative burdens, the utility of which is quite questionable.” Mr. Timothy Gablehouse states that “it is unclear how the addition of the proposed questions to the ICR would enable PHMSA to glean any additional information about how effectively HMEP grant money is spent.” Similarly, Mr. Robert E. Dopp states that “We do not believe that DOT/PHMSA should impose the burden of information collection without a clear plan and purpose to use the information in a fashion that comports with statute and regulation. At this point all we really have is the advocacy of outsiders regarding the use of the information. Until and unless DOT/PHMSA is clear in its plans for the use of the information it appears that the proposed collection activity is simply an increased burden without a purpose.” The Colorado Emergency Planning Commission also notes that, as stated in PHMSA's previous **Federal Register** notice, a large percentage of the information is already collected. PHMSA appreciates commenters' concerns that the additional burden resulting from the proposed revisions to the way grantees report on the programs funded by the HMEP grants may detract from grantees planning and training efforts. We continue to believe, however, that grantees' performance reports should include both quantitative and qualitative data in sufficient detail to enable the grantees and PHMSA to evaluate the programs, identify effective planning and training strategies, and target areas where improvements are needed. Grantees are currently required to provide data on the planning and training programs they administer; the more detailed information we are requesting should be readily available. Nonetheless, in an effort to address the commenters concerns, we have revised the list of questions we initially proposed to modify those for which information can be obtained through other means, such as through discussions at our meetings and conferences with grant recipients. We have also reconfigured the questions to provide a more user-friendly format. We believe these adjustments will help to minimize the impact of the information collection burden on grantees. We have also identified two additional grantees and have revised the total number of respondents. Subsequently, we reviewed the burden hours and have re-calculated the information collection burden associated with responding to the questions. The revised questions and information collection burden estimates are detailed under the “Revised HMEP Questions and Information Collection Burden” section of this notice. III. Revised HMEP Questions and Information Collection Burden Beginning with the application for FY 2008 funds, applicants will be asked to respond to the following additional questions: Hazardous Materials Fees 1. Does your state or tribe assess a fee or fees in connection with the transportation of hazardous materials? 2. If the answer to question 1 is “yes,” a. What state agency administers the fee? b. What is the amount of the fee and the basis on which the fee is assessed? Examples of the bases on which fees may be assessed include:
(1)An annual fee for each company which transports hazardous materials within your state or tribal territory;
(2)a fee for each truck or vehicle used to transport hazardous materials within your state or tribal territory;
(3)a fee for certain commodities or quantities of hazardous materials transported in your state or tribal territory; or
(4)a fee for each hazardous materials shipment transiting your state or tribal territory. c. Is company size considered when assessing the fee? For instance, do companies meeting the Small Business Administration's
(SBA)definition of a small business pay the same or lesser fee amount than companies that do not meet the SBA definition? d. For what purpose(s) is the revenue from the fee used? For example, is the revenue used to support hazardous materials transportation enforcement programs? Is the fee used to support planning, developing, and maintaining an emergency response capability? e. What is the total annual amount of the revenue collected for the last fiscal year or 12-month accounting period? Planning Grants 1. Of the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds, what amount was used to assist Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs)? How many were assisted using HMEP funds? a. Did the LEPCs complete or update assessments of commodity flow patterns in their jurisdictions? If so, how many? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? b. Did the LEPCs complete or update assessments of the emergency response capabilities in their jurisdictions? If so, how many? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? c. Did the LEPCs develop or improve emergency plans for their jurisdictions? If so, how many plans were either developed or updated? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? d. Did the LEPCs conduct exercises to support their emergency plans? If so, how many exercises were conducted? Did any of these exercises include shipper or carrier participation? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to emergency response drills or exercises of all types? e. What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to other authorized activities by LEPCs (e.g., providing technical staff in support of emergency response planning efforts)? 2. Other than to assist LEPCs as addressed in Question 1, of the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds, what amount was used by the grantee (state or tribal government) to improve emergency response planning within the grantee's jurisdiction? a. Did the grantee complete or update an assessment of commodity flow patterns in its entire jurisdiction? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? b. Did the grantee complete or update an assessment of emergency response capabilities in its entire jurisdiction? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? c. Did the grantee develop or improve an emergency plan for its entire jurisdiction? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to this effort? d. Did the grantee conduct exercises to support its emergency plan? How many exercises were conducted? Did any of these exercises include shipper or carrier participation? What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to emergency response drills or exercises of all types? e. What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to other authorized planning activities by the grantee (e.g., providing technical staff in support of emergency response planning efforts)? 3. Based on the activities outlined above, how well has the HMEP grants program met emergency response planning needs within your jurisdiction? Does your current ability to provide planning enable you to meet the needs you have identified? Do you have any recommendations for additional activities or programs that could further enhance your emergency response planning capabilities? Training Grants 1. What was the total amount of HMEP training grant funds utilized to assess training needs and provide training for emergency response personnel in your jurisdiction? a. Did you complete or update an assessment of the training needs of the emergency response personnel in your jurisdiction? What was the total amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? b. How many individuals were trained in whole or in part using HMEP training grant funds? You should include separate totals for numbers of fire, police, emergency medical services
(EMS)or other personnel who were trained and the type of training provided. (Note that “other” personnel include public works employees, accident clean-up crews, and liaison and support officers. Note also that if HMEP training grant funds were used in any way to support the training, such as for books or equipment, you should show that the training was partially funded by HMEP training grant funds.) What was the total amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? c. Did you provide incident command systems training? If so, provide separate indications for the numbers of fire, policy, EMS, or other personnel who were trained. What was the total amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? d. Did you develop new training using HMEP training grant funds in whole or in part, such as training in handling specific types of incidents of specific types of materials? If so, briefly describe the new programs. Did a commodity flow assessment influence the development of new training programs? Was the program qualified using the HMEP Curriculum Guidelines process? What was the total amount of HMEP training grant funds devoted to this effort? e. What was the total amount of HMEP planning grant funds devoted to other authorized training activities (e.g., activities necessary to monitor training, including examinations, critiques, and instructor evaluations; management activities to increase the benefits, proficiency, and rapid deployment of emergency responders)? 2. Do you have a system in place for measuring the effectiveness of emergency response to hazardous materials incidents in your jurisdiction? Describe the criteria you use (total response time, total time at an accident scene, communication among different agencies or jurisdictions, or other criteria). How many state and local response teams are located in your jurisdiction? What is the estimated coverage of these teams (e.g., the percent of state jurisdictions covered)? 3. Based on the activities outlined above, how well has the HMEP grants program met emergency response training needs within your jurisdiction? Does your current ability to provide training enable you to meet the needs you have identified? Do you have any recommendations for additional activities or programs that could further enhance the effectiveness of emergency response to hazardous materials incidents in your jurisdiction? The total revised information collection budget for the HMEP grants program follows: *Title:* Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning Grants. *OMB Control Number:* 2137-0586. *Type of Request:* Revision of a currently approved information collection. *Abstract:* Part 110 of 49 CFR sets forth the procedures for reimbursable grants for public sector planning and training in support of the emergency planning and training efforts of states, Indian tribes and local communities to manage hazardous materials emergencies, particularly those involving transportation. Sections in this part address information collection and recordkeeping with regard to applying for grants, monitoring expenditures, and reporting and requesting modifications. *Affected Public:* State and local governments, Indian tribes. *Recordkeeping:* *Number of Respondents:* 68. *Total Number of Responses:* 68. *Total Annual Burden Hours:* 5,428. *Frequency of collection:* On occasion. Issued in Washington, DC on November 15, 2007. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards. [FR Doc. E7-22689 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket: PHMSA-1998-4957] Request for Public Comments and Office of Management and Budget Approval of an Existing Information Collection Requirement (2137-0618) AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that PHMSA forwarded an Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)for an extension of the currently approved information collection: “Pipeline Safety: Periodic Underwater Inspections” (2137-0618). The purpose of this notice is to invite the public to submit comments on the request. DATES: Submit comments on or before December 21, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send comments directly to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, *Attn:* Desk Officer for the Department of Transportation, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Little at
(202)366-4569, or by e-mail at *roger.little@dot.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR Parts 190-199) require operators to conduct appropriate underwater inspections in the Gulf of Mexico. If the operator finds pipeline exposed on the seabed floor or a hazard to navigation, the operator must contact the National Response Center by telephone within 24 hours of discovery and report the location of the exposed pipeline (49 CFR 192.612 and 195.413). PHMSA is now requesting that OMB grant a three- year term of approval for renewal of this information collection requirement. Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, PHMSA invites comments on whether the information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DOT. As used in this notice, the term “information collection” includes all work related to preparing and disseminating information related to this information collection requirement including completing paperwork, gathering information, and conducting telephone calls. Comments may include
(1)whether the information will have practical utility;
(2)the accuracy of DOT's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection;
(3)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collection; and
(4)ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. *Type of Information Collection Request:* Renewal of Existing Collection. *Title of Information Collection:* Pipeline Safety: Periodic Underwater Inspections. *Respondents:* 82. *Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:* 1,350 hours. *Estimated Cost:* $87,413. Issued in Washington, DC on November 15, 2007. Barbara Betsock, Deputy Director of Regulations, Office of Pipeline Safety. [FR Doc. E7-22691 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-60-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of Hazardous Materials Safety; Notice of Application for Special Permits AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: List of applications for special permits. SUMMARY: In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the “Nature of Application” portion of the table below as follows: 1—Motor vehicle, 2—Rail freight, 3—Cargo vessel, 4—Cargo aircraft only, 5—Passenger-carrying aircraft. DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 21, 2007. *Address Comments to:* Record Center, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590. Comments should refer to the application number and be submitted in triplicate. If confirmation of receipt of comments is desired, include a self-addressed stamped postcard showing the special permit number. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the applications are available for inspection in the Records Center, East Building, PHH-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast, Washington, DC or at *http://dms.dot.gov.* This notice of receipt of applications for special permit is published in accordance with part 107 of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5117(b); 49 CFR 1.53(b)). Issued in Washington, DC, on November 14, 2007. Delmer F. Billings, Director, Office of Hazardous Materials, Special Permits and Approvals. New Special Permits Application No. Docket No. Applicant Regulation(s) affected Nature of special permits thereof 14597-N The Columbiana Boiler Co., Columbiana, OH 49 CFR 173.314 To authorize the transportation in commerce of anhydrous ammonia in a DOT 110 multi unit tank car tank. (Modes 1, 2, 3) 14598-N Tremcar USA, Inc., Saint-Jean-sur-Richeli eu, CN 49 CFR 178.345 To authorize the use of an alternative material in the manufacture of cargo tank components. (Mode 1) 14599-N State of New York Department of Health, Albany, NY 49 CFR 171.2(K) To authorize the transportation in commerce of packagings identified as infectious substances, Category B, which are actually non-hazardous for purposes of shipping and packaging drills conducted through New York State to evaluate bioterrorism, chemical terrorism and pandemic influenza preparedness. (Modes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 14600-N McLane Company, Inc. Temple, TX 49 CFR 173.308 To authorize the transportation in commerce of up to 5,000 lighters manufactured by BIC Corporation per motor vehicle not subject to the requirements of subparts C through H of part 173 and part 177 in its entirety. (Mode 1) 14601-N Precision Combustion Technology, LLC 49 CFR 173.302a To authorize the manufacture, marking, sale and use of a non-DOT specification pressure vessel for the transportation in commerce of boron trifluoride. (Modes 1, 2, 3) 14602-N Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, CA 49 CFR 173.304a, 173.301, 172.101 Table Column
(9B)To authorize the transportation in commerce of anhydrous ammonia in non-DOT specification packaging. (Modes 1, 2, 3, 4) 14603-N Yi Wu Huan Qiu Can Manufacture Yiwu City, Zhejiang 49 CFR 173.304(d), 173.306(a) and 178.33a To authorize the manufacture, marking, sale and use of non-DOT specification inner nonrefillable metal receptacles similar to DOT specification 2Q containers for certain Division 2.2 materials. (Modes 1, 2, 3, 4) [FR Doc. 07-5749 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am]
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U.S. Code
- Efficient environmental reviews for project decisionmaking and One Federal Decision§ 139
- Standards§ 109
- Public hearings§ 128
- Policy on lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites§ 303
- Landscaping and scenic enhancement§ 319
- Congressional findings and declaration of policy§ 1361
- Transferred or Omitted§ 470
- Protection and preservation of traditional religions of Native Americans§ 1996
- Project grants and contracts for family planning services§ 300
- National wetlands priority conservation plan§ 3921
- National Highway System§ 103
- National transit database§ 5335
- Administrative provisions§ 5334
- Purpose§ 5101
- Establishment of State commissions, planning districts, and local committees§ 11001
- Planning and training grants, monitoring, and review§ 5116
- Federal agency responsibilities§ 3506
- Special permits and exclusions§ 5117
register
27 references not yet in our index
- 42 USC 4321-4351
- 42 USC 7401-7671(q)
- 16 USC 1531-1544
- 16 USC 661-667(d)
- 16 USC 703-712
- 16 USC 469-469(c)
- 25 USC 3001-3013
- 42 USC 2000(d)
- 7 USC 4201-4209
- 33 USC 1251-1377
- 16 USC 4601-4604
- 33 USC 401-406
- 16 USC 1271-1287
- 42 USC 4001-4128
- Pub. L. 101-624
- 46 CFR 380
- 49 CFR 110
- 49 CFR 192.612
- 49 CFR 107
- 49 CFR 1.53(b)
- 49 CFR 173.314
- 49 CFR 178.345
- 49 CFR 171.2(K)
- 49 CFR 173.308
- 49 CFR 173.302
- 49 CFR 173.304
- 49 CFR 173.304(d)
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Notice of Limitation on Claims for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA, Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Other Federal Agencies
Cite42 USC 4321-4351
Cite42 USC 7401-7671(q)
Cite16 USC 1531-1544
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