Notice2024-23921
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 17, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the information collection and its expected burden. On July 30, 2024, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83758-83759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23921]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0026]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding
the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR
describes the information collection and its expected burden. On July
30, 2024, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public
comment on the ICR. FRA received no comments in response to the notice.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
November 18, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find the particular ICR by selecting
``Currently under Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b2a1bfb6a7a7b6fdbea6a0a0babdb4a7bcbd93b7bca7fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6c7d4cac3d2d2c388cbd3d5d5cfc8c1d2c9c8e6c2c9d288c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (571) 609-1285 or Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4822272926262d663b3f292e2e273a2c082c273c662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="315b5e505f5f541f42465057575e435571555e451f565e47">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (757) 897-9908.
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. See 44 U.S.C.
3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. On July 30, 2024, FRA
published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting public
comment on the ICR for which it is now seeking OMB approval. See 89 FR
61230. FRA has received no comments related to the proposed collection
of information.
Before OMB decides whether to approve this proposed collection of
information, it must provide 30 days' notice for public comment.
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. The 30-day notice informs the regulated community of its
opportunity to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate
time to consider public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR
44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, each respondent should submit their
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: Uniform Report of Small Business (SB) Commitments/Awards and
Payments.
OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
Abstract: The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is
statutorily mandated and intended to assist small businesses owned and
controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals
compete fairly in the Department of Transportation's transportation
funding programs for certain highway, transit, and aviation programs.
The DBE program is implemented by recipients of DOT financial
assistance. The DOT DBE directive does not include rail assistance
programs and FRA does not have a mandated DBE program. Rather, FRA
issues and manages rail assistance programs in compliance with the DOT
regulations for implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
found at 49 CFR part 21 and the Uniform Administrative Requirements,
Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards found at 2
CFR part 200. Specifically, 2 CFR 200.321 (a) through (b)(6) provides
affirmative steps a non-Federal entity must take to assure that
minority businesses, women's
[[Page 83759]]
business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when
possible.
In 2015, Congress instructed the Secretary of Transportation to
conduct a nationwide disparity and availability study on the
availability and use of small businesses owned and controlled by
socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and veteran-owned
small businesses in publicly funded intercity rail passenger
transportation projects.
The report for the study was provided to Congress in 2022. The
report noted a gap in data available for analysis to determine if there
is any disparity in rail transportation grant awards. To address the
data gap identified in the report, FRA is proposing to add new form,
FRA F 6180.281 titled, Small Business (SB) Commitments/Awards and
Payments. The proposed data collection will address this gap and aid
future considerations of the application of the DBE program.
The purpose of FRA F 6180.281 is to collect data from grant
recipients to determine the amount of dollars from FRA grants and
contracts that flow to small, women-owned and Disadvantaged Business
Enterprises (DBE). This would identify all prime contractors, sub-
contractors, consultants, and vendors that FRA grant recipients worked
with and on which they spent grant funds. Additionally, the proposed
new form, FRA F 6180.281 ``SB Commitments/Awards and Payments'' would
be used by FRA to carry out its oversight responsibilities of non-
Federal entities receiving grant funds.
This collection of information aligns with DOT's Strategic Goal of
Equity as it supports establishing economic equity for small businesses
owned by disadvantaged individuals and promoting development
opportunities.
Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
Affected Public: Generally, includes States and local governments
and railroads.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.281.
Respondent Universe: 140 grant recipients.
Frequency of Submission: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 140.
Total Estimated Annual Burden: 49,980 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$2,289,584.
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 that does not display a currently valid OMB control
number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Christopher S. Van Nostrand,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-23921 Filed 10-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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