Notice2026-11737
Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Information Collection
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
June 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Highway Administration
Abstract
The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate a previously approved information collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35602-35603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11737]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2026-0661]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for
Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request for reinstatement of a previously approved
information collection.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request
described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
to reinstate a previously approved information collection. We are
required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Please submit comments by July 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number
0661 by any of the following methods:
Website: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Appel, (202) 591-5675, Office of
Infrastructure, Federal Highway Administration, Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Office
hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a Federal Register Notice with
a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on
February 18, 2026, at 91 FR 7620. The notice received 1 comment. The
comments and FHWA's responses are below:
Virginia DOT (VDOT): VDOT commented on the labor-intensive nature
of the work required to compile Detailed Disaster Inspection Reports
(DDIRs) and suggested that FHWA provide funds based on observed damage,
use available geospatial imagery to review infrastructure damage, and
use a formula to disburse funding to deliver initial repair dollars
based on observed damage.
<bullet> FHWA's response: FHWA concurs that the Emergency Relief
process is labor-intensive and is committed to identify ways to
streamline the process. FHWA has been exploring opportunities to
utilize existing post-disaster imagery for damage assessments and will
continue to do so. The comments related to program improvements related
to funding are not directly related to the ER Funding Application.
VDOT states that FHWA's estimate of 250 hours per assessment
significantly underestimates the true burden, as it only accounts for
office-based data compilation while ignoring extensive field data
collection and travel times.
<bullet> FHWA's response: FHWA concurs that the Emergency Relief
process is labor-intensive. Taking into consideration the time required
to conduct site assessments, gather supporting documentation (including
photographs, maps, repair information, and cost estimates), prepare
necessary paperwork, and submit to FHWA for review, we have increased
the estimated burden from 250 hours to 350 hours per DDIR. However,
development and submittal of the ER application, including the field
report required by 23 CFR 668.111(b), is a one-time effort. Additional
DDIRs documenting damage to other sites may be submitted but they would
not be accounted for within the ER Funding Application.
VDOT proposed the development of a standardized, nationwide, GIS-
based DDIR tool to allow states to quickly collect, verify, and share
spatial data and supporting documentation with FHWA.
<bullet> FHWA's response: FHWA is working to provide State DOTs
with multiple options for conducting damage assessments. The DDIR is
one tool available to States that choose to use it. Other available
tools include the Policy Information Data Portal (PIDP) and the Mobile
Solution for Assessment & Reporting (MSAR). Both platforms enable State
DOTs to collect site assessment data and submit it electronically to
FHWA.
VDOT recommended combining DDIRs by logical regional areas (e.g.,
VDOT's 9 construction districts) to eliminate redundant paperwork. It
also suggested that FHWA create a standardized toolkit including
federally eligible contract templates for ER applicants. VDOT also
recommended FHWA consider changes to the ER process, including FHWA
compilation of DDIRs, project approval via DDIR (in lieu of FMIA
authorization), and limiting FHWA DDIR reviews and audits.
<bullet> FHWA's response: These comments are not directly related
to the ER Funding Application.
Title: Emergency Relief Funding Applications.
OMB Control: 2125-0525.
Background: States are required to submit an application for
emergency relief (ER) funds to the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) to receive Federal-aid highway disaster assistance. The law on
the ER program, 23 U.S.C. 125(a), requires a finding by the Secretary
of Transportation that the damage is sufficiently serious to warrant
Federal funding for repairs. In order to make this determination, the
Secretary relies on the information provided in the State's application
for disaster assistance. The authority and responsibility of the
Federal Highway Administrator to prescribe policies and procedures for
the proper submission of information necessary to allow this
determination is established at 23 U.S.C. 315.
Respondents: State Transportation Departments (State DOTs),
equivalent highway agencies in the District of Columbia, Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the
Territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, and
Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) submit ER applications to the
FHWA for review and approval.
Frequency: Once per emergency event.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 350 hours per respondent per
application per form.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,000 hours.
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed
collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of
the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that
the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic
technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information.
The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request
for OMB's clearance of this information collection.
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Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: June 9, 2026.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-11737 Filed 6-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 11, 2026.
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