2127-New- Motorcyclist

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

FOR

GRANT PROGRAM UNDER

SECTION 2010 OF SAFETEA-LU

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Attach a copy of the appropriate statute or regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

Section 2010 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Pub. L. 109-59, authorizes a grant program for States that adopt and implement effective motorcycle safety programs. Eligibility for the section 2010 grants is based on 6 grant criteria: (1) Motorcycle Rider Training Courses; (2) Motorcyclists Awareness Program; (3) Reduction of Fatalities and Crashes Involving Motorcycles; (4) Impaired Driving Program; (5) Reduction of Fatalities and Accidents Involving Impaired Motorcyclists; and (6) Fees Collected from Motorcyclists. To qualify for a section 2010 grant for the first fiscal year the State seeks to qualify, it must demonstrate compliance with at least 1 of the 6 grant criteria. To qualify for a section 2010 grant for the second and subsequent fiscal years it seeks to qualify, a State must demonstrate compliance with at least 2 of the 6 grant criteria.

This information collection supports the Department’s Strategic goal of safety by reducing the number of deaths and severity of injuries as a result of motorcycle crashes.

The information collected for this grant program is to include application submissions and various reporting requirements. A State that seeks to qualify in the first fiscal year must submit an application containing information demonstrating that it satisfies 1 of the 6 grant criteria. For the second and subsequent fiscal years that it seeks to qualify, a State must submit an application containing information demonstrating that it satisfies 2 of the 6 grant criteria.

A State’s application would identify under which of the 6 grant criteria it intends to qualify for a section 2010 grant. With respect to each of the criteria selected, the proposed rule would require certain submissions from the State to demonstrate that it meets grant criteria.

A State that receives grant funds also must indicate to NHTSA how it intends to expend grant funds for each fiscal year and how grant funds were expended each fiscal year. It is important for NHTSA to be notified about these activities so that it can effectively administer the grant program and account for the expenditure of funds. To reduce burdens, A State will document these activities largely by making use of mechanisms that have received PRA clearance for other similar highway safety programs. A State will first notify NHTSA of its obligation of funds in accordance with the applicable provisions of SAFETEA-LU by submitting a Program Cost Summary (HS-217), a form with existing PRA clearance, within 30 days of the award notification. A State will also report to NHTSA, as part of its annual Highway Safety Plan under 23 U.S.C. § 402, on how it intends to expend grant funds for each fiscal year. This reporting requirement, however, will not be a significant extra burden for the States because they are already required by statute to submit an annual Highway Safety Plan. Finally, a State that receives grants funds must submit each fiscal year, as part of the Annual Report for its highway safety program pursuant to 23 C.F.R. § 1200.33, a report indicating how grant funds were expended and identifying the programs carried out with the grant funds. Again, this reporting requirement will not be a significant extra burden for the States because they are already required by regulation to submit an Annual Report for their highway safety program.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Indicate actual use of information received from the current collection.

A State would submit, through its State Highway Safety Agency, an application to the appropriate NHTSA Regional Administrator satisfying the minimum qualification requirements and identifying the grant criteria under which it seeks to qualify.

The application and accompanying certifications will be submitted in hard copy to NHTSA Regional Administrators. The report will be submitted electronically.

NHTSA would use the information provided to determine the State’s eligibility for Section 2010 grant funds in each year. The report information would allow the agency to track grant funds and ensure that the funds are being used for the purposes specified by statute and regulations.

3. Describe whether the collection of information involves the use of technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This is a new collection, therefore, currently no information has been collected. As indicated above, the Program Cost Summary is submitted electronically through a PRA-approved form. The agency is working towards collection of all information electronically.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why similar information cannot be used.

To reduce duplication, the reporting information collected under this grant program will be submitted as part of the State’s Highway Safety Plan and Annual Report, reports the States are already required to submit by statute or regulation.

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

This item does not apply. States are the only eligible recipients for these grant programs.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal Program or policy activities if the collection is not collected or collected less frequently.

If the information were collected less frequently than annually, it would not be possible to track grant funds or to determine whether a State complies with the grant criteria in each fiscal year.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines set forth in 5 CFR 1320.6.

The procedures specified for this information collection are consistent with the guidelines set forth in 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. Provide a copy of the FEDERAL REGISTER document soliciting comments on extending the collection of information, a summary of all public comments responding to the notice, and a description of the agency’s actions in response to the comments. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views.

The agency published a 60-day Notice Requesting Public Comment on Proposed Collections of Information on March 2, 2006 (71 FR 10753), soliciting public comments on the collection of information.

The comment period expired May 2, 2006. The agency did not receive any public comments.

The agency published a 30-day Notice announcing that the Information Collection Request (ICR) was forwarded to OMB for review and comment on May 12, 2006 (71 FR 27786). The comment period expires on June 12, 2006.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift will be provided to any respondent.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents.

No assurances of confidentiality are given by the agency for this regulation.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions on matters that are commonly considered private.

The information provided is not of a private nature; therefore, no justification is necessary.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information on the respondents.

(1) Estimated number of respondents...............................................................

- 52 (fifty States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico)

(2) Estimated hours per respondent...................................................................30

(3) Estimated annual burden hours...............................................................1560

The estimated number of respondents is based on the number of eligible States, as prescribed by SAFETEA-LU, under each program. We estimate that for this grant program, it will take approximately 30 hours to collect, review and submit the information to NHTSA.

Based on an estimated cost of $50 per employee, each response to this program is estimated to cost a State $1500. If all eligible States applied, the total cost on all respondents would be $78,000. It is not anticipated, however, that all States will apply each year.

13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost to the respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information (do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Question 12 or 14.

Not applicable. There are no capital, start-up or annual operation and maintenance costs involved with the collection of information.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government.

The estimated annualized costs to the Federal Government are based on the amount of time spent on review by attorneys in the Office of Chief Counsel and program staff in the Office of Injury Control and Resources. We estimate that at an average cost of $50 per hour and an estimated level of 10 hours per respondent, the total cost, if every State applies for this grant program, would be $26,000.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.

This is a new collection. Therefore, the program changes reported in Items 13 (1560 hours) and Item 14 (zero costs) represent the difference between the total annual hour requested/total annual costs requested and zero.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation, and publication.

This item is not applicable.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

Approval is not being sought to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions,” of OMB Form 83-1.

There are no exceptions.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS.

This standard does not include the collection of statistical information.

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Attachments

Federal Register 60-Day Notice

Federal Register 30-Day Notice

23 U.S.C. § 402

23 C.F.R. § 1200.33

HS-217

Section 2010 of SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-59.