The Federal-aid highway program has always been based on a strong State-Federal partnership. The FHWA noise regulations give each State highway agency flexibility in determining the reasonableness and feasibility of noise abatement and, thus, in balancing the benefits of noise abatement against the overall adverse social, economic, and environmental effects and costs of the noise abatement measures. The flexibility in noise abatement decision-making is reflected by data indicating that not all States have built noise barriers. Through the end of 2004, 45 State Departments of Transportation (SDOT) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have constructed over 2,205 linear miles of barriers at a cost of over $2.6 billion ($3.4 billion in 2004 dollars). Five States and the District of Columbia have not constructed noise barriers. Ten State highway agencies account for approximately 64 percent of total barrier length and 72 percent of total barrier cost. This listing continues to be extremely useful in the management of the highway traffic noise program, in our technical assistance efforts for State highway agencies, and in responding to inquiries from congressional sources, Federal, State, and local agencies, and the general public. An updated listing of noise barriers will be distributed nationally for use in the State highway agencies traffic noise program.
This is a new information collection. It is estimated that on average it would take each respondent 8 hours to respond to this request. The actual response time will be dependent on the number of noise barriers constructed, the availability of this information, and the collection method. It is estimated that the total burden of this request would be 416 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.