On December 16, 2009, the President of
the United States signed the Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2010 (Div.
A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117,
December 16, 2009)) (FY 2010 Appropriations Act), which
appropriated $600 million to be awarded for National Infrastructure
Investments or TIGER II Discretionary Grants." Funds for the TIGER
II Discretionary Grant Program are to be awarded on a competitive
basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the
Nation, Metropolitan area or a region.
OST is requesting
emergency approval of this proposed information collection since
the Department can not reasonably comply with the normal OMB PRA
Clearance procedures because of the time needed by OST to review
grant applications, select projects and award funding in accordance
with the FY 2010 Appropriations Act, which requires a competitive
process. Any delay in collecting the information and awarding
grants will make it less likely that the Department will be able to
meet the statutory deadline for obligating funds.
This is a new program
authorized under the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development,
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010, Title I -
Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, National
Infrastructure Investments (P.L. 111-117, 123 Stat. 3034).
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.