49 U.S.C. Section 5317-New Freedom Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
2023 New Freedom Justification Statement - FINAL.docx Supporting Statement A	2023-08-22
2023 Urbanized Area Program 30-Day FRN.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-08-22
New Freedpm 60-Day FRN.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-08-12
Sample Project Management Report.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-03-13

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
183388	New Freedom Program	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2132-0565	ICR Reference No: 202308-2132-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202003-2132-001
Agency/Subagency: DOT/FTA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: 49 U.S.C. Section 5317-New Freedom Program
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/22/2023

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2023
Responses	33	106
Time Burden (Hours)	1,320	4,240
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: This information collection (IC) request is for a three-year extension without change of a currently approved information collection under OMB control number 2132-0565 - 49 U.S.C. Section 5317 New Freedom Program. The response to the collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit, as the reporting of information is required to obtain federal assistance to states, local governments, private nonprofit agencies, and public transportation authorities. The New Freedom Program made grants available to assist states and designated recipients to reduce barriers to transportation services and expand the transportation mobility options available to people with disabilities beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Eligible recipients included states and federally recognized Indian Tribes. Sub-recipients included state or local government authorities, nonprofit organizations, and operators of public transportation or intercity bus service. The New Freedom Program was repealed by Congress under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). However, funds previously authorized for programs repealed by MAP–21 remain available for their originally authorized purposes until the period of availability expires, the funds are fully expended, the funds are rescinded by Congress, or the funds are otherwise reallocated. To meet program oversight responsibilities, FTA must continue to collect information until the period of availability expires. The last year of federal funding was Fiscal Year 2012, and any unobligated funding from that year lapsed at the end of Fiscal Year 2015 (September 30, 2015). Therefore, there are new applications under this program and the application stage is eliminated. The information being reported are annual milestone reports for grants that still have reporting requirements. These annual reports are submitted to FTA’s staff electronically once a year. The current estimated respondents are decreased from 106 to 33 and the new estimated annual burden hours is 1,320. As older grants are expended and closed, there is fewer project management reports submitted. This IC will likely be discontinued during the next 3 years.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 49 USC 5317 Name of Law: New Freedom Program
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 33963	05/25/2023
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 56919	08/21/2023
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
New Freedom Program

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	33	106	0	-73	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,320	4,240	0	-2,920	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: The only change in this collection reflects a continuous annual reduction in burden on the public and federal government due to the New Freedom Program being repealed by under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). As a result, the application stage and all information collected as part of this process in the program have been eliminated. The total burden for this request is 1,320 hours, a reduction of 2,920 hours from the previous request of 4,240 hours. The reduction in burden is due to the repeal of this program and the reduction in grants in the project management stage. As older grants are expended and closed, there is fewer project management reports submitted. This IC will likely be discontinued during the next 3 years.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $866

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 08/22/2023

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