Extending National Scenic Byways Program Information Collection

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to
request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new
information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day
public comment period on this information collection on November 27,
2009. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Please submit comments by March 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number
FHWA-2010-0007, by any of the following methods:
Web Site: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: at http://
www.regulations.gov. 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: Docket Management Facility, 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., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Jensen, 202-366-2048, Office of
Planning, Environment & Realty, HEP-2, Federal Highway Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Scenic Byways Program.
OMB Control #: 2125-0611.
Form #: FHWA-1569, FHWA-1570, FHWA-1577.
Background: The National Scenic Byways Program was established
under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, and
reauthorized in 1998 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century. Under the program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation
recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All-American
Roads based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural,
recreational, and scenic qualities. There are 151 such designated
byways in 46 states, which the FHWA promotes as the America's Byways.
It is a voluntary, grassroots program that recognizes and supports
outstanding roads while providing resources to help manage the
intrinsic qualities within the broader byway corridor to be treasured
and shared. The vision of the FHWA's National Scenic Byways Program is
to create a distinctive collection of American roads, their stories and
treasured places. The program's mission is to provide resources to the
byway community in creating a unique travel experience and enhanced
local quality of life through efforts to preserve, protect, interpret,
and promote the intrinsic qualities of designated byways. Title 23,
Section 162 of the United States Code lays out the statutory structure
of the National Scenic Byways Program. This legislation was most
recently amended in 2005 upon passage of the Public Law 109-59 Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The legislation includes provisions for
review and dissemination of grant monies by the U.S. Secretary of
Transportation. Grant applications are solicited on an annual basis.
Eligible projects are on State designated byways, National Scenic
Byways, All-American Roads, or Indian Tribe Scenic Byways. Applications
are completed by Federal, State, or local governmental agencies; Tribal
Governments; and non-profit organizations. The application information
is collected electronically via the online Grant system and is used to
determine project eligibility. The legislation also includes
information about the nomination of scenic byways to become one of
America's Byways, a collection of distinct and diverse roads designated
by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. America's Byways include the
National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads. Additional information
on the National Scenic Byways Program, its grant program, and the
nomination process is available at http://www.bywaysonline.org.
Grants Respondents: In a typical grants cycle, it is estimated that
400 applications will be received. These applications will be submitted
online and reviewed for eligibility through a process involving State
Byway or Indian Tribe Scenic Byway Coordinators and FHWA division
offices before being submitted to FHWA Headquarters for funding
consideration. Respondents include: 50 State Departments of
Transportation, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (Right-of-Way
Department), Federal Land Management Agencies, State and local
governments, non-profit agencies, and Tribal Governments.
Frequency: Annual.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 16 hours.
Estimated Sub-Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,400 hours.
Nominations Respondents: Based on previous nomination cycles, it is
estimated that a total of 75 nominations will be received, originating
from any local government, including Tribal Governments, or any private
group or individual. Nominations may also originate from the U.S.
Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, or the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Roads determined to be
appropriate for nomination by the State, an Indian tribe, or a Federal
land management agency based on its intrinsic qualities must first be
designated as a State Scenic Byway, an Indian Tribe Scenic Byway, or,
in the case of a road on federal land, as a Federal Land Management
Agency Byway.
Frequency: Biannual.
Estimated Average Burden per Response: 200 hours.
Estimated Sub-Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,000 hours.
Estimate Total Annual Burden Hours: 21,400.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

There really is no change being requested. The Paperwork Reduction Act requires us to gain approval of our information collection activities every three years. Our burden hour estimates are the same as in the previous approval. This request is to extend our existing approval for another three years.