Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants people to share their thoughts about a plan to collect information about cars and fuel use, but they need help to make sure it doesn't take too much time or get too confusing.
Summary AI
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is seeking public comments on a new information collection request that has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. This effort is part of complying with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information will be collected annually from state and local governments, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, focusing on data like motor-vehicle registration and motor-fuel use. The total estimated burden for this data collection is about 29,574 hours annually. Public input is invited to assess the necessity, accuracy, clarity, and ways to minimize the burden of this information collection.
Abstract
The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published in the Federal Register seeks public feedback on a new initiative to gather information from various state and local jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This is a routine action that ensures compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The primary focus of the data collection is on areas such as motor-vehicle registration and motor-fuel usage, which are essential for federal transportation policy and funding decisions.
General Summary
The FHWA aims to collect detailed information that will facilitate discussions and decisions regarding highway financing and maintenance. This includes understanding trends in motor-fuel use and taxation, as well as fees and registrations across different states. The gathered data will feed into national reports that inform Congress about the condition and future needs of the country's highways, bridges, and transit systems.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are several issues within the document that merit attention. Firstly, the burden estimation per form varies dramatically, from 4 to 380 hours. This wide range could be confusing without further explanation of what factors cause such differences. While the document provides an average burden estimate, understanding how this is calculated requires additional context.
Secondly, the document assumes a level of familiarity with specific processes, such as contributing receipts to the Highway Trust Fund. For those not versed in federal or state transportation funding mechanisms, this might not be immediately clear. Further clarification could enhance comprehension.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this document reflects the ongoing efforts of federal agencies to engage public participation in policymaking. By inviting comments, FHWA opens the door for citizens and organizations to influence how data is collected and used in shaping transportation policy. However, this also means that some respondents, especially smaller local governments, might feel the strain of contributing significant time and resources to fulfill these data requests.
Impact on Stakeholders
For state and local governments, the annual commitment to providing this data could represent a substantial administrative burden. While the data collection is vital for informed policymaking, the workload involved might be challenging for entities with limited staff or resources.
However, there is also a potential positive impact. By participating in this data collection, state and local entities have the opportunity to ensure their specific circumstances and needs are considered in national transportation planning, potentially leading to better resource allocation and policy decisions tailored to their realities.
In conclusion, while the overarching goal of the proposed data collection is beneficial and necessary, the FHWA should strive to provide clearer guidance and support to ensure effective and efficient participation from all stakeholders. Additionally, exploring technological solutions could alleviate some of the burdens placed on these respondents, making the process more equitable and less time-consuming.
Issues
• The burden estimation varies significantly between forms (4 to 380 hours), which could be seen as unclear without additional context or explanation for each form category.
• The document assumes the reader has knowledge of specific processes, such as the attribution of receipts to the Highway Trust Fund, which might not be clear to all readers without additional explanation.
• Clarification is required on how the estimated average burden per response is calculated and what factors contribute to this estimation.
• The solicitation of comments could benefit from more specific guidance on what kind of feedback is most valuable, to focus respondents' efforts.
• There might be an opportunity to minimize the total annual burden hours through technological solutions, which should be explored further.