# Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Information Collection
**AGENCY:**
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
**ACTION:**
Notice and request for comments.
**SUMMARY:**
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 are required to publish this notice in the *Federal Register* by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
**DATES:**
Please submit comments by November 18, 2025.
**ADDRESSES:**
You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 0202 by any of the following methods:
*Website:* For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to *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:* 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. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Melissa Maiefski, *[email protected],* (402) 326-7960, or Gregory Danis, *[email protected],* (202) 366-4000, Office of Competitive Grants and Workforce Programs, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
*Title:* National Scenic Byway Program (NSBP).
*Background:* The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) administers the NSBP. It was established by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 in Section 162 of Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), and reauthorized and expanded significantly in 1998 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century and again under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users in 2005. The NSBP is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve, and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Before 2019, Congress last authorized discretionary NSBP funds in 2012 under the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012. Between 1992 and 2012, FHWA awarded over $505 million in NSBP grants. In 2022, FHWA awarded approximately $21.8 million in grants to 33 projects.
*Respondents:* The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), announcing up to $34.3 million of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, 2024, and 2025 funding for the National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) discretionary grants, will be available for State DOTs and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes on *grants.gov* . FHWA is expecting roughly 200 applicants to apply for NSBP grant funding.
*Frequency:* NOFOs and grant solicitations will be published annually by FHWA but, are subject to the availability of funds in appropriations or, any legislation signed into law authorizing funds.
*Estimated Average Burden per Response:* 3 hours per respondent per applicant.
*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* It is expected that the respondents will complete approximately 200 applications for an estimated total of 600 annual burden hours.
*Title:* National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program (Culvert AOP).
*Background:* FHWA administers the Culvert AOP. It was established by Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in section 21203 of IIJA and codified at 49 U.S.C. 6703. The Culvert AOP Program prioritizes projects that would improve fish passage for: (A) anadromous fish stocks listed as an endangered species or a threatened species under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533); (B) anadromous fish stocks identified by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that could reasonably become listed as an endangered species or a threatened species under that section; (C) anadromous fish stocks identified by the NMFS or the USFWS as prey for endangered species, threatened species, or protected species, including Southern resident orcas ( *Orcinus orca* ); or (D) anadromous fish stocks identified by the NMFS or the USFWS as climate resilient stocks. 49 U.S.C. 6703(e)(1). The program also prioritizes projects that would open up more than 200 meters of upstream habitat for anadromous fish before the end of the natural habitat. Under IIJA, Congress authorized $1 billion for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 through 2026 to provide financial assistance to Culvert AOP Program eligible projects. In 2022, FHWA awarded $196 million in grants to 59 tribal, state and, local governments to fix or remove 169 culvert barriers to improve fish passage.
*Respondents:* The NOFO announcing up to $788.1 million of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, funding for Culvert AOP competitive grants will be available for tribal, state, and local governments on *grants.gov* . FHWA is expecting roughly 200 applicants to apply for Culvert AOP grant funding.
*Frequency:* NOFOs and grant solicitations may be published annually by FHWA but are subject to the availability of funds in appropriations or any legislation signed into law authorizing funds.
*Estimated Average Burden per Response:* 3 hours per respondent per applicant.
*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* It is expected that the respondents will complete approximately 200 applications for each program, for an estimated total of 600 annual burden hours.
*Public Comments Invited:* You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.
*Authority:* The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: September 17, 2025.
Jazmyne Lewis,
Information Collection Officer.