GENERAL AUTHORITIES AND REQUIREMENTS.

SEC. 6053. GENERAL AUTHORITIES AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) Cooperation.— In carrying out the program under this part, the Secretary shall foster use of the program as a key component of the Nation’s surface transportation systems and strive to transfer federally owned or patented technology to State and local governments and the United States private sector. As appropriate, in carrying out the program under this part, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the heads of other interested Federal departments and agencies and shall maximize the involvement of the United States private sector, colleges and universities, and State and local governments in all aspects of the program, including design, conduct (including operations and maintenance), evaluation, and financial or in-kind participation. (b) Standards.— The Secretary shall develop and implement standards and protocols to promote the widespread use and evaluation of intelligent vehicle-highway systems technology as a component of the Nation’s surface transportation systems. To the extent practicable, such standards and protocols shall promote compatibility among intelligent vehicle-highway systems technologies implemented throughout the States. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may use the services of such existing standards-setting organizations as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Evaluation Guidelines.— The Secretary shall establish guidelines and requirements for the evaluation of field and related operational tests carried out pursuant to section 6055. Any survey, questionnaire, or interview which the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the evaluation of such tests shall not be subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). (d) Information Clearinghouse.— (1) Establishment.— The Secretary shall establish and maintain a repository for technical and safety data collected as a result of federally sponsored projects carried out pursuant to this part and shall make, upon request, such information (except for proprietary information and data) readily available to all users of the repository at an appropriate cost. (2) Delegation of authority— The Secretary may delegate the responsibility of the Secretary under this subsection, with continuing oversight by the Secretary, to an appropriate entity not within the Department of Transportation. If the Secretary 105 STAT. 2191delegates such responsibility, the entity to which such responsibility is delegated shall be eligible for Federal assistance under this part. (e) Advisory Committees.— The Secretary may utilize one or more advisory committees in carrying out this part. Any advisory committee so utilized shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Funding provided for any such committee shall be available from moneys appropriated for advisory committees as specified in relevant appropriations Acts and from funds allocated for research, development, and implementation activities in connection with the intelligent vehicle-highway systems program under this part.