70 FR 243 pgs. 75533-75534 - Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 243Pages: 75533 - 75534
FR document: [FR Doc. E5-7569 Filed 12-19-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
AGENCY:
Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements (ICRs) for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.
DATES:
Comments must be received no later than February 21, 2006.
ADDRESSES:
Submit written comments on any or all of the following proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590, or Mr. Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, "Comments on OMB control number 2130-0017 or on OMB control number 2130-0506." Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6265 or (202) 493-6170, or e-mail to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@fra.dot.gov, or to Mr. Angelo at victor.angelo@fra.dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB for approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6470). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13, § 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to provide 60-days notice to the public for comment on information collection activities before seeking approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information collection activities regarding (i) Whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of FRA's estimates of the burden of the information collection activities, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine the estimates; (iii) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology ( e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)-(iv); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(I)-(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information mandated by Federal regulations. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it organizes information collection requirements in a "user friendly" format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
Below is a brief summary of the currently approved ICRs that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
Title: U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0017.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Form FRA F 6180.71 is a voluntary form, and is used by States and railroads to periodically update certain site specific highway-rail crossing information which is then transmitted to FRA for input into the National Inventory File. This information has been collected on the U.S. DOT-AAR Crossing Inventory Form (previous designation of this form) since 1974 and maintained in the National Inventory File database since 1975. The primary purpose of the National Inventory File is to provide for the existence of a uniform database which can be merged with accidents data and used to analyze information for planning and implementation of crossing safety programs by public, private, and governmental agencies responsible for highway-rail crossing safety. Following the official establishment of the National Inventory in 1975, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) assumed the principal responsibility as custodian for the maintenance and continued development of the U.S. DOT/AAR National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory Program. The major goal of the Program is to provide Federal, State, and local governments, as well as the railroad industry, information for the improvement of safety at highway-rail crossings. Good management practices necessitate maintaining the database with current information. The data will continue to be useful only if maintained and updated as inventory changes occur. FRA previously cleared the reporting and recordkeeping burden for this form under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Clearance Number 2130-0017. OMB approved the burden for this form through July 31, 2006. FRA is requesting a new three year approval from OMB for this information collection.
Form Number(s): Form FRA F 6180.71.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Respondent Universe: 650 Railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion; monthly.
Reporting Burden:
| Respondent universe (railroads) | Total annual responses | Average time per response (minutes) | Total annual burden hours | Total annual burden cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossing Inventory-Forms | 650 | 2,219 forms | 15 | 555 | $32,745 |
| Crossing Inventory-Mass Update Printouts | 650 | 250 printouts (4,304 updated records) | 30 | 125 | 7,375 |
| Crossing Inventory-Disc/Tape (non-GX) | 650 | 700 discs/tapes (103,040 records updated) | 30 | 350 | 20,650 |
| Crossing Inventory-GX Electronic Updates | 650 | 9,140 records updated | 3 | 457 | 26,963 |
Total Responses: 118,703.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1,487 hours.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Identification of Cars Moved in Accordance with Order 13528.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0506.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: This collection of information identifies a freight car being moved within the scope of Order 13528 (Order). See CFR part 232, Appendix B. Otherwise, an exception will be taken, and the car will be set out of the train and not delivered. The information that must be recorded is specified at 49 CFR Part 232, Appendix B, requiring that a car be properly identified by a card attached to each side of the car and signed stating that such movement is being made under the authority of the order. The Order does not require retaining cards or tags. When a car bearing a tag for movement under the Order arrives at its destination, the tags are simply removed.
Form Number(s): None.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Total Responses: 800 tags.
Average Time Per Response: 5 minutes per tag.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 67 hours.
Status: Regular Review.
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA informs all interested parties that it may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Authority:
44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Issued in Washington, DC on December 15, 2005.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. E5-7569 Filed 12-19-05; 8:45 am]
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