[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 52 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13465-13467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6544]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 activity. Before submitting these 
information collection requirements 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 May 17, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590, or Ms. Dian Deal, Office of Information Technology and 
Productivity Improvement, 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 2130-0539.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted 
via facsimile to (202) 493-6265 or (202) 493-6170, or E-mail to Mr. 
Brogan at [email protected], or to Ms. Deal at 
[email protected]. 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.


[[Page 13466]]


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 Dian Deal, 
Office of Information Technology and Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6133). (These telephone 
numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Pub. L. 104-13, Sec. 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 are brief summaries of the currently approved information 
collection activity that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Railroad Worker Protection (49 CFR 214).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0539.
    Abstract: FRA proposes rules for the protection of railroad 
employees working on or near railroad tracks. This regulation would 
require that each railroad devise and adopt a program of on-track 
safety to provide employees working along the railroad with protection 
from the hazards of being struck by a train or other on-track 
equipment. Elements of this on-track safety program would include an 
on-track safety, as well as employees' rights and responsibilities 
thereto; well defined procedures for communication and protection; and 
annual on-track safety training. The program adopted by each railroad 
would be subject to review and approval by FRA.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Respondent Universe: 698 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden: 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Information collection                                                   Average time per    Total annual
           requirement             Respondent universe    Total responses          response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
214.303  Railroad on-track Safety  58 Railroads.......  58 Programs........  1400 hrs./250 hrs..          55,750
 Programs.
214.309  On-track Safety Program
 Documents
214.339  Roadway Maintenance
 Machines
214.307  Notification to FRA--
 Safety Prog. Review
214.311  Written Procedure--Saf.
 Proc. Challenges
Subsequent Years.................  1 Railroad.........  1 Program..........  250 hours..........             250
214.313  Responsibility--Indiv.    20 Railroads.......  80 challenges......  4 hours............             320
 Roadway Workers.
214.315/214.333  Supervision and   50,000 employees...  16,350,000 briefng.  2 minutes..........         545,000
 Communication.
214.321  Excl. Track Occup.--      8,583 employees....  700,739 authorities  40 seconds.........           7,786
 Working Limits.
214.325  Inaccessible Track......  698 railroads......  50,000 occurrences.  10 minutes.........           8,333
214.327  Train Approach Warning    698 railroads......  50,000 designation.  15 seconds.........             208
 Provided by Watchmen/Lookouts.
214.335  On-track Safety Proc.--   698 railroads......  2,080,000 statmnts.  30 seconds.........          17,333
 Lone Workers.
214.341/343  Training and          50,000 employees...  50,000 training      2 minutes..........           1,667
 Qualification.                                          sessions.
214.345  Training & Qual.--Lone
 Workers.
214.347  Training & Qual.--
 Watchmen/Lookouts.
214.349  Training & Qual.--
 Flagman
214.351  Training & Qual.--
 Roadway Workers who provide on-
 track safety for roadway
 workgroups.
214.353  Training & Qual.--
 Operators of Roadway Maintenance
 Machines.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 636,647.
    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.


[[Page 13467]]


    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 12, 1999.
Marie S. Savoy,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-6544 Filed 3-17-99; 8:45 am]
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