[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 23385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10893]



[[Page 23385]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


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 June 29, 1999.

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 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 2130-0517.'' 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.

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 and Form Number: Supplemental Qualifications Statement for 
Railroad Safety Inspector Applicants, FRA-F-120.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0517.
    Abstract: The Supplemental Qualifications Statement for Railroad 
Safety Inspector Applicants is an information collection instrument 
used by FRA to gather additional background data so that FRA can 
evaluate the qualifications of applicants for the position of Railroad 
Safety Inspector. The questions cover a wide range of general and 
specialized skills, abilities, and knowledge of the five types of 
railroad safety inspector positions.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000 Applicants.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 3 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,000 hours.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    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 April 27, 1999.
Marie S. Savoy,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-10893 Filed 4-29-99; 8:45 am]
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