[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27616-27617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12657]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice and Request for Comments

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Requirement (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on March 18, 1999 (64 FR 13465).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 21, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., N.W., Mail Stop 17, Washington, D.C. 
20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292), or Ms. Dian Deal, Office of 
Information Technology and Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., N.W., Mail Stop 35, 
Washington, D.C. 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, Section 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 issue two notices seeking public 
comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve 
paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 
1320.12. FRA received no comments after issuing the 60-day notice 
referenced earlier. Accordingly, DOT announces that these information 
collection activities have been reevaluated and certified under 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 
CFR 1320.12(c).
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or 
disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30 day 
notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 
60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30 day notice 
informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords 
the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a 
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should 
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication 
to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
    The summaries below describe the nature of the information 
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirements and one additional requirement are being submitted for 
clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Railroad Worker Protection (49 CFR 214).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0539.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Abstract: This rule establishes regulations governing the 
protection of railroad employees working on or near railroad tracks. 
The regulation requires 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 include an 
on-track safety manual; a clear delineation of employers' 
responsibilities, as well as employees' rights and responsibilities 
thereto; well-defined procedures for communication and protection; and 
annual on-track safety training. The

[[Page 27617]]

program adopted by each railroad is subject to review and approval by 
FRA.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: FRA estimates that the revised hours 
for these ICRs is 585,101. This is a decrease of 82,473 hours from the 
previous total of 667,574 hours. A significant portion of this 
reduction is a result of railroads fulfilling the one-time requirement 
in establishing on-track safety programs. The revised burden hour 
estimate does consider railroads amending their original on-track 
safety programs and the start-up of new railroads. Excursion and 
tourist railroads that do not operate on the general rail system of 
transportation are exempted by FRA from complying with this regulation.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding this information collection to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20503, 
Attention: FRA Desk Officer.
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

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

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on May 14, 1999.
Marie S. Savoy,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration
[FR Doc. 99-12657 Filed 5-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P