[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69318-69320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32038]


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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 compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection (ICR) requirement 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. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published in the 
Federal Register on May 20, 1999 (64 FR 27488). However, at that time, 
FRA had not yet determined the exact burden hour impact associated with 
the information collection requirements of this rule. FRA is now 
soliciting additional public comment on specific aspects of the 
activities identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: JoAnne M. McGowan, Chief of Freight 
Programs Division, RDV-12, Office of Passenger and Freight Services, 
FRA, 1120 Vermont Ave., N.W., Mail Stop 20, Washington, D.C. 20590 
(telephone: (202) 493-6336) or Joseph R. Pomponio, Senior Attorney, 
Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 1120 Vermont Ave., N.W., Mail Stop 10, 
Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6336). (These telephone 
numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13, 
Sec. 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 U.S.C. 
Secs. 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 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

[[Page 69319]]

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 information collection activity 
that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-new.
    Abstract: The Department of Transportation (DOT) is implementing 
the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIFP) 
to provide direct loans and loan guarantees to State and local 
governments, government sponsored authorities and corporations, 
railroads, and joint ventures that include at least one railroad. 
Eligible projects include: (1) acquisition, improvement or 
rehabilitation of intermodal or rail equipment or facilities (including 
tracks, components of tracks, bridges, yards, buildings, and shops), 
(2) refinancing outstanding debt incurred for these purposes, or (3) 
development or establishment of new intermodal or railroad facilities. 
The aggregate unpaid principal amounts of obligations cannot exceed 
$3.5 billion at any one time and not less than $1 billion is to be 
available solely for projects benefiting freight railroads other than 
Class I railroads (i.e., carriers).
    Affected Public: Small railroads, state and local governments, and 
National Passenger Rail Corporation (Amtrak).
    Respondent Universe: 21,956 potential applicants.
    Frequency of Submission: Annual.
    Reporting Burden: 

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                                                           Total annual         Average time per         Total annual burden
           CFR section            Respondent universe       responses               response                    hours           Total annual burden cost
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260.19  Pre-application meeting.  21,956 potential     FRA expects no       N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
                                   applicants.          meetings.
260.23  Form and content of       21,956 potential     20 applications....  20 hours................  400 hours...............  $14,867
 application generally.            applicants.
260.25  Additional information    555 potential        18 financial         40 hours................  720 hours...............  $25,776
 for applicants w/o credit         applicants.          document packages.
 rating.
260.27  Additional information    None...............  FRA expects no       N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
 for loan guarantees.                                   applications for
                                                        loan guarantees.
260.31  Execution & filing of
 application:
    Certificate of Pres.........  21,956 potential     20 certificates....  .6 hours................  12 hours................  $489
                                   applicants.
    Certificate of CFO..........  21,956 pot. applcnt  20 certificates....  .6 hours................  12 hours................  $482
    Transmittal letter..........  21,956 pot. applcnt  20 letters.........  .6 hours................  12 hours................  $482
    Copy/mail app. pkg..........  21,956 pot. applcnt  20 app. packages...  1.5 hours...............  30 hours................  $819
260.33  Info. Request...........  21,956 pot. applcnt  20 statements......  1 hour..................  20 hours................  $791
260.35  Environment Assessment..  21,956 pot. applcnt  1 envir. document..  4,475 hours.............  4,475 hours.............  492,250
260.37  Waivers and               None...............  FRA expects no       N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
 modifications.                                         applications for
                                                        waivers.
260.41  Maintenance standards--   None...............  Burden included in   N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
 waivers.                                               section 260.37.
260.43  Inspection and reporting  21,956 applicants..  20 financial         10 hours................  200 hours...............  $7,910
                                                        records/other docs.
260.47  Events of Default for
 guaranteed loans:
    Lender notification.........  None...............  None \1\...........  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
    Det. Liquid. Plan...........  None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
    Modif. to Liquid Plan.......  None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
    Reports during Liquidation..  None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
    Final Report................  None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
260.55  Lenders' Functions and
 responsibilities:
    Obtain approval.............  None...............  None \2\...........  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
    Envir. Review...............  None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
    Add'l Envir. data...........  None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
260.57  Lender's loan servicing:
    Report semiannually on        None...............  None \2\...........  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
     status of loan.
    Meet w Admin................  None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
    Obtain & forward borrower's   None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
     financial statements
     annually.
    Request approval for          None...............  ...................  N/A.....................  N/A.....................  N/A
     modifications.
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\1\ FRA expects no applications for guaranteed loans.
\2\ FRA expects that there will be no loan guarantees.


[[Page 69320]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,881.
    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, D.C. on December 3, 1999.
Marie S. Savoy,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-32038 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-U