[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 5721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2552]



[[Page 5721]]

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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 activities. 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 April 4, 2000.

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., N.W., Mail Stop 17, Washington, D.C. 
20590, 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. Commenters 
requesting FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must 
include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB 
control number 2130--New. 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., N.W., Mail Stop 17, Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone: 
(202) 493-6292) or 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. No. 104-13, Sec. 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised 
at 44 U.S.C. Secs. 3501-3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 
C.F.R. 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. 
Sec. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR Secs. 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. 
Sec. 3506(c)(2)(A)(I)-(iv); 5 CFR Sec. 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. 
Sec. 3501.
    Below is a brief summary of proposed new information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Rail-Equipment Accident/Incident Cost Analysis Study.
    OMB Control Number: 2130--New.
    Abstract: The collection of information proposes a new method to 
calculate dollar damages in the event of a railroad accident/incident. 
The current method of calculating damages yields accurate but widely 
varying results for accidents of approximately equal severity. The 
information collected will be used for a one-time six-month study. 
Participation on the part of railroads is completely voluntary. If the 
statistical analysis from this study provides valid results, then FRA 
will produce an Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify the 
current reporting system.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.105.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 1,150 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR Secs. 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. Secs. 3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on February 1, 2000.
Margaret B. Reid,
Acting Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, 
Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-2552 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
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