[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5721-5723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2553]


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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

[[Page 5722]]

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 2130-0500. 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. 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 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. 
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 currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to the railroad 
accident reporting regulations set forth in 49 CFR Part 225 which 
require railroads to submit monthly reports summarizing collisions, 
derailments, and certain other accidents/incidents involving damages 
above a periodically revised dollar threshold, as well as certain 
injuries to passengers, employees, and other persons on railroad 
property. Because the reporting requirements and the information needed 
regarding each category of accident/incident are unique, a different 
form is used for each category.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.33; 54; 55; 55A; 56; 57; 78; 81; 97; and 
98.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                        Total
         CFR Section              Respondent       Total annual      Average time     Total annual      annual
                                   universe          responses      per responses     burden hours   burden cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
225.21--Railroad Injury and    685 railroads...  8,148 forms.....  45 minutes.....  6,111 hours....     $171,108
 Illness Summary (Form FRA F
 6180.55.
225.19/21--Form FRA 6180.55A-- 685 railroads...  12,000 forms....  30 minutes.....  6,000 hours....      168,000
 Continuation Sheet.
225.21--Rail Equipment         685 railroads...  3,000 forms.....  3 hours........  9,000 hours....      252,000
 Accident/Incident Report--
 Form FRA F 6180.54.
225.19/21--Rail-Highway Grade  685 railroads...  3,500 forms.....  3 hours........  10,500 hours...      294,000
 Crossing Accident/Incident
 Report--Form FRA F 6180.57.
225.21--Annual Railroad        685 railroads...  700 forms.......  3 hours........  2,100 hours....       58,000
 Report of Employee Hours and
 Casualties, By State--Form
 FRA F 6180.56.
225.9--Telephone Reports of    685 railroads...  300 phone         15 minutes.....  75 hours.......        2,100
 Certain Accidents/Incidents.                     reports.
225.21/25--Railroad Employee   246 railroads...  30,108 forms....  30 minutes.....  15,054 hours...      466,674
 Injury and/or Illness
 Record--Form FRA F 6180.98.
    --Copies of Forms to       246 railroads...  903 form copies.  2 minutes......  30 hours.......          840
     Employees.
225.25(h)--Posting of Monthly  685 railroads...  8,220 lists.....  16 minutes.....  2,192 hours....       61,376
 Summary.
219.209(b)--Doubtful Cases &   685 railroads...  80 reports......  15 minutes.....  20 hours.......          560
 Refusal to Be Tested;
 Alcohol or Drug Involvement.

[[Page 5723]]

 
225.21--Employee Human Factor  685 railroads...  1,013 forms.....  15 minutes.....  253 hours......        7,084
 Attachment--Form FRA F
 6180.81.
225.12/21--Notice to Railroad  685 railroads...  1,013 notices...  30 minutes.....  507 hurs.......       14,196
 Employee Involved in Rail
 Equipment Accident/Incident
 Attributed to Employee Human
 Factor--Form FRA F 6180.78
 (Part I).
    --Employee Statement       685 railroads...  101 statements..  2 hours........  202 hours......        6,262
     Supplemental Railroad
     Accident Report--Form
     FRA F 6180.78 (Part II).
225.12(C)--Railroad            685 railroads...  30 requests.....  1 hour.........  30 hours.......          840
 Consultation in Joint
 Operations Accidents/
 Incidents.
225.12(g)(3)--Employee         30 Employees....  30 letters......  2 hours........  60 hours.......        1,860
 Confidential Letter.
225.12--Railroad Review of     685 railroads...  101 supplements/  1.5 hours/4      252 hours......        7,056
 Statement.                                       25 reports.       hours.
225.37--Batch Control Form--   8 railroads.....  96 forms........  10 minutes.....  16 hours.......          448
 FRA F 6180.99.
225.21--Initial Rail           433 railroads...  12,095 forms....  30 minutes.....  6,048 hours....      169,344
 Equipment Accident/Incident
 Record--Form FRA F 6180.97.
225.33--Internal Control       246 railroads...  246 contrll       Varies.........  2,101 hours....       58,828
 Plans.                                           plans.
    --Intimidation/            433 railroads...  433 statements..  30 minutes.....  217 hours......        6,076
     Harrassment Policies--
     Model Statements.
    --Subsequent Years--       1 railroad......  1 control plan..  14 hours.......  14 hours.......          392
     Internal Control Plan.
    --Amendments to Internal   246 railroads...  50 amendments...  1 hour.........  50 hours.......        1,400
     Control Plan.
225.25(h)(15)--Written         685 railroads...  25 requests.....  1 hour.........  25 hour........          700
 Request by Employee Not to
 Post their Injury/Illness.
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    Total Responses: 82,218.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 60,857 hours.
    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. Sec. 3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on February 1, 2000.
Margaret B. Reid,
Acting Director Office of Information Technology and Support 
SystemsFederal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-2553 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
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