[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45825-45826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18780]


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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 approval of the following 
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 September 25, 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. 104-13, Section 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 
44 U.S.C. 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 by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 C.F.R. 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 C.F.R. 1320.8(d)(1)(i)-(iv). FRA 
believes that

[[Page 45826]]

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 is a brief summary of proposed new information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Regional Inspection Point Listing Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
    Abstract: Through a direct comparison of inspection data with 
accident/incident data, the collection of information proposes to 
develop a profile county-by-county of what there is to inspect, and how 
much inspection activity was done by Federal and State railroad 
inspectors each year nationwide. The information collected will produce 
``snapshots'' which will allow FRA to determine where the gaps are in 
inspection territories so that it can focus inspection resources where 
they will do the most good. As a result of the proposed information 
collection, FRA will be better able to equalize inspector workloads, 
and will be better able to make informed hiring decisions regarding the 
most effective placement of new inspectors. More targeted inspections 
will permit FRA to maximize its limited resources, and will serve to 
enhance overall safety on the nation's rail system.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.106(a)-(e).
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 430 Federal and State Railroad Inspectors.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 3,960 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 C.F.R. 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.

Margaret B. Reid,
Acting Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, 
Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-18780 Filed 7-24-00; 8:45 am]
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