[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79915-79916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32415]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notification of Modification of Information Collection 
Requirements; Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its 
implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
hereby announces that it intends to modify existing instructions of 
three currently approved information collection reporting forms. The 
revised instructions will be added to the next edition of the FRA Guide 
for Preparing Accident/Incident Reports. For a projected five-year 
period, FRA seeks to gather additional data that is needed in order to 
enhance rail safety. However, only the instructions will be revised. 
FRA contemplates no change to the data elements of any of the three 
applicable reporting forms, and believes there will be no change in the 
number of responses. FRA seeks to capture information concerning 
``remote control devices'' that is not presently provided by the 
railroads in order to further reduce the number and severity of 
railroad accidents/incidents, and accompanying casualties to railroad 
workers and members of the public. FRA estimates that there will be no 
change in the burden time per response for each form; that there will 
be no change in the total burden hours for the three relevant reporting 
forms; and that there will be no change in the total burden hours for 
the entire currently approved information collection. FRA is working 
with members of the railroad industry and members of railroad labor 
unions in this partnership effort. FRA has met with representatives of 
the railroad industry and railroad labor unions to explain the type of 
data needed and to solicit their views. FRA will continue to consult 
with them regarding final changes to the instructions to be included in 
the next Guide. FRA includes a copy of the modified instructions with 
this notice.

DATES: Comments are requested no later than February 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
proposed activities by mail to either: Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590, (telephone: (202)-493-6292), or Nancy Friedman, Trial Attorney, 
Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont 
Ave., NW., Mail Stop 10, Washington, DC 20590, (telephone: (202)-493-
6034). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.) 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) 493-6068, or E-mail to Robert 
Brogan at robert.brogan@ fra.dot.gov, or to Nancy Friedman at 
nancy.friedman@ fra.dot.gov. 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 currently approved information collection submission, as 
necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and 
Evaluation Division, RRS-21, FRA, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Nancy Friedman, 
Trial Attorney, Office of Chief Counsel, FRA, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., 
Mail Stop 10, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6034). (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 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 seeks to slightly modify. FRA requests 
continuation of the current approval for the reasons listed in the 
summary above.
    Title: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to accident 
reporting regulations set forth in 49 CFR part 225 which require 
railroads to submit monthly reports summarizing collisions, 
derailments, and certain other accident/incidents involving damages 
above a periodically revised dollar threshold, as well as certain 
injuries to passengers, employees, and other persons on railroad 
property (including those which are railroad work-related). Because the 
reporting requirements and information needed regarding each category 
are unique, a different form is used for each category. FRA is 
modifying the instructions for two of the three referenced agency forms 
to request that the ``Special Study Block'' (SSB) of each form be used 
to capture (with coded letters) information pertaining to accidents/
incidents which involve ``remote control'' devices. The third form will 
capture the required data with

[[Page 79916]]

an annotation in the narrative portion of the form.
    FRA publishes these instructions as provided for in the final 
section pertaining to ``Special Study Blocks'' included in the preamble 
to FRA's final rule on Railroad Accident Reporting (49 CFR part 225). 
Specifically, the Final Decision section of ``Special Study Blocks'' in 
the preamble to that final rule provides that: ``The Rail Equipment 
Accident/Incident Report (Form FRA F 6180.54) contains two SSBs in 
block ``49.'' As the need arises, FRA will notify the railroads in 
writing, or if appropriate, through publication in the Federal 
Register, of the purpose and the type of information that is to be 
collected. FRA will be as specific as possible in order to minimize 
both costs and the amount of time associated with the collection of 
this new information. Each SSB has 20 characters in order to 
standardize the data structure for computer files. FRA believes the 
SSBs will prove extremely valuable in collecting information to help 
FRA identify and evaluate issues of safety concern as well as other 
non-safety issues as the need arises.
    FRA anticipates that use of one or more SSBs will be occasional, 
rather than continuous. As appropriate, FRA will consult with the 
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) before formulating the 
respective information collections.'' (see 61 FR 30947; June 18, 1996).
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.54, FRA F 6180.55a, FRA F 6180.57.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 18,500 (for 3 listed forms); 75,352 (for entire 
information collection).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 28,900 hours (for 3 listed forms); 
63,058 hours (for entire information collection).
    Status: Continuation of Current Approval.
    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. Secs. 3501-3520.

Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.

Attachment to Federal Register Notice

    Listed below are proposed changes to instructions for FRA Forms 
F 6180.54, 6180.55a, and 6180.57 to be included in the next edition 
of FRA's Guide to Preparing Accident/Incident Reports. The changes 
specify the type of information to be captured about remote 
controlled devices through the use of coded letters in the ``Special 
Study Blocks.''

General Definition

    Remote Control Transmitter/Receiver--A term used to describe the 
critical components involved in operating on-track equipment by 
radio signals transmitted from a portable transmitter to a receiver 
located on board the on-track equipment. The device will be capable 
of transmitting from outside of the operating compartment of a 
designated and equipped unit of on-track rail equipment and will 
transmit coded command signals which will operate, at a minimum, the 
equipment's speed, direction, braking and shutdown systems.

Specific Code and Definition for

    Rail Equipment accident/incident (Form 6180.54)
    Remotely Controlled Operation--A movement of on-track rail 
equipment that is controlled by an employee or contractor using a 
remote transmitter/receiver designed to control the locomotive, 
maintenance machine, or other type of self-propelled on-track rail 
equipment. (Code = R)
    When, on Form FRA F 6180.54, the Special Study Block (49) is 
annotated with the letter ``R'', it will indicate that remotely 
controlled operations were in effect.
    When, on Form FRA F 6180.54, the Special Study Block (49) is 
left blank, it will indicate conventional or non-remote equipment 
movement.

    Note: Entries in Block 34 relate to the number of locomotive 
units and their placement in a consist or train. Notations in Block 
34 are separate and apart from data being collected in Special Study 
Block 49.

Specific Code and Definition for

    Highway-Rail Grade Crossing accident/incident (Form 6180.57)
    Remotely Controlled Operation--A movement of on-track rail 
equipment that is controlled by an employee or contractor using a 
remote transmitter/receiver designed to control the locomotive, 
maintenance machine, or other type of self-propelled on-track rail 
equipment. (Code = R)
    When, on Form FRA F 6180.57, the Special Study Block (53a) is 
annotated with the letter ``R'', it will indicate that remotely 
controlled operations were in effect.
    When, on Form FRA F 6180.57, the Special Study Block (53a) is 
left blank, it will indicate conventional or non-remote equipment 
was involved.

Specific Codes and Definitions for:

    Railroad Casualties to persons: Injury Illness Summary (Form 
6180.55a)
    Remotely Controlled Operation--A movement of on-track rail 
equipment that is controlled by an employee or contractor using a 
remote transmitter/receiver designed to control the locomotive, 
maintenance machine, or other type of self-propelled on-track rail 
equipment. (Code = R)
    Carrying--When an injured/ill employee or contractor, has on his 
or her person a remote transmitter capable of controlling the 
locomotive, maintenance machine, or other type of self-propelled on-
track rail equipment. (Code = C)
    Not Carrying--When any person is injured or becomes ill during a 
remotely controlled operation, and the injured/ill person is not 
carrying a remote transmitter capable of controlling a locomotive, 
maintenance machine, or other type of self-propelled on-track rail 
equipment. (Code = N)
    Operating--When an injured/ill employee or contractor, at the 
time of the accident/incident, has on his or her person a remote 
transmitter capable of controlling a locomotive or maintenance 
machine, and other type of self-propelled on-track rail equipment. 
(Code = O)
    Not Operating--When an injured/ill employee, at the time of the 
accident/incident, has on his person a remote transmitter capable of 
controlling a locomotive or maintenance machine, and is not 
operating the remote transmitter. (Code = N)
    Below are all possible valid coding scenarios for casualty 
reporting involving Remote Control Operations.
    When used, any three (3) letter combination must be preceded by 
an asterisk (*) and must be shown as the first four (4) characters 
in the reporting area headed ``narrative''.
    RCO = Remotely Controlled Operation, injured/ill employee or 
contractor is carrying remotely controlled transmitter, and is 
operating the remotely controlled movement at the time of accident/
incident.
    RCN = Remotely Controlled Operation, injured/ill employee or 
contractor is carrying remotely controlled transmitter, and is NOT 
operating the remotely controlled movement at the time of accident/
incident.
    RNN = Remotely Controlled Operation, Injured/Ill person is NOT 
carrying remotely controlled transmitter, and is NOT operating the 
remotely controlled movement at the time of accident/incident.
    When, on Form FRA F 6180.55a, the reporting area headed 
``narrative'' is not annotated with any three (3) letter combination 
(shown above) preceded by an asterisk (*) and shown as the first 
four (4) characters in the ``narrative'' section, it will indicate 
that remotely controlled operations were not in effect.

Addition to Appendix F: Tools, Machinery, Appliances, Structures, 
Surfaces (etc.) Circumstance Codes:

    Add: ``34-Remote Control Transmission Unit''

[FR Doc. 00-32415 Filed 12-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P