[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 250 (Monday, December 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67621-67623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-32018]


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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 March 1, 2002.

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., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590, or Ms. Dian Deal, Office of

[[Page 67622]]

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 2130-0544. 
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. 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. 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 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 three currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Passenger Equipment Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0544.
    Abstract: The information gained from daily inspections is used to 
detect and correct equipment problems so as to prevent collisions, 
derailments, and other occurrences involving railroad passenger 
equipment that cause injury or death to railroad employees, railroad 
passengers, or the general public; and to mitigate the consequences of 
any such occurrences, to the extent they can not be prevented. The 
information provided promotes passenger train safety by ensuring 
requirements are met for railroad passenger equipment design and 
performance; fire safety; emergency systems; the inspection, testing, 
and maintenance of passenger equipment; and other provisions for the 
safe operation of railroad passenger equipment.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually, recordkeeping.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                              Total      Total
                                                           Total annual      Average time     annual     annual
         CFR section              Respondent universe        responses       per response     burden     burden
                                                                                              hours       cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
216.14--Special Notice for     14 Railroads............  9 Forms.........  5 minutes......          1        $34
 Repairs.
238.1--Scope.................  14Railroads.............  11 Notifications  45 minutes.....          8        272
238.7--Waivers...............  14 Railroads............  9 Waivers.......  2 hours/25              64      2,176
                                                                            hours.
238.11--Penalties............  14 Railroads............  1 False Report..  15 minutes.....         25          8
238.15--Pass Equip.--          14 Railroads............  1,000 Tags/cards  3 minutes......         50      2,250
 Detective en route.
    --Auto Tracking Sys......  14 Railroads............  288 Tags/cards..  3 minutes......         14        630
    --Conditional Reqmnt.....  14 Railroads............  144               3 minutes......          7        315
                                                          Notifications.
238.17--Usual Limitations      14 Railroads............  200 Tags/cards..  3 minutes......         10        300
 Pass Equip--Defects.
    --Safety App Defects.....  14 Railroads............  76 Tags/cards...  3 minutes......          4        120
    Notifications............  14 Railroads............  38 Notifications  30 seconds.....        .32         10
238.19--List of Brake Repair   14 Railroads............  1 List..........  2 hours........          2         68
 Points.
    --Subsequent Yrs.........  14 Railroads............  1 Update........  1 hour.........          1         34
238.21--Spec. Approval Proced  14 Railroads............  1 Petition......  16 hours.......         16        544
    --Alt. Compliance........  14 Railroads............  1 Petition......  120 hours......        120      4,080
    --Service Test Plan......  14 Railroads............  2 Plans.........  40 hours.......         80      2,720
    --Comments...............  14 Railroads............  8 Comments......  1 hour.........          8        440
238.103--Fire Saf............  14 Railroads............  4 Equip Designs.  540 hours......      2,160    110,400
    --Subsequent Orders......  14 Railroads............  4 Equip Designs.  60 hours.......        240     24,000
238.107--Insp. Test & Main     14 Railroads............  14 Reviews......  60 hours.......        840     28,560
 Plan.

[[Page 67623]]

 
238.109--Employee Training...  14 Railroads............  3,900 Employees.  2 hours........      7,800    232,500
    --Recordkeeping..........  14 Railroads............  2,500 Records...  3 minutes......        125      4,250
238.111--Pre-Rev. Service      10 Equip Man............  4 Plans.........  16 hours.......         64      4,288
 Test Plan.
    --Pre-Rev. Service Test    10 Equip Man............  4 Plans.........  200 hours......        800     69,440
     Plan.
    Subsequent Orders........  10 Equip Plan...........  4 Plans.........  60 hours.......        240     18,720
238.203--Static End Strength.  14 Railroads............  1 Petition......  100 hours......        100      5,500
    --Comments...............  14 Railroads............  6 Comments......  20 hours.......        120      6,600
238.237--Auto Monitoring.....  14 Railroads............  14 Documents....  2 hours........         28        952
    --Tags...................  14 Railroads............  100 Tags........  3 minutes......          5        225
238.303--MU Locos Inop.        14 Railroads............  50 Tags/cards...  3 minutes......          3        135
 Brakes.
    --Conv. Locomotive.......  14 Railroads............  50 Tags/cards...  3 minutes......          3        135
    --Written Notices........  14 Railroads............  25 Written        3 minutes......          1         34
                                                          Notices.
    --Records................  14 Railroads............  2,017,756         1 minute.......     33,629  1,143,386
                                                          Records.
238.305--Int. Calendar Day     14 Railroads............  480 Tags........  1 minute.......          8        288
 Insp.
    --Records................  14 Railroads............  1,866,904         1 minute.......     31,115  1,057,910
                                                          Records.
238.307--Periodic Mech Insp.-- 14 Railroads............  5 Notifications.  3 hours........         25        850
 p/cars.
    --Records................  14 Railroads............  56,462 Records..  2 minutes......        941     63,988
    --Detailed Docs..........  14 Railroads............  5 Documents.....  100 hours......        500     17,000
238.311--Single Car Test.....  14 Railroads............  25 Tags.........  3 minutes......          1         36
238.315--Class IA--Brake       14 Railroads............  365,000           3 seconds......        304          0
 Pressure.                                                Communications.
    --Comm Signal Sys........  14 Railroads............  365,000 Tests...  15 seconds.....      1,521          0
238.317--Class II Brake Test.  14 Railroads............  365,000           3 seconds......        304          0
                                                          Communications.
    --Signal Sys.............  14 Railroads............  365,000 Tests...  15 seconds.....      1,521         50
238.431--Brake System........  14 Railroads............  1 Analysis......  40 hours.......         40      1,360
238.437--Emerg Communication.  3 Car Manuf.............  3 instr. Sets/    25 hours/10 min        117      3,810
                                                          2250 decals.
238.441--Emerg. Roof Entrance  3 Car Manuf.............  3 instr. Sets/    25 hours/1 hour        325     10,050
 Loc.                                                     250 placards.
238.445--Auto. Monitoring....  1 Railroad..............  10,000 Alerts...  10 seconds.....         28          0
    --Self-Test Feature......  1 Railroad..............  21,900            20 seconds.....        122          0
                                                          Notification.
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    Total Responses: 5,442,514.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 83,417 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. 3501-3520.

Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems,Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-32018 Filed 12-28-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P