[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51323-51326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21765]


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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 October 27, 2003.

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. Debra Steward, 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 ------.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via 
facsimile to (202) 493-6230 or (202) 493-6170, or E-mail to Mr. Brogan 
at [email protected], or to Ms. Steward 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 Debra Steward, Office of Information Technology and 
Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 
Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6139). (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.

[[Page 51324]]

    Below are brief summaries of the three currently approved 
information collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by 
OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: Inspection Brake System Safety Standards For Freight and 
Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment (Power Brakes and Drawbars).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0008.
    Abstract: Section 7 of the Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act 
of 1992, Public Law No. 102-365, amended Section 202 of the Federal 
Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 421, 431 et seq.), empowered the 
Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the Department's 
rules with respect to railroad power brakes and, where applicable, 
prescribe standards regarding dynamic brake equipment. In keeping with 
the Secretary's mandate and the authority delegated from him to the FRA 
Administrator, FRA recently published a comprehensive regulatory 
revision of the then current requirements related to the inspection, 
testing, and maintenance of the brake equipment used in freight car 
operations. The Final Rule focused solely on freight and other non-
passenger trains, and codified and solidified the maintenance 
requirements related to the power brake system and its components. The 
collection of information is used by FRA to monitor and enforce safety 
requirements related to power brakes on freight cars. The collection of 
information is also used by locomotive engineers and road crews to 
verify that the terminal air brake test has been performed in a 
satisfactory manner.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 545 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                               Average time per        Total annual       Total annual
             CFR section                 Respondent  universe     Total annual  responses          response            burden hours       burden cost
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229.27--Annual Tests.................  20,000 locomotives......  18,000 tests............  15 minutes.............              4,500           $166,500
232.1--Scope--Requests For Earlier     545 railroads...........  4 requests..............  1 hour.................                  4                224
 Application of Requirements in
 Subparts A-C, F.
232.3--Applicability--Cars Not Used    545 railroads...........  8 cards.................  10 minutes.............                  1                 35
 in Service.
232.7--Waivers.......................  545 railroads...........  20 petitions............  40 hours...............                800             28,000
232.11--Penalties....................  545 railroads...........  1 false record..........  10 minutes.............                .20                  7
232.15--Movement of Defective          1,620,000 cars/           128,400 tags............  2.5 minutes............              5,350            197,950
 Equipment.                             locomotives.
    --Notice of Defective Car/         1,620,000 cars/           25,000 notices..........  3 minutes..............              1,060             46,250
     Locomotive and Restrictions.       locomotives.
232.17--Special Approval Procedure...  545 railroads...........  4 petitions.............  100 hours..............                400             22,400
    Petitions For Special Approval of  545 railroads...........  2 petitions.............  100 hours..............                200             11,200
     Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance
     Testing Plan.
    --Copies of Petitions For Special  545 railroads...........  4 petitions.............  40 hours...............                160              5,600
     Approval Procedure.
    --Statements of Interest.........  Public/railroads........  14 statements...........  8 hours................                112              3,920
    --Comments on Special Approval     Public/railroads........  13 comments.............  4 hours................                 52              1,820
     Procedure Petition.
232.103--General Requirements For All  370,000 cars............  66,660 stickers.........  10 minutes.............             11,110            230,644
 Train Brakes.
232.105--General Requirements For      20,000 locomotives......  20,000 forms............  5 minutes..............              1,667             61,679
 Locomotives.
232.107--Air Source Requirements--     545 railroads...........  50 plans................  40.....................              2,000             38,080
 Plans To Monitor All Air Yard
 Sources: First Year.
    --Subsequent Years...............  25 new railroads........  1 plan..................  40 hours...............                 40              2,240
    --Amendments to Plan.............  50 existing plans.......  10 amendments...........  20 hours...............                200             11,200
    --Record Keeping.................  50 existing plans.......  1,150 records...........  20 hours...............             23,000            805,000
    --Written Operating Procedures/    545 railroads...........  37 plans................  20 hours...............                740             41,440
     Plans.
232.109--Dynamic Brake Requirements--  545 railroads...........  1,656,000 records.......  4 minutes..............            110,400          3,864,000
 Records.
    --Repair of Inoperative Dynamic    20,000 locomotives......  6,358 records...........  4 minutes..............                424             14,840
     Brakes.
    --Locomotives with Inoperative     20,000 locomotives......  6,358 tags..............  30 seconds.............                 53              1,961
     Dynamic Brakes--Tag.
    --Deactivated Dynamic Brakes--     8,000 locomotives.......  2,800 markings..........  5 minutes..............                233              8,621
     Markings.
    --Subsequent Years--Markings.....  8,000 locomotives.......  20 markings.............  5 minutes..............                  2                 74
    --Written Operating Rules--Safe    545 railroads...........  100 oper. rules.........  4 hours................                400             22,400
     Train Handling.

[[Page 51325]]

 
    --Subsequent Years--Safe Train     5 new railroads.........  5 oper. rules...........  4 hours................                 20              1,120
     Handling Procedures.
    --Amendments.....................  545 railroads...........  15 amendments...........  1 hour.................                 15                525
    --Over Speed Top Rules...........  545 railroads...........  182 rules...............  1 hour.................                182             10,192
    --Requests to Increase 5 MPH       545 railroads...........  5 requests..............  20.5 hours.............                103              3,605
     Overs Speed Restriction.
    --Locomotive Engineer              545 railroads...........  100 amendments..........  16 hours...............              1,600             89,600
     Certification Programs/PBrake.
    --Subsequent Years...............  5 new railroads.........  5 amendments............  16 hours...............                 80              4,480
232.111--Train Information Handling--  545 railroads...........  182 procedures..........  50 hours...............              9,100            509,600
 Procedures.
    --Subsequent Years...............  10 new railroads........  10 procedures...........  40 hours...............                400             22,400
    --Amendments.....................  100 railroads...........  33 amendments...........  20 hours...............                660             23,100
    --Reports to Train Crews.........  545 railroads...........  2,112,000 rpts..........  10 minutes.............            352,000         13,024,000
232.203--Training Requirements:        545 railroads...........  100 programs............  100 hours..............             10,000            560,000
 Training Programs.
    --Subsequent Years...............  15 railroads............  1 program...............  100 hours..............                100              5,600
    --Amendments to Written Program..  545 railroads...........  182 amendments..........  8 hours................              1,456             50,960
    --Training Records...............  545 railroads...........  67,000 records..........  8 minutes..............              8,933            312,655
    --Training Notifications.........  545 railroads...........  67,000 notices..........  3 minutes..............              3,350            117,250
    --Validation/Assessment Plans....  545 railroads...........  545 copies..............  40 hours/1 minute......                 49              2,375
    Amendments to Validation/          545 railroads...........  50 amendments...........  20 hours...............              1,000             35,000
     Assessment Plans.
232.205--Class I Brake Test--Initial   545 railroads...........  1,656,000 notices.......  45 seconds.............             20,700            931,500
 Terminal Insp.
232.207--Class I A Brake Tests: 1000   545 railroads...........  8 designations..........  30 minutes.............                  4                140
 Mile Insp.
    --Subsequent Years...............  545 railroads...........  1 designation...........  1 hour.................                  1                 35
    --Amendments.....................  545 railroads...........  5 amendments............  1 hour.................                  5                175
232.209--Class II Brake Tests--        545 railroads...........  1,600,000...............  3 seconds..............              1,333             59,985
 Intermediate Insp.
232.213--Extended Haul Trains--        84,000 train movements..  100 designations........  15 minutes.............                 25                875
 Designations.
    --Records........................  84,000 train movements..  25,200 records..........  20 minutes.............              8,400            294,000
232.303--General Requirements--Track   1,600,000 freight cars..  5,600 tags..............  5 minutes..............                467             17,279
 Brake Test.
    --Location of Last Track Brake     1,600,000 freight cars..  320,000 stenciling......  5 minutes..............             26,667            986,679
     Test/Single Car Test.
232.305--Single Car Tests............  1,600,000 freight cars..  320,000 tests/rcds......  45 minutes.............            240,000          8,400,000
232.309--Equipment and Devices--Tests/ 640 shops...............  5,000 tests.............  30 minutes.............              2,500             92,500
 Calibrations.
232.403--Design Standards For One-way  245 railroads...........  12 requests.............  5 minutes..............                  1                 35
 EOT Devices--Unique Code.
232.407--Operations Requiring 2-Way    245 railroads...........  50,000 30 commun........  30 seconds.............                417             18,765
 EOTs.
232.409--Inspection and Testing of 2-  245 railroads...........  450,000 commun..........  30 seconds.............              3,750            138,750
 Way EOTs.
    --Testing Telemetry Equipment....  245 railroads...........  32,708 markings.........  60 seconds.............                545             20,165
232.503--Process to Introduce New      545 railroads...........  1 request/letter........  60 minutes.............                  1                 56
 Brake System Technology--Special
 Approval.
    --Pre-Revenue Service              545 railroads...........  1 request...............  3 hours................                  3                168
     Demonstration.
232.505--Pre-Revenue Service           545 railroads...........  1 procedure.............  160 hours..............                160              8,920
 Acceptance Testing Plan: Maintenance
 Procedure--1st Year.
    --Subsequent Years...............  545 railroads...........  1 procedure.............  160 hours..............                160              8,920
    --Amendments.....................  545 railroads...........  1 amendment.............  40 hours...............                 40              1,400
    --Design Descriptions--Petitions.  545 railroads...........  1 petition..............  67 hours...............                 67              3,752

[[Page 51326]]

 
    --Results Pre-Revenue Service      545 railroads...........  1 report................  13 hours...............                 13                455
     Acceptance Testing.
    --Description of Brake Systems     545 railroads...........  5 descriptions..........  40 hours...............                200              7,000
     Technologies Previously Used in
     Revenue Service.
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    Total Responses: 8,643,075.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 857,415 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Title: Regional Inspection Point Listing Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0551.
    Abstract: Through a direct comparison of inspection data with 
accident/incident data, the collection of information aims 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 collection of 
information, 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: 545 railroads.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                  Average time per     Total annual       Total annual
              CFR section                    Respondent universe       Total annual  responses        response            burden          burden cost
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FRA 6180.106(a)........................  20 inspectors.............  280 records...............                  5                 23               $736
                                                                                                      (in minutes)
FRA 6180.106(b)........................  35 inspectors.............  315 records...............                  5                 26                832
                                                                                                      (in minutes)
FRA 6180.106(c)........................  30 inspectors.............  300 records...............                  5                 25                800
                                                                                                      (in minutes)
FRA 6180.106(d)........................  12 inspectors.............  108 records...............                  5                  9                288
                                                                                                      (in minutes)
FRA 6180.106(e)........................  40 inspectors.............  360 records...............                  5                 30                960
                                                                                                      (in minutes)
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    Total Responses: 1,363.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 113 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 19, 2003.
Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-21765 Filed 8-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P