[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7534-7535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3399]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The 
ICRs describes the nature of the information collection and their 
expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following collections of information 
was published on December 11, 2003 (68 FR 69119).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 18, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning 
and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 
Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 25, Washington,

[[Page 7535]]

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 issue two notices seeking public 
comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve 
paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 
1320.12. On December 11, 2003, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. 68 FR 69119. FRA received no comments in response to this 
notice.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of 
information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 
3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or 
disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30-day 
notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 
60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30-day notice 
informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords 
the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a 
decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should 
submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication 
to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 
FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.
    The summaries below describe the nature of the information 
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 
the PRA.
    Title: Track Safety Standards (Gage Restraint Measurement Systems).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0010.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Qualified persons inspect track and take action to allow 
safe passage of trains and ensure compliance with prescribed Track 
Safety Standards. FRA amended the Track Safety Standards to provide 
procedures for track owners to use Gage Restraint Measurement Systems 
(GRMS) to assess the ability of their track to maintain proper gage. 
Under the current Track Safety Standards, track owners must evaluate a 
track's gage restraint capability through visual inspections conducted 
at frequencies and intervals specified in the standards. With this 
amendment, track owners may monitor gage restraint on a designated 
track segment using GRMS procedures. Individuals employed by the track 
owner to inspect track must be permitted to exercise their discretion 
in judging whether the track segment should also be visually inspected 
by a qualified track inspector.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 1,766,159 hours.
    Title: Special Notice For Repairs.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0504.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.8; FRA F 6180.8A.
    Abstract: The Special Notice For Repairs is issued to notify the 
carrier in writing of an unsafe condition involving a locomotive, car, 
or track. The carrier must return the form after repairs have been 
made. The collection of information is used by State and Federal 
inspectors to remove freight car or locomotives until they can be 
restored to a serviceable condition. It is also used by State and 
Federal inspectors to reduce the maximum authorized speed on a section 
of track until repairs can be made.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 6 hours.
    Title: Designation of Qualified Persons.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0511.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used to prevent the 
unsafe movement of defective freight cars. Railroads are required to 
inspect freight cars for compliance and to determine restrictions on 
the movements of defective cars.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 40 hours.
    ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding these information collections to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20503; 
Attention: FRA Desk Officer.
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of FRA, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; the accuracy of FRA's estimates of the burden of the 
proposed information collections; ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize 
the burden of the collections of information on respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 10, 2004.
Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-3399 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
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