[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 121 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35421-35422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14379]


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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 August 23, 2004.

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 2130-0524.'' 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. 104-13, section 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

[[Page 35422]]

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 is a brief summary of the currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Railroad Communications (Formerly Radio Standards and 
Procedures).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0524.
    Abstract: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) amended its 
radio standards and procedures to promote compliance by making the 
regulations more flexible; to require wireless communications devices, 
including radios, for specified classifications of railroad operations 
and roadway workers; and to re-title this part to reflect its coverage 
of other means of wireless communications such as cellular telephones, 
data radio terminals, and other forms of wireless communications to 
convey emergency and need-to-know information. The new rule establishes 
safe, uniform procedures covering the use of radio and other wireless 
communications within the railroad industry.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                         Average time per        Total annual  burden      Total annual
          CFR section              Respondent  universe     Total annual  responses          response                    hours             burden cost
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220.8--Waivers................  685 railroads............  1 letter................  60 minutes..............  1 hour..................              $37
220.25--Instruction of          685 railroads............  70,000 sessions.........  30 minutes..............  35,000 hours............        1,190,000
 Employees.
    --Sub Yrs.--Instr.........  685 railroads............  12,540 sessions.........  30 minutes..............  6,270 hours.............          213,180
    --Operational Testing of    685 railroads............  100,000 tests...........  15 minutes..............  25,000 hours............          850,000
     Empl.
220.35--Testing Radio/Wireless  685 railroads............  780,000 tests...........  30 seconds..............  6,500 hours.............          221,000
 Communication Eq.
220.61--Transmission of         685 railroads............  7,200,000 directives....  1.5 minutes.............  180,000 hours...........        6,120,000
 Mandatory Dir.
    --Marketing Man. Dir......  685 railroads............  624,000 marks...........  15 seconds..............  2,600 hours.............           88,400
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    Total Responses: 8,786,541.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 255,371 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 June 17, 2004.
Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-14379 Filed 6-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P