[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 218 (Friday, November 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65496-65497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25135]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Request for Comments

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 Requirement (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on September 2, 2004 (69 FR 53765).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 13, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 
20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292), 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 (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, 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 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 September 2, 2004, FRA published a 60-day 
notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the 
agency was seeking OMB approval. 69 FR 53765. 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 summary below describes the nature of the information 
collection requirement (ICR) and the expected burden, and is being 
submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Safety Appliance Concern Recommendation Report; Safety 
Appliance Standards Guidance Checklist Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Abstract: In an ongoing effort to conduct more thorough and more 
effective inspections of railroad freight equipment and to further 
enhance safe rail operations, FRA has developed a safety concern 
recommendation report form, and a group of guidance checklist forms 
that will facilitate railroad, rail car owner, and rail equipment 
manufacturer compliance with agency Railroad Safety Appliance Standards 
regulations. In lieu of completing an official inspection form (FRA F 
6180.96), which takes subject railroad equipment out of service and 
disrupts rail operations, proposed new Form FRA F 6180.4a will enable 
Federal and State safety inspectors to report to agency headquarters 
systemic or other safety concerns. FRA headquarters safety specialists 
can then contact railroads, car owners, and equipment manufacturers to 
address the reported issue(s) in a timely fashion without unnecessarily 
having to take affected rail equipment out of service, unless deemed 
defective. Proposed forms FRA F 6180.4(b)-(m) will be used in 
conjunction with the Special Inspection of Safety Appliance Equipment 
form (Form FRA F 6180.4) to assist Motive, Power, and Equipment (MP&E) 
field inspectors in ensuring that critical sections of 49 CFR part 231 
(Railroad Safety Appliance Standards), pertaining to various types of 
freight equipment, are complied with through the use of a check-off 
list. By simplifying their demanding work, check-off lists for 12 
essential sections of part 231 will ensure that FRA MP&E field 
personnel completely and thoroughly inspect each type of freight car 
for compliance with its corresponding section in part 231. The proposed 
Guidance Checklist forms may later be used by state field inspectors as 
well. FRA believes that the proposed collection of information will 
result in improved construction of newly designed freight cars and 
improved field inspections of all freight cars currently in use. This, 
in turn, will serve to reduce the number of accidents/incidents and 
corresponding injuries and fatalities that occur every year due to 
unsafe or defective equipment that was not promptly repaired/replaced.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 240 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding this information collection 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 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection 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.


[[Page 65497]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 3, 2004.
Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-25135 Filed 11-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P