[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 231 (Thursday, December 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70167-70168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26526]


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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 collections and their 
expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information 
was published on September 22, 2004 (69 FR 56819).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 3, 2005.

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, 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 September 22, 2004, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. 69 FR 56819. FRA received two comments after issuing this 
notice.
    The first comment (letter) came from the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), which represents both locomotive 
engineers and trainmen. BLET expressed its wholehearted support for the 
proposed study. In his letter, Don M. Hahs, the President of BLET, 
observed:

    BLET, and others, believe the collection of this data will 
provide greater insight into the probability of safety related 
injury associated with these [critical incident] events. Given the 
fact that the frequency of these events may result in locomotive 
engineers experiencing several of them in their careers, the FRA and 
industry can be benefited in understanding the scope of this 
concern. The proposed data collection and purpose for which it is 
being collected can provide non-regulatory and preemptive approaches 
that may mitigate the negative effects to safety and health 
associated with Post-Traumatic Stress.

    Mr. M. Hahs further remarked:

    The identification of ``best practices'' for Critical Incident 
Stress Debriefing programs, as proposed in the study, will allow the 
transportation community to learn a great deal. The eventual 
publication of the study has the potential to add to the body of 
research of this recognized problem and will add value for the 
scientific community with no burden to the society at large. 
Therefore, the BLET encourages FRA to move forward with the proposed 
study and seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget as 
soon as possible.

    BLET did address the paperwork burden for this proposed collection 
of information. Mr. Hahs noted: ``BLET considers the estimates of the 
burden of information collection activities, its methodologies, and 
assumptions to be valid.''
    The Union Pacific Railroad also expressed its support for the 
project. In his comment (letter), Dr. Dennis W. Holland, Director, 
Occupational Health Psychology, Union Pacific Safety Department, stated 
the following:

    The study is timely and of significant interest to the rail 
industry. UPRR is a pioneer in the development and implementation of 
Peer Support programs for employees involved in critical incidents. 
We believe the proposed study will benefit both the railroads and 
railroad labor by providing information on how best to respond to 
critical incidents. In addition, the information provided by the 
proposed study will enable railroad professionals to best use 
resources to assist employees dealing with tragic events.

    There is no cost for materials to study participants, and the total 
burden hours are minimal. It should be also be noted that FRA and its 
contractor, University of Denver, have been in contact with 
representatives of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the 
BLET, and the United Transportation Union (UTU) from the beginning 
concerning the need for this study and the proposed procedures. These 
representatives have made several useful suggestions, which have been 
incorporated into the design of this study. Several useful suggestions 
were also provided, and used, by members of the CISD resource group--an 
entity established to assist in the development of this study. This 
resource group consists of representatives from the AAR, BLE, UTU, and 
several Class 1 and short line carriers. Finally, a team of 
epidemiologists and statisticians from reputable universities and 
establishments, including Yale University, the University of California 
at San Francisco, Colorado State University (Fort Collins), the 
University of Denver, the Denver VA Medical Center, the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, and individuals from the U.S. 
Department of Transportation's Volpe National Transportation Systems 
Center, reviewed the sampling plan of the proposed study and offered 
useful recommendations and feedback.
    Before OMB decides whether to approve this proposed collection 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

[[Page 70168]]

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 describe the nature of the information collection 
requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. These requirements are 
being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Post-Traumatic Stress in Train Crew Members After a Critical 
Incident.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new collection of information.
    Affected Public: Train crew members (locomotive engineers, firers, 
and conductors).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.120; FRA F 6180.121; FRA F 6180.122.
    Abstract: Nearly 1,000 fatalities occur every year in this country 
from trains striking motor vehicles at grade crossings and individual 
trespassers along the track. These events can be very traumatic to 
train crew members, who invariably are powerless to prevent such 
collisions. Exposure of train crews to such work-related traumas can 
cause extreme stress and result in safety-impairing behaviors, such as 
are seen in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Acute Stress Disorder. 
Most railroads have Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) 
intervention programs designed to mitigate problems caused by exposure 
to these traumas. However, they are quite varied in their approach, and 
it is not certain which components of these programs are most 
effective. The purpose of this collection of information is to identify 
``best practices'' for CISD programs in the railroad industry. By means 
of written and subsequent oral interviews with train crew members that 
will each take approximately 45 minutes, the proposed study aims to 
accomplish the following: (1) Benchmark rail industry best practices of 
CISD programs; (2) Establish the extent of traumatic stress disorders 
due to grade crossing and trespasser incidents in the rail industry 
(not by region or railroad) and identify at-risk populations; and (3) 
Evaluate the effectiveness of individual components of CISD programs. 
It should be noted that only the components of CISD programs will be 
evaluated, not an individual railroad's overall intervention program.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 2,043 hours.
    Addressee: 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 
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 estimates 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 24, 2004.
David Wissman,
Acting Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, 
Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-26526 Filed 12-1-04; 8:45 am]
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