[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71869-71871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27089]


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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 approval of the following 
information collection activities. Before submitting these information 
collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), FRA

[[Page 71870]]

is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than Feburary 8, 2005.

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 2130-0557. 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 or collection title 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, 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 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.
    Below is a brief summary of current information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Safety Integration Plans.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0557.
    Abstract: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Surface 
Transportation Board (STB), working in conjunction with each other, 
have issued joint final rules establishing procedures for the 
development and implementation of safety integration plans (``SIPs'' or 
``plans'') by a Class I railroad proposing to engage in certain 
specified merger, consolidation, or acquisition of control transactions 
with another Class I railroad, or a Class II railroad with which it 
proposes to amalgamate operations. The scope of the transactions 
covered under the two rules is the same. FRA will use the information 
collected, notably the required SIPs, to maintain and promote a safe 
rail environment by ensuring that affected railroads (Class Is and some 
Class IIs) address critical safety issues unique to the amalgamation of 
large, complex railroad operations.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Respondent Universe: Class I Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

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                                 Respondent      Total annual     Average time     Total annual    Total annual
         CFR section              universe        responses       per response     burden hours     burden cost
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244.13--Safety Integration
 Plans:
    Amalgamation of           8 railroads....  1 plan.........  360 hours......  360 hours......          22,224
     Operations--SIP
     Development & Quarterly
     Meetings.
244.17--Procedures            8 railroads....  25 reports.....  40 hours/2       92 hours.......           5,152
                                                                 hours.
    --Coordination in         8 railroads....  50 phone calls.  10 minutes.....  4 hours........             224
     Implementing Approved
     SIP.
    --Request For             8 railroads....  1 request......  8 hours........  8 hours........           1,224
     Confidential Treatment.
244.19--Disposition
    --Comments on Proposed    8 railroads....  2 reports......  16 hours.......  32 hours.......           1,792
     SIP Amendments.
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    Total Responses: 79.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 496 hours.
    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    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.


[[Page 71871]]


    Issued in Washington, DC on December 3, 2004.
Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-27089 Filed 12-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P