[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8662-8664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3375]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (ICRs) 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 April 25, 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 2130-0533.'' 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), 
Public Law 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 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.

[[Page 8663]]

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 ICRs that FRA 
will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: Qualifications For Locomotive Engineers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0533.
    Abstract: Section 4 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 1988 
(RSIA), Public Law 100-342, 102 Stat. 624 (June 22, 1988), later 
amended and re-codified by Public Law 103-272, 108 Stat. 874 (July 5, 
1994), required that FRA issue regulations to establish any necessary 
program for certifying or licensing locomotive engineers. The 
collection of information is used by FRA to ensure that railroads 
employ and properly train qualified individuals as locomotive engineers 
and designated supervisors of locomotive engineers. The collection of 
information is also used by FRA to verify that railroads have 
established required certification programs for locomotive engineers 
and that these programs fully conform to the standards specified in the 
regulation.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually; tri-annually.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Respondent      Total annual     Average time    Total annual    Total annual
         CFR section               universe        responses       per response    burden hours     burden cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
240.9--Waivers...............  685 railroads..  5 waivers......  1 hour.........            5               $170
240.101/103--Cert. Prog.--     675 railroads..  675 amendments.  15 minutes.....          169              5,746
 Amendmnts.
    --Cert. Prog.--New.......  10 railroads...  10 programs....  200 hours/40           1,840             62,560
                                                                  hours.
    --Final Review...........  10 railroads...  10 reviews.....  1 hour.........           10                340
    --Nonconforming Program--  685 railroads..  1 amended        15 minutes.....             .25               9
     Amend.                                      program.
    --Material Modific.......  685 railroads..  6 modified       45 minutes.....            5                170
                                                 program.
240.105(a)--Selection          10 railroads...  10 reports.....  1 hour.........           10                490
 Criteria for DSLE's--Rpts.
    (b) Approval Plan--        685 railroads..  75 amendments..  1 hour.........           75              2,550
     Amendments.
240.109--Candidate's written   13,333.........  133 responses..  30 minutes.....           67              3,149
 comments on prior safety
 data.
240.111/App C--Driver's        13,333           13,333 requests  15 minutes.....        3,333            156,651
 License Data.                  candidates.
    --NDR Match--              685 railroads..  267 response +   30 minutes.....          134              5,427
     notifications and                           267 requests.
     requests for data.
    --Written response from    685 railroads..  40 cases/        15 minutes.....           10                470
     candidate on driver's                       comments.
     lic. data.
240.111(g)--Notice to RR of    40,000           4 letters......  15 minutes.....            1                 47
 Absence of License.            candidates.
240.111(h)--Duty to furnish    685 railroads..  400 phone calls  10 minutes.....           67              3,149
 data on prior safety conduct
 as motor vehicle op..
240.113--Notice to RR          13,333           267 requests +   15 min./30 min.          200              7,671
 Furnishing Data on Prior       candidates.      267 responses.
 Safety Conduct--Diff. RR.
240.119--Self-referral to EAP  40,000           100 self-        5 minutes......           22                376
 re: active substance abuse     locomotive       referrals.
 disorder.                      engineers.
240.121--Criteria--Vision/     10 railroads...  10 copies......  15 minutes.....            3                102
 Hearing Acuity Data--New
 Railroads.
240.121--Criteria--Vision/     685 railroads..  17 reports.....  1 hour.........           17                578
 Hearing Acuity Data--Cond.
 Certification.
240.121--Criteria--Vision/     685 railroads..  10               15 minutes.....            3                141
 Hearing Acuity Data--Not                        notifications.
 Meeting Standards.
240.201/221--List of           685 railroads..  685 updates....  15 minutes.....          171              5,814
 Certified Loco. Engineers.
240.201/221--List of           685 railroads..  685 updated      15 minutes.....          171              5,814
 Qualified DSLEs.                                lists.
240.201/223/301--Loco.         40,000           13,333           5 minutes......        1,111             37,774
 Engineers Certificate.         candidates.      certificates.
    --False entry on           685 railroad;    2                5 minutes......           17                  8
     certificates.              40,000           falsifications.
                                engineers.
240.201/223--List of Des.      685 railroads..  20 lists.......  15 minutes.....            5                170
 Persons Authorized to Sign
 DSLE Certificate.
240,205--Data to EAP           685 railroads..  267 records....  5 minutes......           22              1,034
 Counselor.
240.207--Medical Certificate.  40,000           13,333           70 minutes.....       15,555          1,555,500
                                candidates.      certificates.
    --Written determinations   685 railroads..  10               2 hours........           20              2,000
     waiving use of                              determinations.
     corrective device.
240.219--Denial of             13,333           75 letters + 75  1 hour.........          150              6,075
 Certification.                 candidates.      responses.
    --Notification...........  685 railroads..  75               1 hour.........           75              2,550
                                                 notifications.
240.227--Canadian              Canadian         200              15 minutes.....           50              1,700
 Certification Data.            railroads.       certifications.
240.229--Requirements For      321 railroads..  184 calls......  5 minutes......           15                705
 Joint Operations.
240.309--RR Oversight Resp.:   15 railroads...  10 annotations.  15 minutes.....            3                147
 Poor Safety Conduct--Noted.
 
       Testing Rqmnts.
 
240.209/213--Written Tests...  40,000           13,333 tests...  2 hours........       26,666            906,644
                                candidates.

[[Page 8664]]

 
240.211/213--Perf. Test......  40,000           13,333.........  2 hours........       26,666            906,644
                                candidates.
240.303--Annual operational    40,000           40,000 tests/    2 hours........       80,000          3,920,000
 monitor observation.           candidates.      docs.
240.303--Annual operating      40,000           40,000 tests...  1 hour.........       40,000          1,960,000
 rules compliance test.         candidates.
        Recordkeeping
 
240.215--Retaining Info.       685 railroads..  13,333 records.  10 minutes.....        2,222             75,548
 Supporting Determination.
240.305--Engineer's Notice of  40,000           10               5 minutes......            1                 47
 Non-Qualific.                  engineers        notifications.
                                candidates.
    --Relaying Non-qual.       800 engineers..  2 letters......  30 minutes.....            1                 47
     Status to other
     certifying railroad.
240.307--Notice to Engineer    685 railroads..  500 letters....  1 hour.........          500             17,000
 of Disqualification.
240.309--Railroad Annual       42 railroads...  42 reviews.....  80 hours.......        3,360            188,160
 Review.
    --Report of findings.....  42 railroads...  6 reports......  1 hour.........            6                336
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 165,420.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 202,741 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 February 15, 2005.
Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-3375 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P