[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39002-39004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13186]


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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 (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 September 6, 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 Mr. Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, 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 2130-0544.'' 
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 Mr. Angelo 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 Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-20, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6470). (These telephone 
numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 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 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

[[Page 39003]]

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 ICRs that FRA 
will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: Passenger Equipment Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0544.
    Abstract: The information gained from daily inspections is used to 
detect and correct equipment problems so as to prevent collisions, 
derailments, and other occurrences involving railroad passenger 
equipment that cause injury or death to railroad employees, railroad 
passengers, or to the general public; and to mitigate the consequences 
of any such occurrences, to the extent that they can not be prevented. 
The information provided promotes passenger train safety by ensuring 
requirements are met for railroad equipment design and performance; 
fire safety; emergency systems; the inspection, testing, and 
maintenance of passenger equipment; and other provisions for the safe 
operation of railroad passenger equipment.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 22 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually.

                                                                    Reporting Burden
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                                                                Total annual                                                               Total annual
            CFR section              Respondent universe         responses        Average time  per response  Total annual  burden hours    burden cost
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216.14--Special Notice For          22 railroads.........  9 forms..............  5 minutes.................  1 hour....................             $34
 Repairs: Passenger Equip..
238.7--Waivers....................  22 railroads.........  9 waivers............  2 hours/25 hours..........  64 hours..................           2,176
238.15--Movement of Passenger       22 railroads.........  1,000 tags/cards.....  3 minutes.................  50 hours..................           2,250
 Equip. w/power brake defects:
 Limitations on movement found
 during Class I/IA Brake Test.
    --Limitations on movement of    22 railroads.........  288 tags/cards.......  3 minutes.................  14 hours..................             630
     passenger equip. in passenger
     service that becomes
     defective en route after
     Class I/IA brake test.
    --Conditional Requirement:      22 railroads.........  144 Notifications....  3 minutes.................  7 hours...................             315
     Notifications.
238.17--Movement of Passenger       22 railroads.........  200 tags/cards.......  3 minutes.................  10 hours..................             300
 Equip. w/Other than Power Brake
 Defects: Defects Developed En
 Route.
    --Special Requisites For        22 railroads.........  76 tags/cards........  3 minutes.................  4 hours...................             120
     Movement of Equipment w/
     Safety Appliance Defects.
    --Notifications...............  22 railroads.........  38 notifications.....  30 seconds................  19 minutes................              10
238.19--Reporting and Tracking      1 railroad...........  1 update.............  1 hour....................  1 hour....................              34
 Defective Passenger Equipment:
 Updated List.
238.21--Special Approval            22 railroads.........  1 petition...........  16 hours..................  16 hours..................             544
 Procedure: Petitions For
 Alternative Std.
    --Petitions For Alternative     22 railroads.........  1 petition...........  120 hours.................  120 hours.................           4,080
     Compl..
238.21--Petitions For Special       22 railroads.........  2 petitions..........  40 hours..................  80 hours..................           2,720
 Approval of Pre-Revenue Service
 Acceptance Plan.
    --Comments....................  Unknown..............  8 comments...........  1 hour....................  80 hours..................             440
238.103--Fire Safety: Equipment     9 equipment            7.2 equip. designs...  540 hours.................  3,888 hours...............         198,720
 Design (New Equip.).                manufacturers.
    --Subsequent Modifications....  9 equipment            7.2 equip. designs...  60 hours..................  432 hours.................          43,200
                                     manufacturers.
    --Existing Equipment: Fire      9 equipment            18 analyses..........  30 hours..................  540 hours.................          54,000
     Safety Analysis.                manufacturers.
    --Equipment Transfers: New      9 equipment            1 analysis...........  20 hours..................  20 hours..................           2,000
     Analysis.                       manufacturers.
238.107--Inspection, Testing, and   22 railroads.........  22 reviews...........  60 hours..................  1,320 hours...............          44,880
 Maintenance Plan: Annual Reviews.
238.109--Training, Qualification,   7,500 employees; 100   2,500 employees        1.33 hours................  3,458 hours...............         103,075
 and Designation Prog.--Training     trainers.              trained/100
 Employees Who Perform Mechanical                           instructors.
 Insp.
    --Recordkeeping...............  22 railroads.........  2,500 records........  3 minutes.................  125 hours.................           4,250
238.111--Pre-Revenue Service        9 equipment            7.2 plans............  16 hours..................  115 hours.................           7,705
 Acceptance Testing Plan:            manufacturers.
 Equipment Previously Used in
 Revenue Service.
    --Equipment Not Previously      9 equipment            7.2 plans............  192 hours.................  1,382 hours...............         138,200
     Used in Revenue Service.        manufacturers.

[[Page 39004]]

 
    --Subsequent Orders...........  9 equipment            7.2 plans............  60 hours..................  432 hours.................          33,762
                                     manufacturers.
238.203--Static End Strength:       22 railroads.........  1 petition...........  100 hours.................  100 hours.................           5,500
 Grandfathering of Non-Complaint
 Equipment.
    --Comments....................  Unknown..............  3 comments...........  20 hours..................  60 hours..................           3,300
238.237--Automated Monitoring.....  22 railroads.........  22 documents.........  2 hours...................  44 hours..................           1,496
    --Display Regarding Defective   22 railroads.........  100 tags.............  3 minutes.................  5 hours...................             225
     Alerter/Deadman Control.
238.303--Exterior Calendar Day      22 railroads.........  25 notices...........  1 minute..................  .50 hour..................              23
 Inspection of Equip..
    --Defective Dynamic Brakes on   22 railroads.........  50 tags/cards........  3 minutes.................  3 hours...................             135
     MU Locomotive.
    --Defective Dynamic Brakes on   22 railroads.........  50 tags/cards........  3 minutes.................  3 hours...................             135
     Conventional Locos.
    --Records.....................  22 railroads.........  2,017,756 records....  1 minute..................  33,629 hours..............       1,143,386
238.305--Interior Calendar Day      22 railroads.........  540 tags.............  1 minute..................  9 hours...................             324
 Mechanical Insp.: Tagging Req.
    --Records.....................  22 railroads.........  1,866,904 records....  1 minute..................  31,115 hours..............       1,057,910
238.307--Periodic Mechanical        22 railroads.........  5 notifications......  5 hours...................  25 hours..................             850
 Inspection of Pass. Cars:
 Notification of Alternative
 Intervals.
    --Non-Complying Conditions....  22 railroads.........  200 notices..........  2 minutes.................  7 hours...................             238
    --Records.....................  22 railroads.........  56,462 records.......  2 minutes.................  1,882 hours...............          63,988
    --Reliability Assessments       22 railroads.........  5 documents..........  100 hours.................  500 hours.................          17,000
     Concerning Alt. Inspection
     Interval.
238.311--Single Car Test: Movement  22 railroads.........  25 tags..............  3 minutes.................  1 hour....................              36
 to Nest Forward Location.
238.315--Class IA Brake Test......  22 railroads.........  365,000                3 seconds.................  304 hours.................               0
                                                            communications.
    --Communication Signal Tests..  22 railroads.........  365,000 tests........  15 seconds................  1,521 hours...............          51,714
238.317--Class II Brake Test:       22 railroads.........  365,000 tests........  15 seconds................  1,521 hours...............          51,714
 Communication Signal System Test.
238.431--Brake Test: Analysis.....  1 railroad...........  1 analysis...........  40 hours..................  40 hours..................           1,360
238.437--Emergency Comm...........  3 car manufacturers..  3 sets of instruction  25 hours/10 min...........  79 hours..................           2,670
                                                            + 25 decals.
238.441--Emergency Roof Location..  3 car manufacturers..  3 sets of instruction  25 hours/60 min...........  100 hours.................           3,300
                                                            + 25 placards.
238.445--Automated Monitoring.....  1 railroad...........  10,000 alerts/alarms.  10 seconds................  28 hours..................               0
    --Self-Tests: Notific.........  1 railroad...........  21,900 notifications.  20 seconds................  122 hours.................               0
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    Total Responses: 5,076,058.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 83,257 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 29, 2005.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-13186 Filed 7-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P