[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 149 (Thursday, August 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44971-44972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15418]


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

DATES: Comments must be received no later than October 3, 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-New.'' 
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 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 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), 
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 proposed new information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
    Abstract: In a continuing effort to improve rail safety and to 
reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to rail workers, FRA and 
the railroad industry have focused on the issue of fatigue, primarily 
among train and engine crew personnel. Because railroading is an

[[Page 44972]]

around-the-clock, seven-days-a-week operation and because a wide array 
of workers are needed both to operate and to maintain the nation's 
railroads, other crafts--besides train and engine crews--can also be 
subject to fatigue. The non-operating crafts, including track 
maintenance, signal system maintenance and telecommunications and 
railroad dispatchers, fall into this second category. FRA is proposing 
a study which will focus on railroad dispatchers, one of the non-
operating railroad crafts. FRA seeks to develop an understanding of the 
work schedule-related fatigue issues that affect railroad dispatchers. 
The proposed study has two primary purposes: (1) It aims to document 
and characterize the work/rest schedules and sleep patterns of the 
railroad dispatchers; and (2) It intends to examine the relationship 
between these schedules and level of alertness/fatigue for the 
individuals who work these schedules. The intent is to report results 
in the aggregate, not by individual or railroad. Subjective ratings 
from participants of their alertness/sleepiness on both work and non-
work days will be an integral part of this study. The data will be 
collected through the use of a daily diary or log completed by 
participants over a continuous two-week time period, as well as through 
a brief background questionnaire completed by each participant. 
Analysis of the diary data will allow FRA to assess whether or not 
there are any work-related fatigue issues for railroad dispatchers. The 
proposed study will provide a defensible and definitive estimate of the 
work/rest cycle parameters and fatigue in dispatchers that will inform 
possible future FRA regulatory policy and action.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.122; FRA F 6180.123.
    Affected Public: Railroad Workers.
    Respondent Universe: 332 Railroad Dispatchers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                           Average time
            Form number                     Respondent universe              Total annual  responses       per response    Total annual    Total annual
                                                                                                             (minutes)     burden hours     burden cost
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Form FRA F 6180.122--Surveys.......  332 Dispatchers..................  332 surveys.....................              15              83          $2,905
Form FRA F 6180.123--Daily Log.....  332 Dispatchers..................  4,648 Log Entries...............              10             775         $27,125
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    Estimated Annual Burden: 858 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 July 27, 2005.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-15418 Filed 8-3-05; 8:45 am]
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