[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 227 (Monday, November 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71369-71370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6527]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Request for Comments

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 describe 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 collections of information 
was published on September 16, 2005 (70 FR 54798).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 28, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 (telephone: (202) 493-6292), or Mr. 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 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 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 16, 2005, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. 70 FR 54798. FRA received no comments after issuing this 
60-day notice. Accordingly, DOT announces that these information 
collection activities have been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 
CFR 1320.12(c).
    Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections 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 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 summaries below describe the nature of the information 
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 
the PRA.
    Title: Inspection and Maintenance Standards For Steam Locomotives.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0505.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Abstract: The Locomotive Boiler Inspection Act (LBIA) of 1911 
requires each railroad subject to the Act to file copies of its rules 
and instructions for the inspection of locomotives. The original LBIA 
was expanded to cover the entire steam locomotive and tender and all 
its parts and appurtenances. This Act then requires carriers to make 
inspections and to repair defects to ensure the safe operation of steam 
locomotives. The collection of information is used by tourist or 
historic railroads and by locomotive owners/operators to provide a 
record for each day a steam locomotive is placed in service, as well as 
a record that the required steam locomotive inspections are completed. 
Additionally, the collection of information is used by FRA Federal 
inspectors to verify that necessary safety inspections and tests have 
been completed, and to ensure that steam locomotives are indeed ``safe 
and suitable'' for service and are properly operated and maintained.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 314 hours.

    Title: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0548.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: State and local governments, government sponsored 
authorities and corporations, railroads (including Amtrak), and joint 
ventures that include at least one railroad.
    Abstract: Prior to the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act 
of the 21st Century (``TEA 21''), Title V of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (the ``Act''), 45 
U.S.C. 821 et seq., authorized FRA to provide railroad financial 
assistance through the purchase of preference shares (45 U.S.C. 825), 
and the issuance of loan guarantees (45 U.S.C. 831). The FRA 
regulations implementing the preference share program were eliminated 
on February 9, 1996, due to the fact that the authorization for the 
program expired (28 FR 4937). The FRA regulations implementing the loan 
guarantee provisions of Title V of the Act are contained in 49 CFR part 
260. Section 7203 of TEA 21, Public Law 105-178 (June 9, 1998), 
replaces the existing Title V financing programs. The collection of 
information is used by FRA staff to determine the financial eligibility 
of applicants for a loan regarding eligible projects for the 
improvement/rehabilitation of rail equipment or facilities, the 
refinancing of outstanding debt for these purposes, or the development 
of new intermodal or railroad facilities. The aggregate unpaid 
principal amounts of obligations can not exceed $3.5 billion at any one 
time and not less than $1 billion is to be available solely for 
projects benefitting freight railroads other than Class I carriers.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 2,213 hours.


[[Page 71370]]


    Title: U.S. Locational Requirement for Dispatching U.S. Rail 
Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0556.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Abstract: Part 241 requires, in the absence of a waiver, that all 
dispatching of railroad operations that occurs in the United States be 
performed in this country, with a minor exception. A railroad is 
allowed to conduct extraterritorial dispatching from Mexico or Canada 
in emergency situations, but only for the duration of the emergency. A 
railroad relying on the exception must provide written notification of 
its action to the FRA Regional Administrator of each FRA region in 
which the railroad operation occurs; such notification is not required 
before addressing the emergency situation. The information collected 
under this rule will be used as part of FRA's oversight function to 
ensure that extraterritorial dispatchers comply with applicable safety 
regulations.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 16 hours.

    Addressee: Send comments regarding this information collection 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 
collections of information are 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 collections; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collections 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 16, 2005.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
 [FR Doc. E5-6527 Filed 11-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P