[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74103-74105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7288]


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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 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 February 13, 2006.

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

[[Page 74104]]

to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a 
self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB control 
number 2130-0500''. Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via 
facsimile to (202) 493-6265 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, 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 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 currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to the railroad 
accident reporting regulations set forth in 49 CFR part 225 which 
require railroads to submit monthly reports summarizing collisions, 
derailments, and certain other accidents/incidents involving damages 
above a periodically revised dollar threshold, as well as certain 
injuries to passengers, employees, and other persons on railroad 
property. Because the reporting requirements and the information needed 
regarding each category of accident/incident are unique, a different 
form is used for each category.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.54; 55; 55A; 56; 57; 78; 81; 97; 98; 99; 
107.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Total annual
         CFR section              Respondent       Total annual     Average time     Total annual    burden cost
                                   universe         responses       per response     burden hours     (dollars)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
225.9--Telephone Reports of    685 railroads...  500 phone        15 minutes.....  125 hours......        $4,750
 Certain Accidents/Incidents                      reports.
 and Other Events.
225.11--Reporting of Rail      685 railroads...  3,000 forms....  2 hours........  6,000 hours....       228,000
 Equipment Accidents/
 Incidents--Form FRA F
 6180.54.
225.12--Rail Equipment         685 railroads...  1,000 forms....  15 minutes.....  250 hours......         9,500
 Accident/Incident Reports
 Alleging Human Factor as
 Cause--Form FRA F 6180.81.
    Part I Form FRA F 6180.78  685 railroads...  1,000 notices +  10 minutes + 3   372 hours......        14,136
     (Notices).                                   4,100 copies.    minutes.
    Joint Operations.........  685 railroads...  100 requests...  20 minutes.....  33 hours.......         1,254
    Late Identification......  685 railroads...  20 attachments   15 minutes.....  10 hours.......           380
                                                  + 20 notices.
    Employee Statement         Railroad          75 statements..  1.5 hours......  113 hours......         4,972
     Supplementing Railroad     employees.
     Accident Report (Part II
     Form FRA 6180.78).
    Employee Confidential      Railroad          10 letters.....  2 hours........  20 hours.......           880
     Letter.                    employees.
225.13--Late Reports.........  685 railroads...  50 amended       1 hour + 3       52 hours.......         1,976
                                                  rpts. + 40       minutes.
                                                  copies.
225.17--Doubtful Cases;        685 railroads...  80 reports.....  30 minutes.....  40 hours.......         1,520
 Alcohol or Drug Involvement:
 Narrative Reports to FRA.
    Appended reports required  685 railroads...  5 reports......  30 minutes.....  3 hours........           114
     by Sec.   219.209(b).
225.19--Rail-Highway Grade     685 railroads...  3,000 forms....  2 hours........  6,000 hours....       228,000
 Crossing Accident/Incident
 Report--Form FRA F 6180.57.

[[Page 74105]]

 
    Death, Injury, or          685 railroads...  12,000 forms...  20 minutes.....  4,000 hours....       152,000
     Occupational Illness
     (Form FRA F 6180.55a).
225.21--Railroad Injury and    685 railroads...  8,220 forms....  10 minutes.....  1,370 hours....        52,060
 Illness Summary--Form FRA F
 6180.55.
225.21--Annual Railroad        685 railroads...  685 forms......  15 minutes.....  171 hours......         6,498
 Report of Employee Hours and
 Casualties, By State--Form
 FRA F 6180.56.
225.21/25--Railroad Employee   685 railroads...  18,000 forms...  60 minutes.....  18,000 hours...       792,000
 Injury and/or Illness
 Record--Form FRA F 6180.98.
    Copies of Forms to         685 railroads...  540 form copies  2 minutes......  18 hours.......           792
     Employees.
225.21--Initial Rail           685 railroads...  13,000 forms...  30 minutes.....  6,500 hours....       286,000
 Equipment Accident/Incident
 Record--Form FRA F 6180.97.
225.21--Alternative Record     685 railroads...  300 forms......  15 minutes.....  75 hours.......         2,850
 for Illnesses Claimed to Be
 Work Related--Form FRA F
 6180.107.
225.25 (h)--Posting of         685 railroads...  8,220 lists....  16 minutes.....  2,192 hours....        83,296
 Monthly Summary.
225.27--Retention of Records.  685 railroads...  1,900 records..  2 minutes......  63 hours.......         2,394
225.33--Internal Control       685 railroads...  25 amendments..  14 hours.......  350 hours......        13,300
 Plans--Amendments.
225.35--Access to Records and  15 railroads....  400 lists......  20 minutes.....  133 hours......         5,054
 Reports.
    Subsequent Years.........  4 railroads.....  16 lists.......  20 minutes.....  5 hours........           190
225.37--Magnetic Media         8 railroads.....  96 transfers...  10 minutes.....  16 hours.......           608
 Transfer and Electronic
 Submission.
    Electronic Submission:     685 railroads...  200 forms......  3 minutes......  10 hours.......           380
     Batch Control Forms
     (6180.99) and Form FRA F
     6180.55.
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    Total Responses: 76,602.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 45,921 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 December 7, 2005.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
 [FR Doc. E5-7288 Filed 12-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P