[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9410-9412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2547]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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 describes 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 December 14, 2005 (70 FR 74103).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 27, 2006.

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 Mr. Victor Angelo, Office of Information Technology and 
Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 
Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6470). (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

[[Page 9411]]

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 December 14, 2005, FRA published a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that 
the agency was seeking OMB approval. 70 FR 74103. FRA received two 
comments in response to this notice. Both parties commenting expressed 
their support for the information collection activities associated with 
the requirements of FRA's accident/incident regulation.
    In the first comment, the Chief Statistician of the U.S. Department 
of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Dennis Fixler, 
remarked:

    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) strongly supports the 
continued collection of data by the Federal Railroad Administration 
on the Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping forms. The data 
collected on these forms are crucial to key components of BEA's 
economic statistics. BEA uses data collected on these forms to 
prepare estimates of the employee compensation component of national 
income and State personal income. Specifically, data on the number 
of employee injuries and deaths from forms F 6180.55 and F 6180.55a, 
Railroad Injury and Illness Summary, are used to prepare estimates 
of workers' compensation for the railroad industry. These same data 
by State are used to prepare estimates of workers' compensation for 
the railroad industry by State.

    In the second comment, the Vice President of the Brotherhood of 
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), Raymond Holmes, stated his 
organization's support for the collection of information and requested 
the revision of certain accident./incident forms to collect additional 
information. He observed:

    BLET supports the full range of information collection 
encompassed under OMB Control Number 2130-0500. However, BLET 
believes the revision of certain of FRA's forms to require railroads 
to provide additional information already in their possession will 
enhance the safety data available to FRA and facilitate more precise 
analyses of trends in the industry. Specifically, BLET is concerned 
that exclusive reliance on mileage-based data in developing 
accident/incident and injury casualty rates already has compromised 
the quality of analysis of switching operations. Furthermore, * * * 
the narrow focus on mileage-based data also may infect data analysis 
for other freight operations in the future, because mileage-based 
measures fail to reflect the ongoing evolution of remote control 
locomotive operations (`RCL') throughout the American railroad 
industry.

    Mr. Holmes further noted that `` * * * on the FRA form that 
captures operational data and accident/incident counts for the 
reporting month, Form F 6180.55, only mileage data--and not labor hour 
data--is required to be broken down by subcategory.'' He added:

    * * * it is now long overdue that FRA broaden its information 
collection to require railroads to report the number of employee 
hours spent in each of the various classes of service (i.e., road, 
yard, passenger, other), just as they currently report miles in each 
of these classes. Contemporary industry computer systems, which 
typically track both pay and hours of service, already capture this 
data, and the information should be easily retrievable.

    Mr. Holmes comments--on behalf of the BLET--touch an area that has 
been a cause of concern for sometime for FRA. FRA believes that very 
important issues have been raised in BLET's comments. FRA strives to 
obtain the most accurate possible data so that it has a clear and 
complete picture of what is happening in the rail industry on both a 
current and historical basis. Accurate data are essential in developing 
and implementing an effective comprehensive rail safety program 
throughout the country. In the agency's view, the issues raised by BLET 
need to be looked into carefully. FRA would like to examine these 
issues by initiating an independent study sometime this year, budget 
permitting. Such a study raises procurement as well as budget issues 
that will need to addressed. Also, there will be cooperation issues, 
and FRA will need to ensure full cooperation with any contractor chosen 
for such an important study. If funding for this study can not be found 
in this year's budget, then FRA will attempt to obtain such funding in 
next year's budget. Once the independent study is completed, FRA will 
be able to determine any needed changes.
    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 describes the nature of the information 
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The proposed 
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 
the PRA.
    Title: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.54/55/55A/56/57/78/81/97/98/99/107.
    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.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 46,021 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding these information collections 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.


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    Issued in Washington, DC on February 16, 2006.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-2547 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P