[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16412-16413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3479]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Agency Request for Emergency Processing of Collection of 
Information by the Office of Management and Budget

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 an extension of the following 
currently approved information collection activities. These information 
collection activities received a six-month emergency approval from OMB. 
FRA seeks this extension while it works on developing a proposed rule 
related to the same topic of railroad operating rules. 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 May 30, 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 to acknowledge receipt 
of their respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped 
postcard stating, ``Comments on OMB control number 2130-0568.'' 
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, 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. No. 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 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:
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0568.
    Title: FRA Emergency Order No. 24, Notice No. 1.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to a recent rash of 
railroad accidents caused by human failure to properly set hand-
operated main track switches in non-signaled territory. FRA has 
determined that public safety compels the issuance of Emergency Order 
No. 24 and necessitates this collection of information in order that 
railroads modify their operating rules and take certain other actions 
necessary to ensure that their employees who operate hand-operated main 
track switches in non-signaled territory restore the switches to their 
proper (normal) position after use. The Emergency Order is intended to 
reduce the risk of serious injury or death both to railroad employees 
and the general public.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads; 100,000 Railroad Employees.
    Frequency of Submission: One-time; On occasion.

                                                                    Reporting Burden
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                                                                                        Average time per     Total annual burden    Total annual burden
      Emergency order item no.         Respondent universe   Total annual responses         response                hours                   cost
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(1)--Instruction On Railroad         685 Railroads; 100,000  100,000 instruction     60 minutes...........  100,000 hours........  $4,700,000.
 Operating Rule--Operation of         employees.              sessions.
 manual main track switches in non-
 signal territory.
    --Instruction Records..........  685 Railroads.........  100,000 records.......  2 minutes............  3,333 hours..........  $126,654.

[[Page 16413]]

 
(2) Hand-Operated Main Track         6,000 Dispatchers.....  60,000 verbal           30 seconds...........  500 hours............  $20,500.
 Switches--Confirmation of Switch                             confirmations.
 Position.
    --Review of SPAF by Train        6,000 Dispatchers.....  15,000 reviews........  5 seconds............  21 hours.............  $987.
     Dispatcher.
(3) Switch Position Awareness Form   100,000 employees.....  20,000 forms..........  3 minutes............  1,000 hours..........  $47,000.
 (SPAF).
(4) Job Briefings..................  100,000 employees.....  60,000 briefings......  1 minute.............  1,000 hours..........  $47,000.
(5) Radio Communication--Crewmember  100,000 employees.....  60,000 verbal           15 seconds...........  250 hours............  $11,750.
 communication with engineer.                                 communications.
    --Notation of Inoperable Radio   900,000 Crew members..  500 form entries......  5 seconds............  3 hours..............  $141.
     on SPAF.
(6) Operational Tests and            685 Railroads.........  Burden Covered Under    Burden Covered Under   Burden Covered Under   Burden Covered Under
 Inspections.                                                 OMB No. 2130-0035.      OMB No. 2130-0035.     OMB No. 2130-0035.     OMB No. 2130-0035
(7) Distribution of Emergency        685 Railroads; 100,000  100,000 copies........  2 seconds............  56 hours.............  $2,128.
 Order--Copies to Employees.          Employees.
    --Written Receipt and            685 Railroads; 100,000  100,000 receipts +      1 second + 1 second..  56 hours.............  $2,380.
     Acknowledgment of Copy.          Employees.              100,000 records.
(8) Relief--Petitions For Special    685 Railroads.........  10 petitions..........  60 minutes...........  10 hours.............  $380.
 Approval.
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    Total Responses: 715,510.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden: 106,229 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 March 6, 2006.
Belinda Ashton,
Acting Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-3479 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P