[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 28 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6656-6658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2225]


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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 April 13, 2007.

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 Ms. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, RAD-
43, 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 ------.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6230 or (202) 493-6170, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at 
[email protected], or to Ms. Christodoulou at 
[email protected]. Please refer

[[Page 6657]]

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 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6292) or Ms. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, 
RAD-43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail 
Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6139). (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 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 are brief summaries of the two currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Foreign Railroads' Foreign-Based (FRFB) Employees Who 
Perform Train or Dispatching Service in the United States.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0555.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used by FRA to determine 
compliance of FRFB train and dispatching service employees and their 
employers with the prohibition against the abuse of alcohol and 
controlled substances. Because of the increase in cross-border train 
operations and the increased risk posed to the safety of train 
operations in the United States, FRA seeks to apply all of the 
requirements of 49 CFR part 219 to FRFB train and dispatching service 
employees. The basic information--evidence of unauthorized use of drugs 
and alcohol--is used by FRA to help prevent accidents/incidents by 
screening FRFB who perform safety-sensitive functions for unauthorized 
drug or alcohol use. FRFB train and dispatching service employees 
testing positive for unauthorized use of alcohol and drugs are removed 
from service, thereby enhancing safety and serving as a deterrent to 
other FRFB train and dispatching service employees who might be tempted 
to engage in the unauthorized use of drugs or alcohol.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Respondent Universe: 2 Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Foreign-based railroads and their employees.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                  Respondent      Total annual     Average time    Total annual    Total annual
         CFR section               universe        responses       per response    burden hours     burden cost
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219.4--Recognition of Foreign  2 railroads....  1 petition.....  10 hours.......          10                $370
 Railroads' Workplace Testing  2 railroads/     2 comments + 2   2 hours........           4                 148
 Programs: Petitions to         public.          comment copies.
 Agency--Comments on Petition.
219.401/403/405--Voluntary     2 railroads....  2 policies.....  30 hours.......          60               2,364
 referral and Co-worker
 Report Policies.
219.403/405--Evaluation by     2 railroads....  3 reports/       2 hours........           6                 900
 Substance Abuse Professional.                   referrals.
219.405(c)(1)--Report by a Co- 2 railroads....  1 report.......  5 minutes......            .08                3
 worker.
219. 601(a)--Railroad Random   2 railroads....  2 programs.....  16 hours.......          32               1,184
 Drug Testing Programs--       2 railroads....  1 amendment....  1 hour.........           1                  37
 Amendments to Programs.
219.601(b)(1)--Random          2 railroads....  24 documents...  4 hours........          96               1,440
 Selection Procedures--Drugs.
219.601(b)(4), 219.601(d)--    2 railroads....  2 notices......  10 hours.......          20                 740
 Notice to Employees of        2 railroads....  20 notices.....  1 minute.......            .333              12
 Random Drug Testing Program--
 Notice to Employees of
 Selection for Testing.
219.603(a)--Notice by          200 employees..  2 excuses......  15 minutes.....            .5                22
 Employee Asking to be
 Excused from Urine Testing.
219.607(a)--Railroad Random    2 railroads....  1 amendment....  1 hour.........           1                  37
 Alcohol Testing Programs:
 Amendments.
219.609--Notice by Employee    200 employees..  2 excuses......  15 minutes.....            .5                22
 Asking to be Excused from
 Random Alcohol Testing.
219.903--Retention of Urine    2 railroads....  80 records.....  5 minutes......           7                 105
 Drug Testing Records.
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[[Page 6658]]

    Total Responses: 145.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 238 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Special Notice For Repairs.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0504.
    Abstract: The Special Notice For Repairs is issued to notify the 
carrier in writing of an unsafe condition involving a locomotive, car, 
or track. The carrier must return the form after repairs have been 
made. The collection of information is used by State and Federal 
inspectors to remove freight cars or locomotives until they can be 
restored to a serviceable condition. It is also used by State and 
Federal inspectors to reduce the maximum authorized speed on a section 
of track until repairs can be made.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.8; FRA F 6180.8a.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 57.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 6 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    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 February 6, 2007.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-2225 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P