[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 163 (Thursday, August 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48315-48317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16638]


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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 approval of the following 
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 October 22, 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,

[[Page 48316]]

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 2130-New.'' 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 to the 
assigned OMB control number or collection title 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 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 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 proposed new information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Train and Engine 
Service Employees
    OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
    Abstract: In a continuing effort to improve rail safety and to 
reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to rail workers, the issue 
of fatigue has received considerable attention from both FRA and the 
railroad industry. One of FRA's fatigue-related activities has been a 
series of studies designed to document and characterize the work/rest 
schedules and sleep patterns in signalmen, maintenance-of-way workers, 
and dispatchers. These studies used the methodology approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), including random selection of 
participants to ensure a representative sample of each group. FRA has 
not yet collected data from two critically important labor crafts whose 
work schedules are regulated by FRA, locomotive engineers and 
conductors.
    FRA is proposing a study that will focus on train and engine 
service employees, which consists of locomotive engineers, conductors, 
remote control operators, and switchmen. FRA seeks to develop an 
understanding of the work schedule-related fatigue issues that affect 
these operating crafts. The project will be very similar in both method 
and scope to the recently completed studies of railroad signalmen, 
maintenance of way employees, and dispatchers. The FRA proposes to 
undertake this study to develop an understanding of the work schedule-
related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees.
    The proposed study has two primary purposes:
     To document and characterize the work/rest schedules and 
sleep patterns of train and engine service employees.
     To examine the relationship between these schedules and 
level of alertness/fatigue for the individuals who work these 
schedules.

    The intent is to report results in aggregate, not by railroad.
    Subjective ratings from participants of their alertness/sleepiness 
on both work and non-work days will be an integral part of this study. 
The data will be collected through the use of a daily diary or log, as 
well as a brief background questionnaire for each participant. Analysis 
of the diary data will allow the FRA to assess the extent of any work-
related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees. The 
proposed study will provide a defensible and definitive estimate of the 
work/rest cycle parameters and fatigue in train and engine service 
employees that will inform future FRA regulatory policy and action.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.127; FRA F 6180.128.
    Affected Public: Railroad Workers.
    Respondent Universe: 340 Train and Engine Service Employees.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                           Average time
              Form No.                  Respondent universe              Total annual responses            per response    Total annual    Total annual
                                                                                                           (in minutes)    burden hours     burden cost
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Form FRA F 6180.127--Surveys........  340 Train & Engine       340 surveys..............................              15              85          $3,570
                                       Service Employees.
Form FRA F 6180.128--Daily Log......  340 Train & Engine       4,760 Log Entries........................              10             793          33,306
                                       Service Employees.
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[[Page 48317]]

    Estimated Annual Burden: 878 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 August 17, 2007.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E7-16638 Filed 8-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P