[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 97 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 28856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11077]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice and Request For Comments

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 Requirement (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on March 10, 2008 (73 FR 12794).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 18, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 25, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292), or Ms. Nakia Poston, 
Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 35, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6073). (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 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 March 10, 2008, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on this ICR that the agency was 
seeking OMB approval. 73 FR 12794. FRA received no comments after 
issuing this notice. Accordingly, DOT announces that these information 
collection activities have been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 
CFR 1320.12(c).
    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 summary below describes the nature of the information 
collection requirement (ICR) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirement is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the 
PRA.
    Title: Solicitation of Applications and Notice of Funds 
Availability for the Capital Assistance to States--Intercity Rail 
Service Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0575.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: 50 States and District of Columbia and Their 
Partners.
    Abstract: On December 16, 2007, President Bush signed Public Law 
110-161, The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008. As part of this Act, Congress 
provided $30 million to FRA to award one or more grants for eligible 
projects related to capital improvements (fixed facilities and rolling 
stock) necessary to support improved or new intercity passenger 
services, and planning activities that lead to the development of a 
passenger rail corridor investment plan. Funds provided under this 
grant program may constitute no more than 50 percent of the total cost 
of a selected project, with the remaining cost funded from other 
sources. The funding provided under these grants will be made available 
to grantees on a reimbursement basis. FRA anticipates awarding grants 
to multiple eligible participants. FRA may choose to award a grant or 
grants within the available funds in any amount. Funding made available 
through grants provided under this program, together with funding from 
other sources that is committed by a grantee as part of a grant 
agreement, must be sufficient to complete the funded project and 
achieve the anticipated improvement to intercity passenger rail 
service. FRA began accepting grant applications on March 18, 2008. 
Applications may be submitted until the earlier of Wednesday, September 
30, 2009, or the date on which all available funds will have been 
committed under this program.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 12,617.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding this information collection 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 may also be sent via e-mail to 
OMB at the following address: [email protected].
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collection of information is 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 estimate of 
the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection 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.

    Issued in Washington, DC on May 12, 2008.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-11077 Filed 5-16-08; 8:45 am]
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