[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71715-71717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27908]


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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 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 inappropriate cell phone use and other 
electronic/electrical devices by railroad employees while on-duty. 
Before submitting these information collection requirements for 
clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is 
soliciting

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public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 26, 2009.

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, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590, or Ms. Nakia Jackson, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 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 2130-0579.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6216 or (202) 493-6170, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at 
[email protected], or to Ms. Jackson 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 Safety, 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Ms. Nakia Jackson, Office of 
Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Ave., SE., 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 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: 2130-0579.
    Title: FRA Emergency Order No. 26, Notice No. 1.
    Abstract: Emergency Order No. 26--and its associated collection of 
information--is FRA's direct and proactive response to the September 
12, 2008, Chatsworth, California, collision of a Union Pacific (UP) 
freight train and a Metrolink commuter train, which resulted in the 
deaths of 25 people and numerous injuries to train occupants, as well 
as to other train accidents/incidents involving cell phone use and use 
of electronic/electrical devices that have occurred throughout the 
country recently. The collection of information under Emergency Order 
No. 26 is aimed at ensuring that railroads revise their programs of 
operational tests and inspections, as necessary, to include the 
requirements of E.O. 26 and specifically include a minimum number of 
operational tests and inspections; and at ensuring railroads instruct 
each of their operating employees and supervisors of railroad operating 
employees concerning the requirements of E.O. 26 and implementing 
railroad rules and instructions. The collection of information under 
E.O. 26 also contains a provision that allows railroads to petition for 
relief from this Order by adopting other means of ensuring that 
railroad operating employees are not distracted from their duties by 
use of electronic or electrical devices or by implementing technology 
that will prevent inappropriate acts and omissions from resulting in 
injury to persons.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 718 railroads; 130,000 Railroad Employees.
    Frequency of Submission: One-time; on occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                      Respondent         Total annual      Average time per      Total annual
   Emergency order item No. 26         universe            responses           response          burden hours
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(1)--Revision of Railroad's       718 Railroads 20    718 amended         1 hour............  718
 Program of Operational Tests      New Railroads.      programs.          1 hour............  20
 and Inspections Under 49 CFR                         20 amended
 217 to Include Requirements of                        programs.
 E.O. 26.
(2) Employee Training in          130,000 RR          130,000 Trained     15 minutes........  32,500
 Requirements of E.O. 26 and       Employees.          Employees.
 Implementing Railroad Rules and
 Instructions.
(3) Petitions of Relief from      718 Railroads.....  Zero (0) Petitions  Zero (0) minutes/   Zero (0)
 E.O. 26.                                                                  hours.
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    Total Responses: 130,738.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden: 33,238 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

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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 November 19, 2008.
Kimberly Orben,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-27908 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P