[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7541-7542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3296]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0001-N-3]


Notice and Request for Comments

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded

[[Page 7542]]

to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. 
The ICRs describe 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 December 10, 2008 (73 FR 75169).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 19, 2009.

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 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 December 10, 2008, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. 73 FR 75169. FRA received no comments after issuing this 
60-day 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 summaries below describe the nature of the information 
collection requirements(ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 
the PRA.
    Title: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0548.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads, State and Local Governments, Other 
Interested Eligible Parties.
    Abstract: Prior to the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act 
of the 21st Century (``TEA 21''), Title V of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (the ``Act''), 45 
U.S.C. 821 et seq., authorized FRA to provide railroad financial 
assistance through the purchase of preference shares (45 U.S.C. 825), 
and the issuance of loan guarantees (45 U.S.C. 831). The FRA 
regulations implementing the preference share program were eliminated 
on February 9, 1996, due to the fact that the authorization for the 
program expired (28 FR 4937). The FRA regulations implementing the loan 
guarantee provisions of Title V of the Act are contained in 49 CFR 260. 
Section 7203 of TEA 21, Public Law 105-178 (June 9, 1998), replaces the 
existing Title V financing programs. The collection of information is 
used by FRA staff to determine the eligibility of applicants for a loan 
regarding eligible projects for the improvement/rehabilitation of rail 
equipment or facilities, the refinancing of outstanding debt for these 
purposes, or the development of new intermodal or railroad facilities. 
The aggregate unpaid principal amounts of obligations can not exceed 
$3.5 billion at any one time and not less than $1 billion is to be 
available solely for projects benefitting railroads other than Class I 
carriers.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 2,163 hours.
    Addresses: 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. Alternatively, comments may be sent via e-
mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office 
of Management and Budget, 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 February 10, 2009.
Kimberly Orben,
Director, Office of Financial Management,Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-3296 Filed 2-13-09; 8:45 am]
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