[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 78 (Friday, April 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18799-18800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9371]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2009-0001-N-9]


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 June 23, 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--New.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6216 or (202) 493-6497, 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 and the title of the 
information collection 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, 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

[[Page 18800]]

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), 
Pub. L. 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 of such activities 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 the proposed information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Track Transportation Time Study.
    OMB Control Number: 2130--New.
    Abstract: The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-432) 
calls for a track inspection time study to be performed by FRA. The 
information required to develop the report will be at least partially 
obtained through a series of information gathering surveys which are 
focused on various aspects of track inspection. Each survey will be 
customized for a particular segment of the workforce and will include 
track inspectors, track supervisors or roadmasters, middle management 
(division engineers), and senior management (chief engineers).
    The purpose of the proposed study is to address four issues raised 
in the Rail Safety Improvement Act: (1) Determine whether the required 
intervals of track inspections for each class of track should be 
amended; (2) Determine whether track remedial action requirements 
should be amended; (3) Determine whether different track inspection and 
repair priorities or methods should be required; and (4) Determine 
whether the speed at which railroad track inspection vehicles operate 
and the scope of the territory they generally cover allow for proper 
inspection of the track and whether such speed and appropriate scope 
should be regulated by the Secretary.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Railroad Employees.
    Respondent Universe: 500 Individuals.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                     Average time
          RFEI notice                Respondent      Total annual    per response    Total annual
                                      universe         responses       (hour(s))     burden hours
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--Track Inspectors--Focus        20 Individuals...              16              20             320
 Groups.
--Track Inspectors--Standard     450 Individuals..             350               1             350
 Survey.
--Track Supervisors              35 Individuals...              25               1              25
 (Roadmasters).
--RR Middle Management (Div.     10 Individuals...               8               1               8
 Engineers).
--RR Senior Management (Senior   10 Individuals...               8               1               8
 Engineers).
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    Total Responses: 407.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 711 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 April 20, 2009.
Kimberly Orben,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-9371 Filed 4-23-09; 8:45 am]
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