[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 97 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23927-23928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11925]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2009-0001-N-11]


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 July 20, 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 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 No. 104-13, Sec.  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: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Train Crews in Commuter 
Passenger Service.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
    Abstract: The Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA), 
Public Law 110-432, grants the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
the authority to prescribe regulations ``* * * Governing the Hours of 
Service of Train Employees of Commuter and Intercity Passenger Railroad 
Carriers.'' (Sec.  21109). This section of the law provides that:

    Such regulations and orders may address railroad operating and 
scheduling practices, including unscheduled duty calls, 
communications during time off duty, and time spent waiting for 
deadhead transportation or in deadhead transportation from a duty 
assignment to the place of final release, that could affect employee 
fatigue and railroad safety.

    Furthermore, the regulations shall consider

    * * * scientific and medical research related to fatigue and 
fatigue abatement, railroad scheduling and operating practices that 
improve safety or reduce employee fatigue, a railroad's use of new 
or novel technology intended to reduce or eliminate human error, the 
variations in freight and passenger railroad scheduling practices 
and operating conditions, the variations in duties and operating 
conditions for employees subject to this chapter, a railroad's 
required or voluntary use of fatigue management plans covering 
employees subject to this chapter, and any other relevant factors.

    The purpose of the research addressed under this proposed study is 
to provide FRA with the necessary information to meet the requirements 
of RSIA as noted above.
    The proposed study has two primary purposes:
     To document and characterize the work/rest schedules and 
sleep patterns of train crews in commuter passenger service
     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.
    The study will seek to describe the work and sleep patterns for 
this group

[[Page 23928]]

of railroad employees. It will also obtain subjective ratings from 
participants of their alertness/sleepiness on both work and non-work 
days. Data collection will be 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 whether or not 
there are any work-related fatigue issues. The proposed study will 
provide a defensible and definitive estimate of the work/rest cycle 
parameters and fatigue in this group of railroad employees that will 
inform FRA regulatory policy and action.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.130; FRA F 6180.131.
    Affected Public: Railroad Employees.
    Respondent Universe: 155 Individuals.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                    Respondent                     Average time
                    Form No.                         universe      Total annual    per response    Total annual
                                                   (individuals)     responses       (minutes)     burden hours
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Background Data (Form FRA F 6180.130)...........             155             155              15              39
Daily Log (FRA F 6180.131)......................             155           2,170              10             362
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    Total Responses: 2,325.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 401 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 May 18, 2009.
Kimberly Orben,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-11925 Filed 5-20-09; 8:45 am]
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