[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56911-56912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26445]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0001-N-26]


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 August 24, 2009 (74 FR 42732).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 3, 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., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 25, 
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., 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 No. 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

[[Page 56912]]

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 August 24, 2009, FRA published a 60-
day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on this ICR that 
the agency was seeking OMB approval. 74 FR 42732. FRA received no 
comments in response to this notice.
    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 for the ICR being 
submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: ARRA Solicitation of Applications and Notice of Funds 
Availability for High-Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail 
Service--Capital Assistance and Planning Grants Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0583.
    Type of Request: Regular Approval of an Emergency Clearance.
    Affected Public: 50 States and Amtrak.
    Abstract: On June 23, 2009, FRA published a Notice of Funds 
Availability (NOFA) and Interim Guidance for the High-Speed Rail (HSR)/
Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) Grant Program. See 74 FR 29900. The NOFA 
and Interim Guidance documents and additional information about the 
HSR/IPR Grant Program are available on FRA's public Web site at http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2243. FRA plans on publishing a Final 
Guidance shortly in the Federal Register, and will also then place the 
Final Guidance on its Web site. The HSR/IPR Grant Program builds upon 
President Obama's ``Vision for High-Speed Rail in America,'' which was 
issued on April 16, 2009, and which describes a collaborative effort 
among the Federal Government, States, railroads and other key 
stakeholder to transform America's transportation system by investing 
in an efficient, high-speed passenger rail network of 100 to 600 mile 
intercity corridors.
    The Interim/Final Guidance documents detail HSR/IPR Grant Program 
funding opportunities as well as specific application requirements and 
procedures. The evaluation and selection criteria are intended to 
prioritize projects that deliver transportation, economic recovery and 
other public benefits, including energy independence, environmental 
quality, and livable communities; ensure project success through 
effective program management, financial planning and stakeholder 
commitments; and emphasize a balanced approach to project types, 
locations, innovation, and timing. The program grant funds are being 
made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
(ARRA) and the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 
fiscal years 2008 and 2009. ARRA established the HSRIPR Program--a new 
program that provides $8 billion to support the Administration's vision 
for developing high-speed rail in America.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.132; FRA F 6180.133; FRA F 6180.134; FRA 
F 6180.135; FRA F 6180.138; FRA F 6180.139; SF-424; SF-424A; SF-424C; 
SF-424D; SF-LLL.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 47,450 hours.
    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 October 28, 2009.
Kimberly Coronel,
Director, Office of Financial Management,
    Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-26445 Filed 11-2-09; 8:45 am]
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