[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71432-71433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29738]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2011-0001-N-18]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 renewal of the following currently 
approved 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 January 17, 2012.

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. Kimberly Toone, 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 2130-0526.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6216 or (202) 493-6497, or via email to Mr. Brogan at 
[email protected], or to Ms. Toone 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 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. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information 
Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-
6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 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 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 the currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Control of Alcohol and Drug Use in Railroad Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0526.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements contained in pre-
employment and ``for cause'' testing regulations are intended to ensure 
a sense of fairness and accuracy for railroads and their employees. The 
principal information--evidence of unauthorized alcohol or drug use--is 
used to prevent accidents by screening personnel who perform safety-
sensitive service. FRA uses the information to measure the level of 
compliance with regulations governing the use of alcohol or controlled 
substances. Elimination of this problem is necessary to prevent 
accidents, injuries, and fatalities of the nature already experienced 
and further reduce the risk of a truly catastrophic accident.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.73; FRA F 6180.74.
    Affected Public: Businesses.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Total annual      Average time  per     Total annual
           CFR section            Respondent universe       responses             response         burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
219.7--Waivers..................  100,000 employees..  2 letters..........  2 hours............                4
219.9(b)(2)--Responsibility for   450 railroads......  2 requests.........  1 hour.............                2
 compliance.
219.9(c)--Responsibility for      450 railroads......  10 contracts/docs..  2 hours............               20
 compliance.
219.11(d)--General conditions     450 railroads......  30 forms...........  2 minutes..........                1
 for chemical tests.
219.11(g) Training--Alcohol and   5 railroads........  5 programs.........  3 hours............               15
 Drug.
    --Programs: New Railroads...

[[Page 71433]]

 
    --Training..................  50 railroads.......  50 training class..  3 hours............              150
219.23(d)--Notice to Employee     5 railroads........  5 notices..........  1 hour.............                5
 Organizations.
219.104/219.107--Removal from     450 railroads......  500 form letters...  2 minutes..........               17
 Covered Svc..
    --Hearing Procedures........  450 railroads......  50 requests........  2 minutes..........                2
219.201(c) Good Faith             450 railroads......  2 reports..........  30 minutes.........                1
 Determination.
219.203/207/209--Notifications    450 railroads......  104 phone calls....  10 minutes.........               17
 by Phone to FRA.
219.205--Sample Collection and    450 railroads......  400 forms..........  15 minutes.........              100
 Handling.
    --Form covering accidents/    450 railroads......  100 forms..........  10 minutes.........               17
     incidents.
219.209(a)--Reports of Tests and  450 railroads......  80 phone rpts......  2 minutes..........                3
 Refusals.
219.209(c)--Records--Tests Not    450 railroads......  40 records.........  30 minutes.........               20
 Promptly Conducted.
219.211(b) & (c)--Analysis and    450 railroads......  8 reports..........  15 minutes.........                2
 follow-up--MRO.
219.401/403/405--Voluntary        5 railroads........  5 report policies..  20 hours...........              100
 referral and Co-worker report
 policies.
219.405(c)(1)--Report by Co-      450 railroads......  450 reports........  5 minutes..........               38
 worker.
219.403/405--SAP Counselor        450 railroads......  700 reports........  30 minutes.........              350
 Evaluation.
219.601(a)--RR Random Drug        5 railroads........  5 programs.........  1 hour.............                5
 Testing Programs.
    --Amendments................  450 railroads......  20 amendments......  1 hour.............               20
219.601(b)(1)--Random Selection   450 railroads......  5,400 documents....  4 hours............           21,600
 Proc.--Drug.
219.601(b)(4); 219.601(d)--       5 railroads........  100 notices........  30 seconds.........                1
 Notices to Employees.
    --New Railroads.............  5 railroads........  5 notices..........  10 hours...........               50
    --Employee Notices--Tests...  450 railroads......  25,000 notices.....  1 minute...........              417
219.603(a)--Specimen Security--   20,000 employees...  20 doc. excuses....  15 minutes.........                5
 Notice By Employee Asking to be
 Excused from Urine Testing.
219.607(a)--RR Random Alcohol     5 new railroads....  5 programs.........  8 hours............               40
 Testing Programs.
    --Amendments to Approved      450 railroads......  20 amendments......  1 hour.............               20
     Program.
219.901/903--Retention of Breath  450 railroads......  100,500 records....  5 minutes..........            8,375
 Alcohol Testing Records;
 Retention of Urine Drug Testing.
    --Summary Report of Breath    450 railroads......  200 reports........  2 hours............              400
     Alcohol/Drug Test.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Respondent Universe: 450 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 133,818.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 31,797 hours.
    Status: Extension without Change of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
    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 November 14, 2011.
Kimberly Coronel,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-29738 Filed 11-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P