[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11732-11733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03694]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

[Docket Number: RITA-2008-0002]


Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice of Request for 
Public Comment and Submission to OMB for Information Collection: 
Confidential Close Call Reporting for Transit Rail System

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and 
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, BTS announces its plan to 
submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. On November 5, 
2012, BTS published a Federal Register notice (77 FR 66502), allowing 
for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. The comment period closed on 
January 4, 2013. The agency received one comment, from the National 
Safety Council (NSC), Docket Comment RITA-2008-0002-0037, in response 
to the notice which supported the need for the information collection. 
The NSC comment stated they agreed with BTS that '' there is a need for 
proper data collection and analysis on close calls and other unsafe 
occurrences in the WMATA rail system.'' The purpose of this Notice is 
to allow 30 days for public comment to OMB on this collection from all 
interested individuals and organizations.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by March 21, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Demetra V. Collia, Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics, Research and Innovative Technology 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Advanced 
Studies, RTS-31, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
Phone No. (202) 366-1610; Fax No. (202) 366-3383; email: 
[email protected].
    Data Confidentiality Provisions: The confidentiality of Close Call 
data is protected under the BTS confidentiality statute (49 U.S.C. 
6307) and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical 
Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-347, Title V). In 
accordance with these confidentiality statutes, only statistical and 
non-identifying data will be made publicly available through any 
reports. BTS will not release to WMATA/ATU or any other public or 
private entity any information that might reveal the identity of 
individuals or organizations mentioned in close call reports without 
explicit consent of the respondent.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. The Data Collection

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35; as 
amended) and 5 CFR part 1320 require each Federal agency to obtain OMB 
approval to initiate an information collection activity. BTS is seeking 
OMB approval for the following BTS information collection activity:
    Title: Confidential Close Call Reporting for Transit Rail System
    OMB Control Number: TBD.
    Type of Review: Approval of data collection.
    Respondents: WMATA rail employees.
    Number of Respondents: 400 (per annum).
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Frequency: Intermittent for 5 years. (Reports are submitted when 
there is a qualifying event, i.e., when a close call occurs within 
WMATA's rail system).
    Total Annual Burden: 400 hours.

ADDRESSES: The agency seeks public comments on its proposed information 
collection. Comments should address whether the information will have 
practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed information collection; ways

[[Page 11733]]

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. Send comments to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725-17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: BTS 
Desk Officer.

    Issued on: February 11, 2013.
Patricia Hu,
Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Research and Innovative 
Technology Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-03694 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
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