[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 76710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30025]



[[Page 76710]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2013-0002-N-26]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) 
abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the 
following collection of information was published on September 16, 2013 
(78 FR 56995).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 17, 2014.

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 25, 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), 
Pub. L. 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 issue 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 September 16, 2013, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. See 78 FR 56995. FRA received one comment in response to 
this notice pertaining to this particular collection of information.
    The comment came from the Dennis J. Fixler, Chief Statistician, of 
the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Mr. Fixler stated the following:

    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) strongly supports the 
continued collection of data by the Federal Railroad Administration 
on the Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping forms. The data 
collected on these forms are crucial to key components of BEA's 
economic statistics.
    BEA uses data collected on these forms to prepare estimates of 
the employee compensation component of national income and state 
personal income. Specifically, data on the number of employee 
injuries and deaths from forms FRA F 6180.55 and FRA F 618.55a, 
Railroad Injury and Illness Summary, are used to prepare estimates 
of workers' compensation for the railroad industry. These same data 
are used to prepare estimates of workers' compensation for the 
railroad industry by state . . .

    FRA received no other comments. Accordingly, these information 
collection activities have been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and are being forwarded to OMB for review and approval 
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
    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 request (ICR) and the expected burden. The revised request 
is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a current collection 
approved.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.39i; 54; 55; 55A; 56; 57; 78; 81; 97; 98; 
99;107; 150.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to the railroad 
accident reporting regulations set forth in 49 CFR Part 225 which 
require railroads to submit monthly reports summarizing collisions, 
derailments, and certain other accidents/incidents involving damages 
above a periodically revised dollar threshold, as well as certain 
injuries to passengers, employees, and other persons on railroad 
property. Because the reporting requirements and the information needed 
regarding each category of accident/incident are unique, a different 
form is used for each category.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 39,095 hours.
    Title: Special Notice for Repairs.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections 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 email to OMB 
at the following address: [email protected].
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collections of information are 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 estimates of 
the burden of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collections 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 December 12, 2013.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-30025 Filed 12-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P