Reports, Forms and Record keeping Requirements, Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of The Secretary

Reports, Forms and Record keeping Requirements, Agency

Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Information

Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs

describe the nature of the information collection and their expected

burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period

soliciting comments on these collections were published on April 11,

1997 (62 FR page 18828-18829).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before September

11, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Delmer Billings, Information

Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

(DHM-10), Research and Special Programs Administration, Room 8102,400

Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590, Telephone: (202) 366-4482.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)

Title: Requirements for Rail Tank Cars--Transportation of Hazardous

Materials by Rail. (Former title: Rail Carrier and Tank Car Tank

Requirements.)

OMB Control Number: 2137-0559.

Affected Public: Manufacturers, owners and rail carriers of tank

cars.

Abstract: This information collection consolidates provisions for

detection and repair of cracks, pits, corrosion, lining flaws, thermal

protection flaws and other defects of tank car tanks under various

provisions in parts 173, 179 and 180 of the HMR. The HMR require

facilities that build, repair and ensure the structural integrity of

tank cars to develop and implement a quality assurance program; allow

the use of non-destructive testing techniques, in lieu of currently

prescribed periodic hydrostatic pressure tests, for fusion welded tank

cars; require thickness measurements of tank cars, with limited reduced

shell thicknesses, for certain hazardous materials; increase the

frequency for inspection and testing of tank cars; and other provisions

to ensure crash worthiness protection for tank cars.

Estimated Annual Burden: 2,659 hours.

Title: Rulemaking, Exemption and Preemption Requirements. (Former

title: Rulemaking and Exemption Requirements.)

OMB Control Number: 2137-0051.

Affected Public: Shippers, carriers, packaging manufacturers, and

other affected entities.

Abstract: Rulemaking procedures enable RSPA to determine if a rule

change is necessary; be consistent with public interest; and maintain a

level of safety equal to or superior to that of current regulations.

Exemption procedures provide the information required for analytical

purposes for approval or denial of requests for exemptions.

Estimated Annual Burden: 4,279 hours.

Title: Cargo Tank Specification Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 2137-0014.

Affected Public: Manufacturers and owners of cargo tanks.

Abstract: This information collection consolidates provisions for

manufacture, qualification, maintenance and use of all specification

cargo tank motor vehicles. It clarifies certain commodity sections in

part 173, reorganizes the cargo tank specifications in part 178 and

provides for vacuum-loaded cargo tanks. It includes part 180

requirements governing the maintenance, use, inspection, repair, retest

and requalification of cargo tanks used to transport hazardous

materials and certain registration requirements in part 107 for persons

who are engaged in manufacture, repair or certification of any DOT

specification cargo tank or cargo tank manufactured under exemption to

transport hazardous materials.

Estimated Annual Burden: 106,262 hours.

Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC

20503, Attention RSPA Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: 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.

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 5, 1997.

Vanester M. Williams,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 97-21252 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-62-P