Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping 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. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information

Collection Request (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 May 29, 1997 (62 FR 29183-29184).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 17, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert C. Winans, Office of

Engineering, (202) 366-4656, Federal Highway Administration, Department

of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

Office hours are from 7:45 a.m.--4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through

Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Title: Developing and Recording Costs for Railroad Adjustments.

OMB Number: 2125-0521.

Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Affected Public: Railroad companies.

Abstract: Under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 130 and 23 U.S.C.

101(a), Federal-aid highway funds may be used to reimburse State

highway agencies when they have paid for the cost of projects that

eliminate hazards at railroad/highway crossings or that adjust railroad

facilities to accommodate the construction of highway projects. Section

121 of Title 23 establishes the general principle that when Federal-aid

highway funds are being used to reimburse State highway agencies for

construction costs, Federal payment shall be based on costs incurred.

FHWA regulation 23 CFR part 140, subpart I requires that each railroad

company be able to document its costs or expenses for adjusting its

facilities. Each railroad company is required to have a system of

recording labor, materials, supplies and equipment costs incurred when

undertaking necessary railroad work. This record of costs forms the

basis for payment by the State highway agency to the railroad company

and, in turn, FHWA reimburses the State for its payment to the

railroad.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 36,800.

Number of Respondents: 115.

[[Page 48918]]

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT 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 September 10, 1997.

Vanester M. Williams,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 97-24649 Filed 9-16-97; 8:45 am]

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