Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment

Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 (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

April 30, 1999 (64 FR 23385).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 6, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning

and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120

Vermont Ave., N.W., Mail Stop 17, Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone:

(202) 493-6292) or Dian Deal, Office of Information Technology and

Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120

Vermont Ave., N.W., Mail Stop 35, Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone:

(202) 493-6133). (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 C.F.R.

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 C.F.R. 1320.5,

1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On April 30, 1999, FRA published a 60-day notice

in the Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was

seeking OMB approval. 64 FR 23385. FRA received no comments after

issuing this notice. Accordingly, DOT announces that these information

collection activities have been reevaluated and certified under 5 CFR

1320.5(a) and 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 summaries below describe the nature of the information

collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised

requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by

the PRA.

Title: Supplemental Qualifications Statement for Railroad Safety

Inspector Applicants.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0517.

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Form(s): FRA-F-120.

Abstract: The Supplemental Qualifications Statement for Railroad

Safety Inspector Applicants is an information collection instrument

used by FRA to gather additional background data so that FRA can

evaluate the qualifications of applicants for the position of Railroad

Safety Inspector. The questions cover a wide range of general and

specialized skills, abilities, and knowledge of the five types of

railroad safety inspector positions.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 6,000 hours.

Addressee: Send comments regarding this information collection to

the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management

and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20503,

Attention: FRA Desk Officer.

Comments are invited on the following: 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.

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.

Marie S. Savoy,

Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal

Railroad Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-17231 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]

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