Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

DATES:

Comments must be received no later than February 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on any or all of the following proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590, or Mr. Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA

to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, “Comments on OMB control number 2130-0500''. Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6265 or (202) 493-6170, or E-mail to Mr. Brogan at

robert.brogan@fra.dot.gov

, or to Mr. Angelo at

victor.angelo@fra.dot.gov.

Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB for approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-20, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6470). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13, section 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 provide 60-days notice to the public for comment on information collection activities before seeking approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment on the following summary of proposed information collection activities regarding (i) whether the information collection activities are necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether the activities will have practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of FRA's estimates of the burden of the information collection activities, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine the estimates; (iii) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on the public by automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (

e.g.

, permitting electronic submission of responses).

See

44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(i)-(iv); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1)(i)-(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of information mandated by Federal regulations. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure that it organizes information collection requirements in a “user friendly” format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information requested.

See

44 U.S.C. 3501.

Below is a brief summary of currently approved information collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:

Title:

Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.

OMB Control Number:

2130-0500.

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.

Form Number(s):

FRA F 6180.54; 55; 55A; 56; 57; 78; 81; 97; 98; 99; 107.

Affected Public:

Businesses.

Respondent Universe:

685 railroads.

Frequency of Submission:

On occasion.

Reporting Burden:

CFR section

Respondent

universe

Total annual

responses

Average time

per response

Total annual

burden hours

Total annual

burden cost

(dollars)

225.9—Telephone Reports of Certain Accidents/Incidents and Other Events

685 railroads

500 phone reports

15 minutes

125 hours

$4,750

225.11—Reporting of Rail Equipment Accidents/Incidents—Form FRA F 6180.54

685 railroads

3,000 forms

2 hours

6,000 hours

228,000

225.12—Rail Equipment Accident/Incident Reports Alleging Human Factor as Cause—Form FRA F 6180.81

685 railroads

1,000 forms

15 minutes

250 hours

9,500

Part I Form FRA F 6180.78 (Notices)

685 railroads

1,000 notices + 4,100 copies

10 minutes + 3 minutes

372 hours

14,136

Joint Operations

685 railroads

100 requests

20 minutes

33 hours

1,254

Late Identification

685 railroads

20 attachments + 20 notices

15 minutes

10 hours

380

Employee Statement Supplementing Railroad Accident Report (Part II Form FRA 6180.78)

Railroad employees

75 statements

1.5 hours

113 hours

4,972

Employee Confidential Letter

Railroad employees

10 letters

2 hours

20 hours

880

225.13—Late Reports

685 railroads

50 amended rpts. + 40 copies

1 hour + 3 minutes

52 hours

1,976

225.17—Doubtful Cases; Alcohol or Drug Involvement: Narrative Reports to FRA

685 railroads

80 reports

30 minutes

40 hours

1,520

Appended reports required by § 219.209(b)

685 railroads

5 reports

30 minutes

3 hours

114

225.19—Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Accident/Incident Report—Form FRA F 6180.57

685 railroads

3,000 forms

2 hours

6,000 hours

228,000

Death, Injury, or Occupational Illness (Form FRA F 6180.55a)

685 railroads

12,000 forms

20 minutes

4,000 hours

152,000

225.21—Railroad Injury and Illness Summary—Form FRA F 6180.55

685 railroads

8,220 forms

10 minutes

1,370 hours

52,060

225.21—Annual Railroad Report of Employee Hours and Casualties, By State—Form FRA F 6180.56

685 railroads

685 forms

15 minutes

171 hours

6,498

225.21/25—Railroad Employee Injury and/or Illness Record—Form FRA F 6180.98

685 railroads

18,000 forms

60 minutes

18,000 hours

792,000

Copies of Forms to Employees

685 railroads

540 form copies

2 minutes

18 hours

792

225.21—Initial Rail Equipment Accident/Incident Record—Form FRA F 6180.97

685 railroads

13,000 forms

30 minutes

6,500 hours

286,000

225.21—Alternative Record for Illnesses Claimed to Be Work Related—Form FRA F 6180.107

685 railroads

300 forms

15 minutes

75 hours

2,850

225.25 (h)—Posting of Monthly Summary

685 railroads

8,220 lists

16 minutes

2,192 hours

83,296

225.27—Retention of Records

685 railroads

1,900 records

2 minutes

63 hours

2,394

225.33—Internal Control Plans—Amendments

685 railroads

25 amendments

14 hours

350 hours

13,300

225.35—Access to Records and Reports

15 railroads

400 lists

20 minutes

133 hours

5,054

Subsequent Years

4 railroads

16 lists

20 minutes

5 hours

190

225.37—Magnetic Media Transfer and Electronic Submission

8 railroads

96 transfers

10 minutes

16 hours

608

Electronic Submission: Batch Control Forms (6180.99) and Form FRA F 6180.55

685 railroads

200 forms

3 minutes

10 hours

380

Total Responses:

76,602.

Estimated Total Annual Burden:

45,921 hours.

Status:

Regular Review.

Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA informs all interested parties that it may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Authority:

44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Issued in Washington, DC on December 7, 2005.

D.J. Stadtler,

Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.

[FR Doc. E5-7288 Filed 12-13-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P