[Federal Register: August 23, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 163)]
[Notices]
[Page 48315-48317]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23au07-91]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 approval of the following
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 October 22, 2007.
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 Ms. Gina Christodoulou,
[[Page 48316]]
Office of Support Systems Staff, RAD-43, 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-New.'' Alternatively,
comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6230 or (202)
493-6170, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@dot.gov, or to
Ms. Christodoulou at gina.christodoulou@dot.gov. Please refer to the
assigned OMB control number or collection title 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 Ms. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff,
RAD-43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail
Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6139). (These
telephone numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
Public Law 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 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 proposed new information collection
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under
the PRA:
Title: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Train and Engine
Service Employees
OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
Abstract: In a continuing effort to improve rail safety and to
reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to rail workers, the issue
of fatigue has received considerable attention from both FRA and the
railroad industry. One of FRA's fatigue-related activities has been a
series of studies designed to document and characterize the work/rest
schedules and sleep patterns in signalmen, maintenance-of-way workers,
and dispatchers. These studies used the methodology approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), including random selection of
participants to ensure a representative sample of each group. FRA has
not yet collected data from two critically important labor crafts whose
work schedules are regulated by FRA, locomotive engineers and
conductors.
FRA is proposing a study that will focus on train and engine
service employees, which consists of locomotive engineers, conductors,
remote control operators, and switchmen. FRA seeks to develop an
understanding of the work schedule-related fatigue issues that affect
these operating crafts. The project will be very similar in both method
and scope to the recently completed studies of railroad signalmen,
maintenance of way employees, and dispatchers. The FRA proposes to
undertake this study to develop an understanding of the work schedule-
related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees.
The proposed study has two primary purposes:
To document and characterize the work/rest schedules and
sleep patterns of train and engine service employees.
To examine the relationship between these schedules and
level of alertness/fatigue for the individuals who work these
schedules.
The intent is to report results in aggregate, not by railroad.
Subjective ratings from participants of their alertness/sleepiness
on both work and non-work days will be an integral part of this study.
The data will be collected through the use of a daily diary or log, as
well as a brief background questionnaire for each participant. Analysis
of the diary data will allow the FRA to assess the extent of any work-
related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees. The
proposed study will provide a defensible and definitive estimate of the
work/rest cycle parameters and fatigue in train and engine service
employees that will inform future FRA regulatory policy and action.
Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.127; FRA F 6180.128.
Affected Public: Railroad Workers.
Respondent Universe: 340 Train and Engine Service Employees.
Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
Reporting Burden:
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Average time
Form No. Respondent universe Total annual responses per response Total annual Total annual
(in minutes) burden hours burden cost
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Form FRA F 6180.127--Surveys........ 340 Train & Engine 340 surveys.............................. 15 85 $3,570
Service Employees.
Form FRA F 6180.128--Daily Log...... 340 Train & Engine 4,760 Log Entries........................ 10 793 33,306
Service Employees.
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[[Page 48317]]
Estimated Annual Burden: 878 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 August 17, 2007.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-16638 Filed 8-22-07; 8:45 am]
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