[Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8662-8664] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-165] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (ICRs) 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 April 25, 2005. 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. Debra Steward, Office of Information Technology and Productivity Improvement, 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 2130-0533.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6230 or (202) 493-6170, or e-mail to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@fra.dot.gov, or to Ms. Steward at debra.steward@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 Debra Steward, Office of Information Technology and Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, 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 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. [[Page 8663]] 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 the currently approved ICRs that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA: Title: Qualifications For Locomotive Engineers. OMB Control Number: 2130-0533. Abstract: Section 4 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 1988 (RSIA), Public Law 100-342, 102 Stat. 624 (June 22, 1988), later amended and re-codified by Public Law 103-272, 108 Stat. 874 (July 5, 1994), required that FRA issue regulations to establish any necessary program for certifying or licensing locomotive engineers. The collection of information is used by FRA to ensure that railroads employ and properly train qualified individuals as locomotive engineers and designated supervisors of locomotive engineers. The collection of information is also used by FRA to verify that railroads have established required certification programs for locomotive engineers and that these programs fully conform to the standards specified in the regulation. Affected Public: Businesses. Respondent Universe: 685 railroads. Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually; tri-annually. Reporting Burden: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual Total annual CFR section universe responses per response burden hours burden cost ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 240.9--Waivers............... 685 railroads.. 5 waivers...... 1 hour......... 5 $170 240.101/103--Cert. Prog.-- 675 railroads.. 675 amendments. 15 minutes..... 169 5,746 Amendmnts. --Cert. Prog.--New....... 10 railroads... 10 programs.... 200 hours/40 1,840 62,560 hours. --Final Review........... 10 railroads... 10 reviews..... 1 hour......... 10 340 --Nonconforming Program-- 685 railroads.. 1 amended 15 minutes..... .25 9 Amend. program. --Material Modific....... 685 railroads.. 6 modified 45 minutes..... 5 170 program. 240.105(a)--Selection 10 railroads... 10 reports..... 1 hour......... 10 490 Criteria for DSLE's--Rpts. (b) Approval Plan-- 685 railroads.. 75 amendments.. 1 hour......... 75 2,550 Amendments. 240.109--Candidate's written 13,333......... 133 responses.. 30 minutes..... 67 3,149 comments on prior safety data. 240.111/App C--Driver's 13,333 13,333 requests 15 minutes..... 3,333 156,651 License Data. candidates. --NDR Match-- 685 railroads.. 267 response + 30 minutes..... 134 5,427 notifications and 267 requests. requests for data. --Written response from 685 railroads.. 40 cases/ 15 minutes..... 10 470 candidate on driver's comments. lic. data. 240.111(g)--Notice to RR of 40,000 4 letters...... 15 minutes..... 1 47 Absence of License. candidates. 240.111(h)--Duty to furnish 685 railroads.. 400 phone calls 10 minutes..... 67 3,149 data on prior safety conduct as motor vehicle op.. 240.113--Notice to RR 13,333 267 requests + 15 min./30 min. 200 7,671 Furnishing Data on Prior candidates. 267 responses. Safety Conduct--Diff. RR. 240.119--Self-referral to EAP 40,000 100 self- 5 minutes...... 22 376 re: active substance abuse locomotive referrals. disorder. engineers. 240.121--Criteria--Vision/ 10 railroads... 10 copies...... 15 minutes..... 3 102 Hearing Acuity Data--New Railroads. 240.121--Criteria--Vision/ 685 railroads.. 17 reports..... 1 hour......... 17 578 Hearing Acuity Data--Cond. Certification. 240.121--Criteria--Vision/ 685 railroads.. 10 15 minutes..... 3 141 Hearing Acuity Data--Not notifications. Meeting Standards. 240.201/221--List of 685 railroads.. 685 updates.... 15 minutes..... 171 5,814 Certified Loco. Engineers. 240.201/221--List of 685 railroads.. 685 updated 15 minutes..... 171 5,814 Qualified DSLEs. lists. 240.201/223/301--Loco. 40,000 13,333 5 minutes...... 1,111 37,774 Engineers Certificate. candidates. certificates. --False entry on 685 railroad; 2 5 minutes...... 17 8 certificates. 40,000 falsifications. engineers. 240.201/223--List of Des. 685 railroads.. 20 lists....... 15 minutes..... 5 170 Persons Authorized to Sign DSLE Certificate. 240,205--Data to EAP 685 railroads.. 267 records.... 5 minutes...... 22 1,034 Counselor. 240.207--Medical Certificate. 40,000 13,333 70 minutes..... 15,555 1,555,500 candidates. certificates. --Written determinations 685 railroads.. 10 2 hours........ 20 2,000 waiving use of determinations. corrective device. 240.219--Denial of 13,333 75 letters + 75 1 hour......... 150 6,075 Certification. candidates. responses. --Notification........... 685 railroads.. 75 1 hour......... 75 2,550 notifications. 240.227--Canadian Canadian 200 15 minutes..... 50 1,700 Certification Data. railroads. certifications. 240.229--Requirements For 321 railroads.. 184 calls...... 5 minutes...... 15 705 Joint Operations. 240.309--RR Oversight Resp.: 15 railroads... 10 annotations. 15 minutes..... 3 147 Poor Safety Conduct--Noted. Testing Rqmnts. 240.209/213--Written Tests... 40,000 13,333 tests... 2 hours........ 26,666 906,644 candidates. [[Page 8664]] 240.211/213--Perf. Test...... 40,000 13,333......... 2 hours........ 26,666 906,644 candidates. 240.303--Annual operational 40,000 40,000 tests/ 2 hours........ 80,000 3,920,000 monitor observation. candidates. docs. 240.303--Annual operating 40,000 40,000 tests... 1 hour......... 40,000 1,960,000 rules compliance test. candidates. Recordkeeping 240.215--Retaining Info. 685 railroads.. 13,333 records. 10 minutes..... 2,222 75,548 Supporting Determination. 240.305--Engineer's Notice of 40,000 10 5 minutes...... 1 47 Non-Qualific. engineers notifications. candidates. --Relaying Non-qual. 800 engineers.. 2 letters...... 30 minutes..... 1 47 Status to other certifying railroad. 240.307--Notice to Engineer 685 railroads.. 500 letters.... 1 hour......... 500 17,000 of Disqualification. 240.309--Railroad Annual 42 railroads... 42 reviews..... 80 hours....... 3,360 188,160 Review. --Report of findings..... 42 railroads... 6 reports...... 1 hour......... 6 336 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Responses: 165,420. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 202,741 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 February 15, 2005. Kathy A. Weiner, Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal Railroad Administration. [FR Doc. 05-3375 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P