31058 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 94 / Monday, May 15, 2000 / Notices

June 24, 1997. A Task Force on

engineering issues was established by

the Working Group on Locomotive

Crashworthiness to review collision

history and design options and

additional research was commissioned.

The Working Group reviewed results of

the research and is drafting standards

for freight and passenger locomotives to

present to the RSAC for consideration.

Contact: Sean Mehrvazi (202) 493–6237.

Task 97–2—Evaluating the extent to

which environmental, sanitary, and

other working conditions in locomotive

cabs affect the crew’s health and the safe

operation of locomotives, proposing

standards where appropriate. This Task

was accepted June 24, 1997. A draft

sanitation NPRM is under review by the

Working Group on Cab Working

Conditions. Task forces on noise and

temperature were formed to identify and

address issues. The Noise Task Force is

preparing draft recommendations for

noise exposure requirements. Contact:

Brenda Hattery (202) 493–6326.

Task 97–3—Developing event

recorder data survivability standards.

This Task was accepted on June 24,

1997. An Event Recorder Working

Group and Task Force have been

established and are actively meeting. A

draft proposed rule is being reviewed.

Contact: Edward English (202) 493–

6321.

Task 97–4 and Task 97–5—Defining

Positive Train Control (PTC)

functionalities, describing available

technologies, evaluating costs and

benefits of potential systems, and

considering implementation

opportunities and challenges, including

demonstration and deployment.

Task 97–6—Revising various

regulations to address the safety

implications of processor-based signal

and train control technologies,

including communications-based

operating systems. These three tasks

were accepted on September 30, 1997,

and assigned to a single Working Group.

A Data and Implementation Task Force,

formed to address issues such as

assessment of costs and benefits and

technical readiness, completed a report

on the future of PTC systems. The report

was accepted as RSAC’s Report to the

Administrator at the September 8, 1999,

meeting. The Standards Task Force,

formed to develop PTC standards, is

developing draft recommendations for

performance-based standards for

processor-based signal and train control

standards for presentation to the RSAC.

Contact: Grady Cothen (202) 493–6302.

Task 97–7—Determining damages

qualifying an event as a reportable train

accident. This Task was accepted on

September 30, 1997. A working group

was formed to address this task and

conducted their initial meeting February

8, 1999. Contact: Robert Finkelstein

(202) 493–6280.

Task 00–1—Determining the need to

amend regulations protecting persons

who work on, under, or between rolling

equipment and persons applying,

removing or inspecting rear end

marking devices. A working group is

being formed. Contact: Tom Keane (202)

493–6234.

Please refer to the notice published in

the Federal Register on March 11, 1996

(61 FR 9740) for more information about

the RSAC.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on May 9,

2000.

George Gavalla,

Associate Administrator for Safety.

[FR Doc. 00–12111 Filed 5–12–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

[FTA Docket No. FTA 00–7347]

Agency Information Collection Activity

Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration,

DOT.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance 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

extension of a currently approved

collection. 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 February 11, 2000 [FR 65 pages 7096

and 7097].

DATES: Comments must be submitted

before June 14, 2000. A comment to

OMB is most effective if OMB receives

it within 30 days of publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sylvia L. Barney, Office of

Administration, Office of Management

Planning (202) 366–6680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 49 U.S.C. 5312(a) Research,

Development, Demonstration and

Training Projects.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

OMB Control Number: 2132–0546.

Abstract: 49 U.S.C. Section 5312(a)

authorizes the Secretary of

Transportation to make grants or

contracts for research, development, and

demonstration projects that will reduce

urban transportation needs, improve

mass transportation service, or help

transportation service meet the total

urban transportation needs at a

minimum cost. In carrying out the

provisions of this section, the Secretary

is also authorized to request and receive

appropriate information from any

source.

The information collected is

submitted as part of the application for

grants and cooperative agreements and

is used to determine eligibility of

applicants. Collection of this

information also provides

documentation that the applicants and

recipients are meeting program

objectives and are complying with FTA

Circular 6100.1B and other Federal

requirements.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours:

13,940 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, 725—17th Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FTA

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: May 10, 2000.

Dorrie Y. Aldrich,

Associate Administrator for Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–12161 Filed 5–12–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–57–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33872]

Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway LLC—

Trackage Rights Exemption—The

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Company

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Company has agreed to grant

overhead trackage rights to Alabama &

Gulf Coast Railway LLC (AGR) of

Monroeville, AL, between the end of

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 94 / Monday, May 15, 2000 / Notices 31059

AGR’s line at milepost 776.10 near

Kimbrough, AL, and a point of

connection with the Norfolk Southern

Railway Company (NS) at milepost

774.10 near Kimbrough, AL, a distance

of approximately 2 miles in Wilcox

County, AL.

The transaction was scheduled to be

consummated on or shortly after May 4,

2000.

The purpose of the trackage rights is

to permit AGR to directly interchange

traffic with NS for the handling of traffic

to and from MacMillan, AL.

As a condition to this exemption, any

employees affected by the trackage

rights will be protected by the

conditions imposed in Norfolk and

Western Ry. Co.—Trackage Rights—BN,

354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in

Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.-Lease and

Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980).

This notice is filed under 49 CFR

1180.2(d)(7). If it contains false or

misleading information, the exemption

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the

exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)

may be filed at any time. The filing of

a petition to revoke will not

automatically stay the transaction.

An original and 10 copies of all

pleadings, referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33872, must be filed with

the Surface Transportation Board, Office

of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925

K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423–

0001. In addition, one copy of each

pleading must be served on Fritz R.

Kahn, 1920 N Street, NW., 8th Floor,

Washington, DC 20036–1601.

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at

‘‘WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.’’

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Decided: May 5, 2000.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–11841 Filed 5–12–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Treasury Advisory Committee on

Commercial Operations of the U.S.

Customs Service

AGENCY: Departmental Offices, Treasury.

ACTION: Renewal of Treasury Advisory

Committee on Commercial Operations

of the U.S. Customs Service and

solicitation of applications for

committee membership.

SUMMARY: It is in the public interest to

renew the Advisory Committee for

another two-year term. This notice also

establishes criteria and procedures for

the selection of members.

Title: The Treasury Advisory

Committee on Commercial Operations

of the U.S. Customs Service.

Purpose: The purpose of the

Committee is to present advice and

recommendations to the Secretary of the

Treasury regarding commercial

operations of the U.S. Customs Service

and to submit a report to Congress

containing a summary of its operations

and its views and recommendations.

Statement of Public Interest: It is in

the public interest to continue the

existence of the Committee upon

expiration, under the provisions of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act, of its

current two-year term. The Committee

provides a critical forum for

distinguished representatives of diverse

industry sectors to present their views

on major issues involving commercial

operations of the Customs Service.

These views are offered directly to

senior Treasury and Customs officials

on a regular basis in a candid

atmosphere. There exists no other single

body that serves a comparable function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation

Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100–203), Congress

repealed the statutory mandate for a

Customs User Fee Advisory Committee

and directed the Secretary of the

Treasury to create a new Advisory

Committee on Commercial Operations

of the U.S. Customs Service. The

original Committee consisted of 20

members drawn from industry sectors

affected by Customs commercial

operations. The Committee’s charter

was filed on October 17, 1988 and

expired two years later. Charters were

subsequently filed for second, third,

fourth, fifth, and sixth two-year terms.

The current charter will expire on

October 15, 2000. The Treasury

Department plans to file a new charter

by that date renewing the Committee for

a seventh two-year term.

Objective, Scope and Description of the

Committee

The Committee’s objectives are to

advise the Secretary of the Treasury on

issues relating to the commercial

operations of the Customs Service. It is

expected that, during its seventh twoyear term, the Committee will consider

such issues as the Customs Entry

Revision Project (ERP), the Merchandise

Processing Fee, the budget for

commercial operations, carrier issues,

the administration of staff and resources

for commercial operations, informed

compliance and compliance assessment,

automated systems, commercial

enforcement, international efforts to

harmonize customs practices and

procedures, strategic planning, and

northern border and southern border

issues and the relationships with

Canadian Customs and Mexican

Customs.

The Committee will be chaired by the

Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for

Enforcement. The Committee will

function for a two-year period before

renewal or termination and will meet

approximately eight times (quarterly)

during the period. Additional special

meetings of the full Committee or a

subcommittee thereof may be convened

if necessary.

The meetings will generally be held in

the Treasury Department, Washington,

D.C. However, typically one or two

meetings per year may be held outside

of Washington at a Customs port. In

recent years, meetings have been held in

Memphis, Portland, Boston, New

Orleans, Nogales, Los Angeles and

Seattle, among other locations.

The meetings are open to public

observers, including the press, unless

special procedures have been followed

to close a meeting. During the first six

terms of the Committee, only a portion

of one meeting was closed.

The members shall be selected by the

Secretary of the Treasury from

representatives of the trade or

transportation community serviced by

Customs, the general public, or others

who are directly affected by Customs

commercial operations. In addition,

members shall represent major regions

of the country, and not more than ten

members may be affiliated with the

same political party. No person who is

required to register under the Foreign

Agents Registration Act as an agent or

representative of a foreign principal may

serve on an advisory committee.

Members shall not be paid

compensation nor shall they be

considered Federal Government

employees for any purpose. No per

diem, transportation, or other expenses

are reimbursed for the cost of attending

Committee meetings at any location.

Members who are serving on the

Committee during its expiring two-year

term are eligible to reapply for

membership. A new application letter

and updated resume are required. It is

expected that approximately half of the

current membership of the Committee

will be replaced with new appointees.

Membership on the Committee is

personal to the appointee. Under the

Charter, a member may not send an

alternate to represent him or her at a

Committee meeting. However, since

Committee meetings are open to the