35416 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 107 / Friday, June 2, 2000 / Notices

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 25,

2000.

Janice L. Peters,

Designated Official.

[FR Doc. 00–13835 Filed 6–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

RTCA Special Committee 186;

Automatic Dependent Surveillance—

Broadcast (ADS–B)

Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the

Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub.

L. 92–463, 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), notice

is hereby given for Special Committee

(SC)–186 meeting to be held June 19–23,

2000, starting at 9:00 a.m. The meeting

will be held at RTCA, 1140 Connecticut

Avenue, NW., Suite 1020, Washington,

DC 20036.

The agenda will include: (1) Welcome

and Introductory Remarks; (2) Review of

Meeting Agenda; (3) Review and

Approval of the Previous Meeting

Minutes; (4) Review SC–186 Activity

Reports for the following Working

Groups (WG): (a) WG–1, Operations &

Implementation; (b) WG–2, Traffic

Information Services—Broadcast (TIS–

B) which is a new activity to develop

Minimum Aviation System Performance

Standards for TIS–B, (c) WG–3, 1090

MHz Minimum Operational

Performance Standards (MOPS); (d)

WG–4, Application Technical

Requirements; (5) Free Flight Select

Committee Surveillance Working Group

Update; (6) Review EUROCARE WG–51

Reports for Subgroups 1 and 2; (7)

Review/Approve MOPS for 1090 Mhz

Automatic Dependant Surveillance—

Broadcast (RTCA Paper No. 145–00/

SC186–152); (8) Review/Approve MOPS

for Cockpit Display of Traffic

Information (RTCA Paper NO. 146–00/

SC186–153); (9) Review Revision to

Terms of Reference for SC–186; (10)

Review Action Items/Work Program;

(12) Date and Location of Next Meeting;

(13) Closing.

Attendance is open to the interested

public but limited to space availability.

With the approval of the chairman,

members of the public may present oral

statements at the meeting. Persons

wishing to present statements or obtain

information should contact the RTCA

Secretariat, 1140 Connecticut Avenue,

NW., Suite 1020, Washington, DC

20036; (202) 833–9339 (phone); (202)

833–9434 (fax). Members of the public

may present a written statement to the

committee at any time.

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 25,

2000.

Janice L. Peters,

Designated Official.

[FR Doc. 00–13836 Filed 6–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Draft Environmental Impact Statement:

Dubois County, Indiana

AGENCY: Federal Highway

Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this

notice to advise the public that an

environmental impact statement (EIS)

will be prepared for a proposed highway

project in Dubois County, Indiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Robert Dirks, Environmental Specialist,

Federal Highway Administration, Room

254, Federal Office Building, 575 North

Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis,

Indiana 46204, Telephone (317) 226–

7492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

FHWA, in cooperation with the Indiana

Department of Transportation (INDOT),

will prepare an EIS for a proposed

project to improve the transportation

system in the U.S. 231 corridor between

Interstate 64 and State Road 56 in

Dubois County, Indiana. The proposed

project will involve the study of

potential bypasses around Huntingburg

and Jasper.

The proposed EIS and accompanying

engineering analysis are the result of

INDOT’s identification of U.S. 231 in

southwest Indiana for improvements as

part of the current and ongoing

transportation program. Given the

current and projected traffic volumes

and the existing geometric deficiencies,

improvements to U.S. 231 are

considered necessary to provide for a

safe, efficient, and economical

transportation network that will meet

traffic demands in the area. The

proposed improvements are also

intended to be environmentally sound.

System improvements will be examined

based on the purposes of addressing

roadway deficiencies, improving safety,

reducing congestion, and enhancing

system linkage.

Alternatives under consideration

include: (1) Taking no action, (2)

transportation system management, (3)

upgrading and improving existing

roadways, and (4) construction of two

additional lanes adjacent to the existing

two-lane roadway with bypasses of

Huntingburg and Jasper on new

alignment. Design variations of grade

and alignment will be incorporated into

and studied for the various build

alternatives.

A scoping process has been initiated

that involves all appropriate federal,

state, and local agencies, and private

organizations and citizens who have

previously expressed or are known to

have interest in this project. Several

public meetings were held during the

location study for the proposed project

to engage the regional community in the

decision making process and to obtain

public comment. A resource agency

scoping meeting will be held in

Indianapolis when appropriate. Letters

describing the proposed action and

soliciting comments will be sent to all

appropriate federal, state, and local

agencies, and private organizations and

citizens who have expressed or are

known to have interest in this project.

A public meeting will be held in Jasper

when appropriate. In addition, public

hearings will be held to present the

findings of the draft EIS (DEIS) and

engineering analysis. Public notice will

be given of the time and place of

informational meetings and public

hearing. The DEIS will be available for

public and agency review and comment

prior to the public hearings.

To ensure the full range of issues

related to this proposed action are

addressed and all significant issues are

identified, comments and suggestions

are invited from all interested parties.

Comments or questions concerning this

proposed action and the EIS should be

directed to FHWA at the address

provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program No. 20.205, Highway Planning and

Construction. The regulations implementing

Executive Order 12373 regarding

intergovernmental consultation on Federal

programs and activities apply to this

program.)

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on: May 22, 2000.

Robert Dirks,

Environmental Specialist, Indianapolis,

Indiana.

[FR Doc. 00–13870 Filed 6–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Proposed Agency Information

Collection Activities; Comment

Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad

Administration, DOT.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 107 / Friday, June 2, 2000 / Notices 35417

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice

announces that the Information

Collection Requirement (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 collections of information was

published on February 9, 2000 (65 FR

6438).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before July 3, 2000.

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 Dian Deal, Office of Information

Technology and Productivity

Improvement, RAD–20, Federal

Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont

Ave., NW, Mail Stop 35, Washington,

DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6133).

(These telephone numbers are not tollfree.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(PRA), Public Law 104–13, § 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 issue

two notices seeking public comment on

information collection activities before

OMB may approve paperwork packages.

44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5,

1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On February 9,

2000, FRA published a 60-day notice in

the Federal Register soliciting comment

on ICRs that the agency was seeking

OMB approval. 65 FR 6438. FRA

received no comments in response to

this notice.

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: Filing of Dedicated Cars.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0502.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Form(s): N/A.

Abstract: Title 49, Part 215 of the

Code of Federal Regulations, prescribes

certain conditions to be followed for the

movement of freight cars that are not in

compliance with this Part. These cars

must be identified in a written report to

FRA before they are assigned to

dedicated service, and the words

‘‘Dedicated Service’’ must be stenciled

on each side of the freight car body.

FRA uses the information to determine

that the equipment is safe to operate and

that the operation qualifies for

dedicated service. See 49 CFR 215.5

(c)(2), 215.5 (d).

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 6

hours.

Title: Remotely Controlled Switch

Operations.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0516.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Form(s): N/A.

Abstract: Title 49, Section 218.30 of

the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),

ensures that remotely controlled

switches are lined to protect workers

who are vulnerable to being struck by

moving cars as they inspect or service

equipment on a particular track or

alternatively, occupy camp cars. FRA

believes that production of notification

requests promotes safety by minimizing

mental lapses of workers who are

simultaneously handling several tasks.

Sections 218.30 and 218.67 require the

operator of remotely controlled switches

to maintain a record of each notification

requesting blue signal protection for

fifteen days. Operators of remotely

controlled switches use the information

as a record documenting blue signal

protection of workers or camp cars. This

record also serves as a valuable resource

for railroad supervisors and FRA

inspectors monitoring regulatory

compliance.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours:

240,267 hours.

Title: Bad Order and Home Shop

Card.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0519.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Form(s): N/A.

Abstract: Under 49 CFR Part 215, each

railroad is required to inspect freight

cars placed in service and take the

necessary remedial action when defects

are identified. Part 215 defects are

specific in nature and relate to items

that have caused or could have caused

accidents or incidents. Section 215.9

sets forth specific procedures that

railroads must follow when it is

necessary to move defective cars for

repair purposes. For example, railroads

must affix a ‘‘bad order’’ tag describing

each defect to each side of the freight

car. It is imperative that a defective car

be tagged ‘‘bad order’’ so that it may be

readily identified and moved to another

location for repair purposes only. At the

repair point, the ‘‘bad order’’ tag serves

as a repair record. Railroads must retain

each tag for 90 days to verify that proper

repairs were made at the designated

location. FRA and State inspectors

review all pertinent records to

determine whether defective cars

presenting an immediate hazard are

being moved in transportation.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours:

10,833 hours.

Title: Stenciling Reporting Mark on

Freight Cars.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0520.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Form(s): N/A.

Abstract: Title 49, Section 215.301 of

the Code of Federal Regulations, sets

forth certain requirements that must be

followed by railroad carriers and private

car owners relative to identification

marks on railroad equipment. FRA,

railroads, and the public refer to the

stenciling to identify freight cars.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours:

26,250 hours.

Title: Disqualification Proceedings.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0529.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Form(s): N/A.

Abstract: Under 49 U.S.C. 20111(c),

FRA is authorized to issue orders

disqualifying railroad employees,

including supervisors, managers, and

other agents, from performing safetysensitive service in the rail industry for

violations of safety rules, regulations,

standards, orders, or laws evidencing

unfitness. FRA’s regulations, 49 CFR

35418 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 107 / Friday, June 2, 2000 / Notices

Part 209, Subpart D, implements the

statutory provision by requiring (i) a

railroad employing or formerly

employing a disqualified individual to

disclose the terms and conditions of a

disqualification order to the individual’s

new or prospective employing railroad;

(ii) a railroad considering employing an

individual in a safety-sensitive position

to ask the individual’s previous

employing railroad whether the

individual is currently serving under a

disqualification order; and (iii) a

disqualified individual to inform his

new or prospective employer of the

disqualification order and provide a

copy of the same. Additionally, the

regulations prohibit a railroad from

employing a person serving under a

disqualification order to work in a

safety-sensitive position. This

information serves to inform a railroad

whether an employee or prospective

employee is currently disqualified from

performing safety-sensitive service

based on the issuance of a

disqualification order by FRA.

Furthermore, it prevents an individual

currently serving under a

disqualification order from retaining

and obtaining employment in a safetysensitive position in the rail industry.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 5

hours.

Title: Grade Crossing Signal System

Safety Regulations.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0534.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Form(s): FRA F 6180.83.

Abstract: FRA believes that highwayrail grade crossing (grade crossing)

accidents resulting from warning system

failures and malfunctions can be

reduced. Motorists lose faith in warning

systems that constantly warn of an

oncoming train when none is present.

Therefore, the fail-safe feature of a

warning loses its effectiveness if the

system is not repaired within a

reasonable period of time. A greater risk

of an accident is present when a

warning system fails to activate as a

train approaches a grade crossing. FRA

regulations require railroads to take

specific responses in the event of an

activation failure. FRA uses the

information to develop better solutions

to the problems of grade crossing device

malfunctions.

With this information, FRA is able to

correlate accident data and equipment

malfunctions with the types of circuits

and age of equipment. FRA can then

identify the causes of grade crossing

system failures and investigate them to

determine whether periodic

maintenance, inspection, and testing

standards are effective. FRA also uses

the information collected to alert

railroad employees and appropriate law

enforcement authorities of warning

system failures and malfunctions so that

they can take the necessary measures to

protect motorists and railroad workers

at the grade crossing until repairs have

been made.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 601

hours.

Addressee: Send comments regarding

these information collections to the

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW,

Washington, DC, 20503; Attention: FRA

Desk Officer.

Comments are invited on the

following: Whether the proposed

collections of information are necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of FRA, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

the accuracy of FRA’s estimates of the

burden of the proposed information

collections; ways to enhance the quality,

utility, and clarity of the information to

be collected; and ways to minimize the

burden of the collections 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.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on May 26,

2000.

Margaret B. Reid,

Acting Director, Office of Information

Technology and Support Systems, Federal

Railroad Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–13837 Filed 6–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–06–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Notice of Safety Advisory 2000–2

AGENCY: Federal Railroad

Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory 2000–

2.

SUMMARY: The FRA is issuing a safety

advisory addressing recommended

replacement of certain components in

Harmon Industries’ ‘‘Electro Code 4’’

and ‘‘Electro Code 4 Plus’’ intermediate

signal units.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Goodman, Signal and Train

Control Division, Office of Safety

Assurance and Compliance, FRA, 1120

Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

20590 (telephone 202–493–3625) or

Mark Tessler, Office of Chief Counsel,

FRA, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20590 (telephone 202–

493–6061), e-mail

‘‘mark.tessler@fra.dot.gov’.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On March 25, 1998, a Norfolk

Southern Corporation (NS) freight train

collided with a Consolidated Rail

Corporation freight train in Butler,

Indiana. The post-accident investigation

of the accident revealed that an

intermediate signal in the vicinity of the

accident would randomly go dark.

While it has been determined that the

signal malfunction did not contribute to

the accident, the malfunction was

further investigated by the FRA, the

National Transportation Safety Board

(NTSB), NS and Harmon Industries

(Harmon), manufacturer of the signal

control equipment.

The investigation revealed that certain

modules in Electro Code 4 and Electro

Code 4 Plus intermediate signal units

can contribute to intermittent dark

signal occurrences.

On May 15, 1998, Harmon, through its

Electro Pneumatic Corporation

subsidiary, issued PIA [Product

Improvement Announcement] 98–101

in which it recommended an upgrade to

the ‘‘211S, 211SRP, and 212A’’ modules

that are used in Electro Code 4 and

Electro Code 4 Plus Intermediate signal

units. Harmon offered to supply

upgrades to the listed modules at no

charge through December 31, 1999.

In its Product Improvement

Announcement, Harmon discussed the

211S, 211SRP and 212A modules:

211S and 211SRP

The 211S and 211SRP modules are DC to

DC converters that are used in Electro Code

4 and Electro Code 4 Plus Intermediate signal

units. These modules provide isolated battery

for signal lighting circuits and are located in

the top of the chassis housing behind the

front panel. A resistor in the module’s mid

stage driver circuit may be subject to

excessive heating due to heavy lamp load

and/or continuous duty cycle of the lamplighting circuits. Eventually this resistor can

fail open. In the event this circumstance

occurs, excessive noise can be passed

through the converters to the balance of the

lamp lighting circuits. Random noise on a

lamp output can be interpreted by the dual

microprocessors as false energy. In response,

the processors will reset, resulting in a dark

signal for a period lasting approximately 40

seconds. Ultimately, the processors will

attempt to reinitialize the converters and

restore the signal lighting. The frequency of

the dark signal occurrence depends on many