66294 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 214 / Friday, November 3, 2000 / Notices

if it finds ‘‘such exemption would likely

achieve a level of safety that is

equivalent to, or greater than, the level

that would be achieved absent such

exemption.’’ Accordingly, the FMCSA

has evaluated the nine petitions for

renewal on their merits and made a

determination to extend their

exemptions for a renewable 2-year

period.

On October 9, 1998, the agency

published a notice of final disposition

announcing its decision to exempt 12

individuals, including these nine

applicants for renewal, from the vision

requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) (63

FR 54519). The qualifications,

experience, and medical condition of

each applicant were stated and

discussed in detail at 63 FR 30285, June

3, 1998. Three comments were received,

and their contents were carefully

considered by the agency in reaching its

final decision to grant the petitions (63

FR 54519). The agency determined that

exempting the individuals from 49 CFR

391.41(b)(10) was likely to achieve a

level of safety equal to, or greater than,

the level that would be achieved

without the exemption as long as the

vision in each applicant’s better eye

continues to meet the standard specified

in 391.41(b)(10). As a condition of the

exemption, therefore, the agency

imposed requirements on the

individuals similar to the grandfathering

provisions in 49 CFR 391.64(b) applied

to drivers who participated in the

agency’s former vision waiver program.

These requirements are as follows: (1)

That each individual be physically

examined every year (a) by an

ophthalmologist or optometrist who

attests that vision in the better eye meets

the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10),

and (b) by a medical examiner who

attests the individual is otherwise

physically qualified under 49 CFR

391.41; (2) that each individual provide

a copy of the ophthalmologist’s or

optometrist’s report to the medical

examiner at the time of the annual

medical examination; and (3) that each

individual provide a copy of the annual

medical certification to the employer for

retention in the driver’s qualification

file and retains a copy of the

certification on his/her person while

driving for presentation to a duly

authorized Federal, State, or local

enforcement official.

Basis for Renewing Exemptions

Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an

exemption may be granted for no longer

than 2 years from its approval date and

may be renewed upon application for an

additional 2-year period. In accordance

with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), each

of the nine applicants has satisfied the

entry conditions for obtaining an

exemption from the vision requirements

(63 FR 30285; 63 FR 54519) and each

has requested timely renewal of the

exemption. These nine applicants have

submitted evidence showing that the

vision in their better eye continues to

meet the standard specified at 49 CFR

391.41(b)(10), and that the vision

impairment is stable. In addition, a

review of their records of safety while

driving with their respective vision

deficiencies over the past 2 years

indicates each applicant continues to

meet the vision exemption standards.

These factors provide an adequate basis

for predicting each driver’s ability to

continue to drive safely in interstate

commerce. Therefore, the FMCSA

concludes that extending the exemption

for a period of 2 years is likely to

achieve a level of safety equal to that

existing without the exemption for each

renewal applicant.

Conclusion

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315

and 31136(e), the FMCSA extends the

exemptions from the vision requirement

in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) granted to Larry

A. Dahleen, Earl D. Edland, Dale H.

Hellman, Danny E. Hillier, Robert J.

Johnson, Michael L. Manning, Gerald R.

Rietmann, Jimmy E. Settle, and Hubert

Whittenburg, subject to the following

conditions: (1) That each individual be

physically examined every year (a) by

an ophthalmologist or optometrist who

attests that the vision in the better eye

continues to meet the standard in 49

CFR 391.41(b)(10), and (b) by a medical

examiner who attests that the individual

is otherwise physically qualified under

49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each individual

provide a copy of the ophthalmologist’s

or optometrist’s report to the medical

examiner at the time of the annual

medical examination; and (3) that each

individual provide a copy of the annual

medical certification to the employer for

retention in the driver’s qualification

file and retains a copy of the

certification on his/her person while

driving for presentation to a duly

authorized Federal, State, or local

enforcement official. Each exemption

will be valid for 2 years unless revoked

earlier by the FMCSA. The exemption

will be revoked if: (1) The person fails

to comply with the terms and

conditions of the exemption; (2) the

exemption has resulted in a lower level

of safety than was maintained before it

was granted; or (3) continuation of the

exemption would not be consistent with

the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C.

31315 and 31136(e).

Request for Comments

The FMCSA has evaluated the

qualifications and driving performance

of the nine applicants here and extends

their exemptions based on the evidence

introduced. The agency will review any

comments received concerning a

particular driver’s safety record and

determine if the continuation of the

exemption is consistent with the

requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31315 and

31136(e). While comments of this nature

will be entertained at any time, the

FMCSA requests that interested parties

with information concerning the safety

records of these drivers submit

comments by December 4, 2000. All

comments will be considered and will

be available for examination in the

docket room at the above address. The

FMCSA will also continue to file in the

docket relevant information which

becomes available. Interested persons

should continue to examine the docket

for new material.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 31136 and 31315;

and 49 CFR 1.73.

Issued on: October 30, 2000.

Clyde J. Hart, Jr.,

Acting Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor

Carrier Safety Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–28205 Filed 11–2–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P

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 January 2, 2001.

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

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 214 / Friday, November 3, 2000 / Notices 66295

Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington,

DC 20590, or Ms. Dian Deal, 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 ___.’’ 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 Ms.

Deal at dian.deal@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 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), Pub. L. 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 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: Special Notice For Repairs.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0504.

Abstract: The collection of

information is used by state and Federal

inspectors to remove freight cars or

locomotives from service until they can

be restored to a serviceable condition. It

is also used by state and Federal

inspectors to reduce the maximum

authorized speed on a section of track

until repairs can be made. Additionally,

the collection of information provides

railroads written notice that an

inspector has recommended to the FRA

Administrator to remove from service a

section of track that is not safe to use at

any speed. Railroads must return the

required form after the necessary repairs

have been made.

Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.8 and

FRA F 6180.8a.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.

Frequency of Submission: On

occasion.

Estimated Annual Burden: 7 hours.

Status: Regular Review.

Title: Designation of Qualified

Persons.

OMB Control Number: 2130–0511.

Abstract: The collection of

information is used to prevent the

unsafe movement of defective freight

cars. Railroads are required to inspect

the freight cars for compliance and to

determine restrictions on the movement

of defective cars.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.

Frequency of Submission: On

occasion.

Estimated Annual Burden: 40 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, D.C. on October 31,

2000.

Kathy A. Weiner,

Director, Office of Information Technology

and Support Systems, Federal Railroad

Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–28290 Filed 11–2–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Environmental Impact Statement on

the Northwest Corridor—Carrollton

Line Light Rail Transit Project in

Dallas, Farmers Branch, and

Carrollton, TX

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration,

DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an

environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit

Administration (FTA) and Dallas Area

Rapid Transit (DART) have issued this

notice to advise interested agencies and

the public of their intent to prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

on the proposed Northwest CorridorCarrollton Line Light Rail Transit (LRT)

Project in Dallas, Farmers Branch, and

Carrollton, Texas. The EIS will be

prepared in accordance with the

National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 (NEPA), as amended. The DallasFort Worth region is currently

designated as a serious non-attainment

area for ozone by the Environmental

Protection Agency.

The Northwest Corridor-Carrollton

Line LRT Project is the product of the

Northwest Corridor Major Investment

Study (MIS) completed by DART in

early 2000. The MIS identified a Locally

Preferred Investment Strategy (LPIS),

which included a light rail element with

two service lines, the Carrollton Line

and the DFW Line. The Carrollton Line

is being advanced into the EIS phase of

project development at this time. The

DFW Line will be advanced into the EIS

process at a later time when alignment

and land use issues are resolved. A

separate EIS is also being prepared for