11946 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 49 / Thursday, March 13, 1997 / Notices

May 29, 1996, designated four

additional tacks as main tracks at the El

Paso facility for a total of six main tracks

in the El Paso facility. These tracks are

in the middle of the El Paso facility and

are sued for functions normally

performed on yard tracks. Trains

passing through the El Paso facility stop

on one of the main tracks for fuel,

locomotive inspection, or adding or

removing power from the train. To

perform this work on the main track, SP

must provide blue signal protection

under 49 CFR 218.25 which states in

part:

When workers are on, under, or

between rolling equipment on a main

track:

(a) A blue signal must be displayed at

each end of the rolling equipment;

and

(b) If the rolling equipment to be

protected includes one or more

locomotives, a blue signal must be

attached to the controlling locomotive

at a location where it is readily visible

to the engineman or operator at the

controls of that locomotive.

SP is requesting the flexibility to treat

these main tracks at the El Paso facility

as tracks other than main tracks so it

may have the option of protecting its

employees working on, under, or

between rolling equipment in

accordance with 49 CFR 218.25 or

218.27, or a combination of both. SP

believes that the safest and most

efficient method of protecting its

employees in the El Paso facility is

through the use of a combination of blue

signal protection and remotely

controlled switches.

Currently, when a train enters the El

Paso facility, it stops on one of the main

tracks for fueling, locomotive

inspection, or other work. Once the

train stops, before any work is

performed, blue signal protection is

placed on the train. A mechanical

employee places a blue signal in front

of the train. He then drives one to one

and one-half miles to the other end of

the train to place another blue signal.

This usually takes 10 to 15 minutes,

during which time no work can be done

on the train. Once the blue signals are

set, work begins on the train. After the

work is completed, the blue signal at the

front of the train is removed by the

mechanical employee who then drives

to the other end of the train to remove

the other blue signal.

SP seeks the opportunity to use

remotely controlled switches alone or in

combination with blue signals to protect

its employees working on, under, or

between rolling equipment on its main

tracks in the El Paso facility. This can

best be demonstrated by the following

example: ‘‘A train enters the El Paso

facility on main track 1 from the west

(heading eastward). Once the train

comes to a stop, a blue signal would be

placed in front of the train. After the

signal is placed on the train, a blue

signal would be placed in front of the

train. After the signal is placed on the

train, a mechanical employee would

contact the control operator in the tower

who controls the appropriate remove

control switch and advise him to

appropriately line and lock main track

1 switch. Work on the train could

immediately commence, avoiding the

delay incurred by the mechanical

employee having to drive to the other

end of the train and set up a blue signal.

Once work on the train is completed,

the mechanical employee would remove

the blue signal at the front of the train

and contact the control operator to

reline and unlock the appropriate

switch.’’

Each group of workmen will be

protected by a combination of blue

signals and locked switches. Work on a

train will not begin until blue signals

are set and/or switches locked. SP will

be able to work trains on five main

tracks at the same time, reserving the

sixth main track for through service

which will improve the efficiency of the

El Paso facility and provide the same

level of blue signal protection for its

employees.

Interested parties are invited to

participate in these proceedings by

submitting written views, data, or

comments. FRA does not anticipate

scheduling a public hearing in

connection with these proceedings since

the facts do not appear to warrant a

hearing. If any interested party desires

an opportunity for oral comment, they

should notify FRA, in writing, before

the end of the comment period and

specify the basis for their request.

All communications concerning these

proceedings should identify the

appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver

Petition Docket Number PB–94–3) and

must be submitted in triplicate to the

Docket Clerk, Office of Chief Counsel,

FRA, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh

Street, SW., Washington, DC. 20590.

Communications received within 30

days of the date of this notice will be

considered by FRA before final action is

taken. Comments received after that

date will be considered as far as

practicable. All written communications

concerning these proceedings are

available for examination during regular

business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at FRA’s

temporary docket room located at 1120

Vermont Avenue, NW., Room 7051,

Washington, DC. 20005.

Issued in Washington, DC, on March 6,

1997.

Phil Olekszyk,

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety

Compliance and Program Implementation.

[FR Doc. 97–6371 Filed 3–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

March 6, 1997.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13. Copies of the

submission(s) may be obtained by

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance

Officer listed. Comments regarding this

information collection should be

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed

and to the Treasury Department

Clearance Officer, Department of the

Treasury, Room 2110, 1425 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

SPECIAL REQUEST: In order to begin the

survey described below in late March

1997, the Department of the Treasury is

requesting that the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) review

and approve this information collection

by March 18, 1997. To obtain a copy of

this study, please contact the Internal

Revenue Service Clearance Officer at the

address listed below.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

OMB Number: 1545–1432.

Project Number: M:SP:V 97–007–G.

Type of Review: Revision.

Title: IRS Appeals Process Customer

Satisfaction Survey.

Description: The National Director of

Appeals anticipates that approximately

72,000 taxpayers will avail themselves

of the Appeals process over the next

year. This translates into about 6,000

closed cases each month, on average.

This survey will incorporate three

mailouts: (1) An initial mailout; (2) a

second mailout to those who failed to

respond within three weeks after all

initial requests have been mailed; and

(3) a third mailout to those who fail to

respond within three weeks after the

second mailout. All questionnaires will

be returned to the Office of the National

Director of Appeals in the National

Office. Results will be used to evaluate

how the Office of Appeals can improve

its performance and reduce taxpayer

burden by providing better customer

service.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 49 / Thursday, March 13, 1997 / Notices 11947

Respondents: Individuals or

households.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

6,000.

Estimated Burden Hours Per

Response: 4 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Other.

Estimated Total Reporting Burden:

400 hours.

Clearance Officer: Garrick Shear (202)

622–3869, Internal Revenue Service,

Room 5571, 1111 Constitution Avenue,

N.W., Washington, DC 20224.

OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt

(202) 395–7860, Office of Management

and Budget, Room 10226, New

Executive Office Building. Washington,

DC 20503.

Dale A. Morgan,

Departmental Reports Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–6258 Filed 3–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

March 5, 1997.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13. Copies of the

submission(s) may be obtained by

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance

Officer listed. Comments regarding this

information collection should be

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed

and to the Treasury Department

Clearance Officer, Department of the

Treasury, Room 2110, 1425 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

U.S. Customs Service (CUS)

OMB Number: New.

Form Number: CF 446.

Type of Review: New collection.

Title: North American Free Trade

Agreement (NAFTA) Certificate of

Origin Verification Questionnaire.

Description: The objectives of NAFTA

are to eliminate barriers to trade in

goods and services between the United

States, Mexico, and Canada; facilitate

conditions of fair competition within

the free trade area; liberalize

significantly conditions for investments

within the free trade area; establish

effective procedures for the joint

administration of the NAFTA; and the

resolution of disputes.

Respondents: Business or other forprofit, Individuals or households, Notfor-profit institutions, Federal

Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents/

Recordkeepers: 5,000.

Estimated Burden Hours Per

Respondent/Recordkeeper: 1 hour.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Reporting/

Recordkeeping Burden: 24,000 hours.

Clearance Officer: J. Edgar Nichols

(202) 927–1426, U.S. Customs Service,

Printing and Records Management

Branch, Room 6216, 1301 Constitution

Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20229.

OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt

(202) 395–7860, Office of Management

and Budget, Room 10202, New

Executive Office Building, Washington,

DC 20503.

Dale A. Morgan,

Departmental Reports Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–6259 Filed 3–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820–02–P

Internal Revenue Service

Proposed Collection; Comment

Request for Form 1096

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),

Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: The Department of the

Treasury, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent

burden, invites the general public and

other Federal agencies to take this

opportunity to comment on proposed

and/or continuing information

collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is

soliciting comments concerning Form

1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal

of U.S. Information Returns.

DATES: Written comments should be

received on or before May 12, 1997 to

be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to Garrick R. Shear, Internal Revenue

Service, room 5571, 1111 Constitution

Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the form and instructions

should be directed to Martha R. Brinson,

(202) 622–3869, Internal Revenue

Service, room 5571, 1111 Constitution

Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Annual Summary and

Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns.

OMB Number: 1545–0108 Form

Number: 1096.

Abstract: Form 1096 is used to

transmit information returns (Forms

1099, 1098, 5498, and W–2G) to the IRS

service centers. Under Internal Revenue

Code section 6041 and related

regulations, a separate Form 1096 is

used for each type of return sent to the

service center by the payer. It is used by

IRS to summarize, categorize, and

process the forms being filed.

Current Actions: There are no changes

being made to the form at this time.

Type of Review: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations, individuals or

households, not-for-profit institutions,

farms, Federal government, and State,

local or tribal governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

5,197,271.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 10

min.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 966,805.

The following paragraph applies to all

of the collections of information covered

by this notice:

An agency may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to

respond to, a collection of information

unless the collection of information

displays a valid OMB control number.

Books or records relating to a collection

of information must be retained as long

as their contents may become material

in the administration of any internal

revenue law. Generally, tax returns and

tax return information are confidential,

as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Request for Comments

Comments submitted in response to

this notice will be summarized and/or

included in the request for OMB

approval. All comments will become a

matter of public record. Comments are

invited on: (a) Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

agency, including whether the

information shall have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate

of the burden of the collection of

information; (c) ways to enhance the

quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; (d) ways to

minimize the burden of the collection of

information on respondents, including

through the use of automated collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology; and (e) estimates of capital

or start-up costs and costs of operation,

maintenance, and purchase of services

to provide information.

Approved: February 21, 1997.

Garrick R. Shear,

IRS Reports Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–6389 Filed 3–12–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–U