Document ID: FRA-2009-0001-0021
Agency: fra
Document Type: Rule
Title: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Posted Date: 2009-09-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register: September 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 169)]
[Notices]               
[Page 45516-45517]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02se09-104]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2009-001-N-22]

 
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 November 2, 2009.

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, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 
20590, or Ms. Nakia Jackson, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 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 2130-0525'' 
and/or ``Comments on OMB Control Number 2130-0529.'' Alternatively, 
comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6216 or (202) 
493-6497, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@dot.gov, or to 
Ms. Jackson at nakia.jackson@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, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail 
Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Ms. Nakia 
Jackson, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 
20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6073). (These telephone numbers are not 
toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13, Sec.  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

[[Page 45517]]

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 are brief summaries of the two currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Certification of Glazing Materials.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0525.
    Abstract: The collection of information is set forth under 49 CFR 
Part 223, which requires the certification and permanent marking of 
glazing materials by the manufacturer. The manufacturer is also 
responsible for making available test verification data to railroads 
and FRA upon request.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 5 Manufacturers

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                                                                                                                                   Total annual burden
             CFR Section                   Respondent universe          Total annual responses       Average time per response            hours
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223.17--Identification of Equipped    4 Manufacturers..............  200 stencilings/metal plates  15 minutes..................  50 hours.
 Locomotives, Passenger Cars, and
 Cabooses.
223.17--Appendix A--Requests for      5 Manufacturers..............  10 requests.................  15 minutes..................  3 hours.
 Glazing Certification Information.
--Marking Individual Units of         5 Manufacturers..............  25,000 pieces...............  480 pieces per hour.........  52 hours.
 Glazing Material.
--Testing New Material and Providing  5 Manufacturers..............  1 test......................  14 hours....................  14 hours.
 Verification Data.
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    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 25,211.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 119 hours.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Disqualification Proceedings.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0529.
    Abstract: 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 safety-sensitive service in 
the rail industry for violations of safety rules, regulations, 
standards, orders, or laws evidencing unfitness. FRA's regulations, 49 
CFR Part 209, Subpart D, implement 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 safety-sensitive position in the rail 
industry.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Railroad Employees.
    Respondent Universe: 40,000 Locomotive Engineers.
    Total Responses: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5 hours.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    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 August 27, 2009.
Donna Alwine,
Acting Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-21203 Filed 9-1-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P