Document ID: FRA-2008-0027-0001
Agency: fra
Document Type: Rule
Title: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Posted Date: 2008-03-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register: March 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 47)]
[Notices]               
[Page 12794-12795]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10mr08-117]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

 
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 regular clearance of the following 
currently approved information collection activities granted under 
Emergency Clearance procedures. 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 May 9, 2008.

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. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, RAD-
43, 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 2130-0575.'' 
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. Christodoulou at 
gina.christodoulou@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. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems 
Staff, RAD-43, Federal Railroad Administration,

[[Page 12795]]

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 
(telephone: (202) 493-6139). (These telephone numbers are not toll-
free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13, section 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 the currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Solicitation of Applications and Notice of Funds 
Availability for the Capital Assistance to States--Intercity Rail 
Service Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0575.
    Abstract: On December 16, 2007, President Bush signed Public Law 
110-161, The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008. As part of this Act, Congress 
provided $30 million to FRA to award in one or more grants for eligible 
projects related to capital improvements (fixed facilities and rolling 
stock) necessary to support improved or new intercity passenger 
services, and planning activities that lead to the development of a 
passenger rail corridor investment plan. Funds provided under this 
grant program may constitute no more than 50 percent of the total cost 
of a selected project, with the remaining cost funded from other 
sources. The funding provided under these grants will be made available 
to grantees on a reimbursement basis.
    FRA anticipates awarding grants to multiple eligible participants. 
FRA may choose to award a grant or grants within the available funds in 
any amount. Funding made available through grants provided under this 
program, together with funding from other sources that is committed by 
a grantee as part of a grant agreement, must be sufficient to complete 
the funded project and achieve the anticipated improvement to intercity 
passenger rail service. FRA will begin accepting grant applications on 
Monday, March 18, 2008. Applications may be submitted until the earlier 
of Wednesday, September 30, 2009, or the date on which all available 
funds will have been committed under this program.
    Form Number(s): SF-269, SF-270, SF-271.
    Affected Public: States/Their Partners.
    Respondent Universe: 50 States and District of Columbia/Their 
Partners.
    Frequency of Submission: One-time.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                 Respondent      Total annual     Average time     Total annual    Total annual
         CFR section              universe        responses       per response     burden hours     burden cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application Process.........  51 States (DC    7 applications.  600 hours......  4,200 hours....        $367,780
                               incl.).
Requested Meeting with FRA..  51 States (DC    5 requests/      30 minutes.....  3 hours........             129
                               incl.).          letters.
Actual Meetings.............  51 States (DC    5 meetings.....  2 hours........  10 hours.......             730
                               incl.).
Revisions to Grant            51 States (DC    2 appl.          40 hours.......  80 hours.......           5,840
 Applications.                 incl.).          Revisions.
Environmental Assessment....  51 States (DC    7 Env.           200 hours......  1,400 hours....         175,000
                               incl.).          Documents.
Consultations with FRA......  51 States (DC    7 consultations  2 hours........  14 hours.......           1,022
                               incl.).
Close-Out Procedures........  51 States (DC    7 sets of        6 hours........  42 hours.......           1,806
                               incl.).          documents.
Project Reports.............  51 States (DC    7 reports......  80 hours.......  560 hours......          40,880
                               incl.).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 47.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,309 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, DC on March 5, 2008.
Brenda Horn,
Acting Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-4705 Filed 3-7-08; 8:45 am]

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