Document ID: FRA-2008-0146-0001
Agency: fra
Document Type: Rule
Title: Federal Railroad Administration Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Posted Date: 2008-12-10T05:00Z

[Federal Register: December 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 238)]
[Notices]               
[Page 75169-75171]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de08-114]                         

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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 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 February 9, 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 17, 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 2130-0548.'' 
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 17, 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 No. 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

[[Page 75170]]

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. Sec.  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: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0548.
    Abstract: Prior to the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act 
of the 21st Century (``TEA 21''), Title V of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (the ``Act''), 45 
U.S.C. 821 et seq., authorized FRA to provide railroad financial 
assistance through the purchase of preference shares (45 U.S.C. 825), 
and the issuance of loan guarantees (45 U.S.C. 831). The FRA 
regulations implementing the preference share program were eliminated 
on February 9, 1996, due to the fact that the authorization for the 
program expired (28 FR 4937). The FRA regulations implementing the loan 
guarantee provisions of Title V of the Act are contained in 49 CFR 260. 
Section 7203 of TEA 21, Public Law 105-178 (June 9, 1998), replaces the 
existing Title V financing programs. The collection of information is 
used by FRA staff to determine the eligibility of applicants for a loan 
regarding eligible projects for the improvement/rehabilitation of rail 
equipment or facilities, the refinancing of outstanding debt for these 
purposes, or the development of new intermodal or railroad facilities. 
The aggregate unpaid principal amounts of obligations can not exceed 
$3.5 billion at any one time and not less than $1 billion is to be 
available solely for projects benefitting railroads other than Class I 
carriers.
    Affected Public: State and local governments, government sponsored 
authorities and corporations, railroads (including Amtrak), and joint 
ventures that include at least one railroad.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Average time
            CFR section              Respondent  universe       Total annual       per response    Total annual
                                                                 responses            (hours)      burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
260.19--Pre-Application Meeting...  21,956 potential       3 meetings...........               1               3
                                     applicants.
260.23--Form and Content of         21,956 potential       15 applications......              20             300
 Applications Generally.             applicants.
229.25--Additional Information for  555 potential          13 financial document              50             650
 Applicants without a Credit         applicants.            packages.
 Rating.
260.31--Execution and Filing of     21,956 potential       15 executed app......              .6               9
 the Application--Original--         applicants.           15 certificates......              .6               9
 Certificates with Original         21,956 potential       20 letters...........              .6               9
 Application--Transmittal Letters--  applicants.           15 app. pkgs.........             1.5              23
 Original Application and           21,956 potential
 Supporting Documents.               applicants.
                                    21,956 potential
                                     applicants.
260.33--Information Requests--      21,956 potential       15 statements........             *30               8
 Statements by Applicants            applicants.
 Requesting Confidentiality of
 Submitted Information.
260/35--Environmental Assessment--  21,956 potential       2 assessments........           1,000           2,000
 Environmental Impact Statements/    applicants.           5 consultations......               1               5
 Documents--Consultations with FRA  21,956 potential
 Administrator.                      applicants.
260.41--Inspection and Reporting--  21,956 potential       120 financial records              10           1,200
 Submission of Financial and Other   applicants.
 Documents Detailing Maintenance
 and Inspection in Compliance with
 Section 260.39.
260.49--Avoiding Defaults--         21,956 potential       1 request............              10              10
 Deferral Requests.                  applicants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In minutes.

    Total Responses: 239.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 4,226 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.

[[Page 75171]]

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 3, 2008.
Martin J. Eble,
Acting Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-29098 Filed 12-9-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P