Document ID: FRA-2008-0002-0001
Agency: fra
Document Type: Rule
Title: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Posted Date: 2008-01-11T05:00Z

[Federal Register: January 11, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 8)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2074-2076]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ja08-88]                         

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 March 11, 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 Avenue, SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, 
DC 20590, or Ms. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, 
RAD-43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 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 
2130-0566.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile 
to (202) 493-6216 or (202) 493-6479, 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 Avenue, SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: 
(202) 493-6292) or Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, 
RAD-43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202)

[[Page 2075]]

493-6139). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Pub. L. 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 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: Reflectorization of Freight Rolling Stock.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0566.
    Abstract: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued this 
regulation to mandate the reflectorization of freight rolling stock 
(freight cars and locomotives) to enhance the visibility of trains in 
order to reduce the number and severity of accidents at highway-rail 
grade crossings in which train visibility acted as a contributing 
factor. The information collected is used by FRA to ensure that 
railroads/car owners follow the schedule established by the regulation 
for placing retro-reflective material on the sides of freight rolling 
stock (freight cars and locomotives) in order to improve the visibility 
of trains. The information collected is also used by FRA to confirm 
that railroads/car owners meet the prescribed standards for the 
application, inspection, and maintenance of the required retro-
reflective material.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.113.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Respondent      Total annual     Average time    Total annual    Total annual
         CFR section               universe        responses      per  response    burden hours     burden cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
224.7--Waivers...............  685 Railroads/   10 petitions...  1 hour.........              20            $740
                                Car Owners.
224.15--Special Approval       3 Manufacturers  10 petitions...  40 hours.......             400          20,560
 Procedures--Petitions.
    --Public Comment.........  3 Manufacturers/ 5 comments.....  1 hour.........               5             185
                                Railroads.
224.107--Implementation
 Schedule: Freight Cars
    --Existing Freight Cars w/ 685 Railroads/   400 reports....  15 minutes.....             100           3,700
     o retroreflective          Car Owners.
     sheeting.
    --Updated                  685 Railroads/   400 reports....  20 hours.......           8,000         296,000
     Reflectorization           Car Owners.
     Implementation Plans.
    --Failure Reports........  685 Railroads/   5 Failure Rpts.  2 hours........              10             370
                                Car Owners.
II. Existing Cars with         685 Railroads/   172 reports....  20 hours.......           3,440         127,280
 Retroreflective Sheeting       Car Owners.
 (b). Locomotives.
    --Existing Locomotives w/  685 Railroads/   35 reports/      15 minutes.....               9             333
     o Retroreflective          Car Owners.      forms.
     Sheeting.
    --Updated                  685 Railroads/   35 reports/      3 hours........             105           3,885
     Reflectorization           Car Owners.      forms.
     Implementation Plans.
    --Failure Reports........  685 Railroads/   1 Failure        2 hours........               2              74
                                Car Owners.      Report.
II. Existing Locomotives with  685 Railroads/   617 reports....  4 hours........           2,468          91,316
 Retroreflective Sheeting.      Car Owners.
224.109--Inspection, Repair,   AAR + 300 Car    240,000 Notific  10 minutes.....          40,000       1,560,000
 Replacement--Fr. Cars.         Shops.
    --Locomotives: Records of  22,800           4,560 records..  3 minutes......             228          10,488
     Restriction.               Locomotives.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 246,250.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 54,787 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 2076]]

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

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 4, 2008.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-295 Filed 1-10-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P