Document ID: FRA-2007-0005-0001
Agency: fra
Document Type: Notice
Title: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Posted Date: 2007-10-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register: October 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 193)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57097-57099]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05oc07-95]                         

[[Page 57097]]

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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 December 4, 2007.

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, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 
20590, or Ms. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, RAD-
43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., 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 2130-0500.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6265 or (202) 493-6170, 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, 1120 
Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6292) or Ms. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, 
RAD-43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., 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), 
Pub. L. 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 currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to the railroad 
accident reporting regulations set forth in 49 CFR Part 225 which 
require railroads to submit monthly reports summarizing collisions, 
derailments, and certain other accidents/incidents involving damages 
above a periodically revised dollar threshold, as well as certain 
injuries to passengers, employees, and other persons on railroad 
property. Because the reporting requirements and the information needed 
regarding each category of accident/incident are unique, a different 
form is used for each category.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.54; 55; 55A; 56; 57; 78; 81; 97; 98; 99; 
107.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

[[Page 57098]]

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                                                                                                Average time per        Total annual      Total annual
              CFR section                  Respondent universe     Total annual responses           response            burden hours       burden cost
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225.9--Telephone Reports of Certain     685 railroads...........  500 phone reports.......  15 minutes..............               125            $5,000
 Accidents/Incidents and Other Events.
225.11--Reporting of Rail Equipment     685 railroads...........  3,000 forms.............  2 hours.................             6,000           240,000
 Accidents/Incidents--Form FRA F
 6180.54.
225.12--Rail Equipment Accident/        685 railroads...........  1,400 forms.............  15 minutes..............               350            14,000
 Incident Reports Alleging Human
 Factor as Cause--Form FRA F 6180.81.
    --Part I Form FRA F 6180.78         685 railroads...........  1,000 notices + 4,100     10 minutes + 3 minutes..               372            14,880
     (Notices).                                                    copies.
        --Joint Operations............  685 railroads...........  100 requests............  20 minutes..............                33             1,320
        --Late Identification.........  685 railroads...........  20 attachments + 20       15 minutes..............                10               400
                                                                   notices.
    --Employee Statement Supplementing  Railroad employees......  75 statements...........  1.5 hours...............               113             5,198
     Railroad Accident Report (Part II
     Form FRA 6180.78).
    --Employee Confidential Letter....  Railroad employees......  10 letters..............  2 hours.................                20               920
225.13--Late Reports..................  685 railroads...........  50 amended rpts. + 40     1 hour + 3 minutes......                52             2,080
                                                                   copies.
225.17--Doubtful Cases; Alcohol or      685 railroads...........  80 reports..............  30 minutes..............                40             1,600
 Drug Involvement: Narrative Reports
 to FRA.
    --Appended reports required by      685 railroads...........  5 reports...............  30 minutes..............                 3               120
     Sec.   219.209(b).
225.19--Rail-Highway Grade Crossing     685 railroads...........  3,000 forms.............  2 hours.................             6,000           240,000
 Accident/Incident Report--Form FRA F
 6180.57.
    --Death, Injury, or Occupational    685 railroads...........  12,000 forms............  20 minutes..............             4,000           160,000
     Illness (Form FRA F 6180.55a).
225.21--Railroad Injury and Illness     685 railroads...........  8,220 forms.............  10 minutes..............             1,370            54,800
 Summary: Form FRA F 6180.55.
225.21--Annual Railroad Report of       685 railroads...........  685 forms...............  15 minutes..............               171             6,840
 Employee Hours and Casualties, By
 State--Form FRA F 6180.56.
225.21/25--Railroad Employee Injury     685 railroads...........  18,000 forms............  60 minutes..............            18,000           828,000
 and/or Illness Record--Form FRA F
 6180.98.
    --Copies of Forms to Employees....  685 railroads...........  540 form copies.........  2 minutes...............                18               828
225.21--Initial Rail Equipment          685 railroads...........  13,000 forms............  30 minutes..............             6,500           299,000
 Accident/Incident Record--Form FRA F
 6180.97.
225.21--Alternative Record for          685 railroads...........  300 forms...............  15 minutes..............                75             3,000
 Illnesses Claimed to Be Work Related--
 Form FRA F 6180.107.
225.25 (h)--Posting of Monthly Summary  685 railroads...........  8,220 lists.............  16 minutes..............             2,192            87,680
225.27--Retention of Records..........  685 railroads...........  1,900 records...........  2 minutes...............                63             2,520
225.33--Internal Control Plans--        685 railroads...........  25 amendments...........  14 hours................               350            14,000
 Amendments.
225.35--Access to Records and Reports.  15 railroads............  400 lists...............  20 minutes..............               133             5,320
    --Subsequent Years................  4 railroads.............  16 lists................  20 minutes..............                 5               200
225.37--Magnetic Media Transfer and     8 railroads.............  96 transfers............  10 minutes..............                16               640
 Electronic Submission.
    --Electronic Submission: Batch      685 railroads...........  200 forms...............  3 minutes...............                10               400
     Control Forms (6180.99) and Form
     FRA F 6180.55.
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[[Page 57099]]

    Total Responses: 77,002.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 46,021 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 September 28, 2007.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-19678 Filed 10-4-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P