E7-81. Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of Request for Extension of Currently Approved Information

AGENCY:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection, which is summarized below under Supplementary Information. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Please submit comments by March 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket Number FHWA-2006-26715 by any of the following methods:

• Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room 401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Guan Xu, 202-366-5892, Office of Safety Design, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Developing and Recording Costs for Railroad Adjustments.

OMB Control #: 2125-0521.

Background: Under 23 U.S.C. 130, the FHWA reimburses the State highway agencies when they have paid for the cost of projects that (1) Eliminate hazards at railroad/highway crossings, or (2) adjust railroad facilities to accommodate the construction of highway projects. The FHWA requires the railroad companies to document their costs incurred for adjusting their facilities. The railroad companies must have a system for recording labor, materials, supplies, and equipment costs incurred when undertaking the necessary railroad work. This record of costs forms the basis for payment by the State highway agency to the railroad company, and in turn FHWA reimburses the State for its payment to the railroad company.

Respondents: Approximately 135 railroad companies.

Frequency: Nearly 135 railroad companies are involved in an average of 10 railroad/highway projects per year, so the total frequency is 1,350 railroad adjustments.

Estimated Average Burden per Response: The average number of hours required to calculate the railroad adjustment costs and maintain the required records per adjustment is 12 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The FHWA estimates that the total annual burden imposed on the public by this collection is 16,200 hours.

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FHWA's performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 121, 130; 23 CFR 140 Subpart I; the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on: December 29, 2006.

James R. Kabel,

Chief, Management Programs and Analysis Division.