2012-1379. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration, (FRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice and Request for Comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below are being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on November 17, 2011 (76 FR 71433).

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before February 23, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: [phone]), or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: [phone]). (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 issue two notices seeking public comment on information collection activities before OMB may approve paperwork packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On November 17, 2011, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on these ICRs for which the agency is seeking OMB approval. 76 FR 71433. FRA received no comments in response to this notice.

Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections of information, it must provide 30 days for public comment. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b); 5 CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires OMB to approve or disapprove paperwork packages between 30 and 60 days after the 30 day notice is published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)-(c); 5 CFR 1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30 day notice informs the regulated community to file relevant comments and affords the agency adequate time to digest public comments before it renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should submit their respective comments to OMB within 30 days of publication of this Notice to best ensure having their full effect. 5 CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 FR 44983, Aug. 29, 1995.

The summary below describes the nature of the information collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.

Title: Trespasser Death Study.

OMB Control Number: 2130-0563.

Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Abstract: Trespasser deaths on railroad rights-of-way and other railroad property are the leading cause of fatalities attributable to railroad operations in the United States. In order to address this serious issue, interest groups, the railroad industry, and government (Federal, State, and local) must know more about the individuals who trespass. With such knowledge, specific educational programs, materials, and messages regarding the hazards and consequences of trespassing on railroad property can be developed and effectively distributed. Due to the lack of available demographic data, FRA proposes to conduct a follow-up study to the one released in 2008 titled Rail Trespasser Fatalities; Developing Demographic Profile. The previous study used a private contractor to obtain additional demographic data for the time period of 2003-2005 from local county medical examiners so as to develop a general, regional profile of “typical” trespassers in order to target audiences with appropriate education and enforcement campaigns that will reduce the annual number of injuries and fatalities. The proposed or updated study will cover six additional years of demographic data, and will be used to determine the validity of the earlier regional profile of “typical” trespassers or establish a new regional profile of “typical trespassers.”

Form Number: FRA F 6180.117.

Total Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 183 hours.

Addressee: Send comments regarding this information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FRA Desk Officer. Comments may also be sent via email to OMB at the following address: [e-mail].

Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

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

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 18, 2012.

Michael Logue,

Acting Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad Administration.