2011-26592. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request  

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    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 December 16, 2011.

    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. Kimberly Toone, 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 2130-0556 .” Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-Start Printed Page 641736216 or (202) 493-6497, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@dot.gov, or to Ms. Toone at kim.toone@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.

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    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. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13, § 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 the currently approved ICR that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:

    Title: U.S. Locational Requirement for Dispatching U.S. Rail Operations.

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0556.

    Abstract: Part 241 requires, in the absence of a waiver, that all dispatching of railroad operations that occurs in the United States be performed in this country, with a minor exception. A railroad is allowed to conduct extraterritorial dispatching from Mexico or Canada in emergency situations, but only for the duration of the emergency. A railroad relying on the exception must provide written notification of its action to the FRA Regional Administrator of each FRA region in which the railroad operation occurs; such notification is not required before addressing the emergency situation. The information collected under this rule will be used as part of FRA's oversight function to ensure that extraterritorial dispatchers comply with applicable safety regulations. FRA estimates that approximately one (1) Notification per year will be sent to the appropriate FRA Regional Administrators regarding dispatching under the circumstances described above. It is estimated that it will take the dispatching railroad approximately eight (8) hours to prepare each notification letter and send it to the appropriate FRA Regional Administrator.

    Affected Public: Railroads.

    Respondent Universe: 4 Railroads.

    Frequency of Submission: On Occasion.

    Reporting Burden

    CFR sectionRespondent universeTotal annual responsesAverage time per responseTotal annual burden hours
    241.9—Prohibition against extraterritorial dispatching; exceptions—Notification4 railroads1 notification8 hours8 hours.
    241.11—Prohibition against conducting a railroad operation dispatched by an extraterritorial dispatcher; exceptions4 railroadsIncluded under § 241.9Included under § 241.9Included under § 241.9.
    241.13—Prohibitions against track owner's requiring or permitting use of its line for a railroad operation dispatched by an extraterritorial dispatcher; exceptions4 railroadsIncluded under § 241.9Included under § 241.9Included under § 241.9Included under § 241.9.
    241.15—Penalties—False Reports/Records$628NoneN/AN/AN/A.

    Total Responses: 1.

    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 8 hours.

    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.

    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.

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

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 6, 2011.

    Kimberly Coronel,

    Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad Administration.

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    [FR Doc. 2011-26592 Filed 10-14-11; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4910-06-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
10/17/2011
Department:
Federal Railroad Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
2011-26592
Dates:
Comments must be received no later than December 16, 2011.
Pages:
64172-64173 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FRA 2011-001-N-13
PDF File:
2011-26592.Pdf