E7-19678. 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 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 [phone] or [phone], or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at [e-mail], or to Ms. Christodoulou at [e-mail]. 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: [phone]) 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: [phone]). (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:

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

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.