2013-05835. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and Request for Comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and their expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 31, 2012.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 15, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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 (telephone: [phone]), 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: [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 December 31, 2012, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the ICR for which the agency was seeking OMB approval. 77 FR 77181. FRA received no comments in response to this notice.

Before OMB decides whether to approve a proposed collection 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 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 request (ICR) and the expected burden, and is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.

Title: Electronic Device Distraction (EDD) Survey.

OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.

Type of Request: Regular a pproval of a new collection of information.

Affected Public: Railroad Employees.

Abstract: Operating railroad equipment while being distracted by the use of electronic devices (e.g., phones, game consoles, personal computers, etc.) is known to be a factor in some accidents and suspected of being the cause of many others in the railroad industry. It is also known that such use is dangerous, as evidenced by several high profile accidents in the railroad industry, and by research on distraction in other transportation modes. Consequently, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have a keen interest in devising counter measures to reduce the incidence of electronic device distraction (EDD) in the railroad industry. In order to devise effective countermeasures, FRA believes a survey of select rail employees would be extremely beneficial. Therefore, FRA proposes to sample railroad employees spread across the jobs of conductors, engineers, signalmen, maintenance of way, car repair personnel, machinists, and supervisors. The agency's interest is shared by rail labor and management representatives, who are strongly supporting this survey and cooperating in its administration. All involved realize that effective counter measures to EDD must be based on a trustworthy understanding of the following: (1) Who is engaged in EDD, (2) under what circumstances they use these devices, (3) which devices are used, (4) reasons for use, and (5) frequency of use for each kind of device. Effective interventions cannot be designed, implemented, or evaluated without accurate information on these topics. The proposed survey is designed to provide this information, first as a baseline, and, in four subsequent years, as a way of tracking and evaluating change. For reasons of effectiveness and efficiency, the survey will be conducted primarily via the Web, augmented as needed with email communications.

Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.158

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 1,245 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 electronically via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) 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 March 8, 2013 .

Michael Logue,

Associate Administrator for Administration, Federal Railroad Administration.