E8-21180. Agency Information Collection Activity under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the following currently approved information collection: Rail Fixed Guideway Systems, State Safety Oversight. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on June 23, 2008. No comments were received in response to that notice.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted before October 14, 2008. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

LaStar Matthews, Office of Administration, Office of Management Planning, [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Rail Fixed Guideway Systems, State Safety Oversight.

OMB Number: 2132-0558.

Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 5330 requires States to designate a State Safety Oversight (SSO) agency to oversee the safety and security of each rail transit agency within the State's jurisdiction. To comply with Section 5330, SSO agencies must develop program standards which meet FTA's minimum requirements. In the Program Standard, which must be approved by FTA, each SSO agency must require each rail transit agency in the State's jurisdiction to prepare and implement a System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) and System Security Plan (SSP). The SSO agency also requires the rail transit agencies in its jurisdiction to conduct specific activities, such as accident investigation, implementation of a hazard management program, and the management of an internal safety and security audit process. SSO agencies review and approve the SSPPs and SSPs of the rail transit agencies. Once every three years, States conduct an on-site review of the rail transit agencies in their jurisdictions to assess SSPP/SSP implementation and to determine whether these plans are effective and if they need to be updated. SSO agencies develop final reports documenting the findings from these on-site reviews and require corrective actions. SSO agencies also review and approve accident investigation reports, participate in the rail transit agency's hazard management program, and oversee implementation of the rail transit agency's internal safety and security audit process. SSO agencies review and approve corrective action plans and track and monitor rail transit agency activities to implement them.

Collection of this information enables each SSO agency to monitor each rail transit agency's implementation of the State's requirements as specified in the Program Standard approved by FTA. Without this information, States would not be able to oversee the rail transit agencies in their jurisdictions. Recent recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have encouraged States and rail transit agencies to devote additional resources to these safety activities and safety oversight in general.

SSO agencies also submit an annual certification to FTA that the State is in compliance with Section 5330 and an annual report documenting the State's safety and security oversight activities. FTA uses the annual information submitted by the States to monitor implementation of the program. If a State fails to comply with Section 5330, FTA may withhold up to five percent of the funds appropriated for use in a State or urbanized area in the State under section 5307. The information submitted by the States ensures FTA's compliance with applicable federal laws, OMB Circular A-102, and 49 CFR Part 18, “Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments.”

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 142,393 hours.

ADDRESSES:

All written comments must refer to the docket number that appears at the top of this document and be submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FTA Desk Officer.

Comments are Invited On: 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.

Issued: September 8, 2008.

Ann M. Linnertz,

Associate Administrator for Administration.