[Federal Register: October 24, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 204)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61495-61496]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc05-99]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

 
Agency Request for Emergency Processing of Collection of 
Information by the Office of Management and Budget

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: FRA hereby gives notice that it has submitted the following 
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for emergency processing under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). FRA requests that OMB 
authorize the collection of information identified below on or before 
October 31, 2005, for a period of 180 days after the date of issuance 
of this notice in the Federal Register. A copy of this individual ICR, 
with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling 
FRA's clearance officers, Robert Brogan (telephone number (202) 493-
6292) or Victor Angelo (telephone number (202) 493-6470; these numbers 
are not toll-free), or by contacting Mr. Brogan via facsimile at (202) 
493-6270 or Mr. Angelo via facsimile at (202) 493-6170, or via e-mail 
by contacting Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@fra.dot.gov. or by contacting 
Mr. Angelo at victor.angelo@fra.dot.gov. Comments and questions about 
the ICR identified below should be directed to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for FRA.
    Title: FRA Emergency Order No. 24, Notice No. 1.

[[Page 61496]]



                                                                    Reporting Burden
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                                                                  Total annual          Average time per     Total annual  burden   Total annual  burden
      Emergency order item No.        Respondent  universe          responses               response                hours                   cost
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(1)--Instruction On Railroad         685 Railroads; 100,000  100,000 instruction     60 minutes...........  100,000..............  $4,700,000.
 Operating Rule--Operation of         employees.              sessions.
 manual main track in non-signal
 territory.
    --Instruction Records..........  685 Railroads.........  100,000 records.......  2 minutes............  3,333................  126,654.
(2) Hand-Operated Main Track         6,000 Dispatchers.....  60,000 verbal           30 seconds...........  500..................  20,500.
 Switches--Confirmation of Switch                             confirmations.
 Position.
    --Review of SPAF by Train        6,000 Dispatchers.....  15,000 reviews........  10 seconds...........  42...................  1,974.
     Dispatcher.
(3) Switch Position Awareness Form   100,000 employees.....  20,000 forms..........  3 minutes............  1,000................  47,000.
 (SPAF).
(4) Job Briefings..................  100,000 employees.....  60,000 briefings......  1 minute.............  1,000................  47,000.
(5) Radio Communication--Crewmember  100,000 employees.....  60,000 verbal           15 seconds...........  250..................  11,750.
 communication with engineer.                                 communications.
    --Notation of Inoperable Radio   900,000 Crew members..  500 form entries......  5 seconds............  3....................  141.
     on SPAF.
(6) Operational Tests and            685 Railroads.........  Burden Covered Under    Burden Covered Under   Burden Covered Under   Burden Covered Under
 Inspections.                                                 OMB No. 2130-0035.      OMB No. 2130-0035.     OMB No. 2130-0035.     OMB No. 2130-0035.
(7) Distribution of Emergency        685 Railroads; 100,000  100,000 copies........  2 seconds............  56...................  2,128.
 Order--Copies to Employees.          Employees.
    --Written Receipt and            685 Railroads; 100,000  100,000 receipts +      1 second + 1 second..  56...................  2,380.
     Acknowledgment of Copy.          Employees.              100,000 records.
(8) Relief--Petitions For Special    685 Railroads.........  10 petitions..........  60 minutes...........  10...................  380.
 Approval.
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    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Respondent Universe: 685 Railroads; 100,000 Railroad Employees.
    Frequency of Submission: One-time; On occasion.
    Total Responses: 715,510.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden: 106,250 hours.
    Status: Emergency Review.
    Description: FRA has determined that public safety compels the 
issuance of Emergency Order No. 24 and necessitates this collection of 
information in order that railroads modify their operating rules and 
take certain other actions necessary to ensure that their employees who 
operate hand-operated main track switches in non-signaled territory 
restore the switches to their proper (normal) position after use. The 
Emergency Order is intended to reduce the risk of serious injury or 
death both to railroad employees and the general public.
    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 October 19, 2005.
Belinda Ashton,
Acting Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-21250 Filed 10-21-05; 8:45 am]

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