[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71732-71733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24516]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information
Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The
ICRs describes the nature of the information collections and their
expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment
period soliciting comments on the following collection of information
was published on October 5, 2007 (72 FR 57097).
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 17, 2008.
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. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems
Staff, RAD-43, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave.,
SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6139).
(These telephone numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
Pub. L. 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 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
October 5, 2007, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register
soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking OMB approval. 72
FR 57097. FRA received one comment in response to this notice.
The comment came from John P. Tolman, Vice President and National
Legislative Representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and Trainmen (BLET). The BLET is the duly designated and recognized
collective bargaining representative for the craft or class of
Locomotive engineer employed on all Class I railroads. The BLET also
represents operating and other employees on numerous Class II and Class
III railroads. In his letter, Mr. Tolman stated the following:
BLET supports the full range of information collection
encompassed under OMB Control Number 2130-0500. However, BLET
believes the revision of certain of FRA's forms to require railroads
to provide additional information already in their possession will
enhance the safety data available to FRA and facilitate more precise
analyses of trends in the industry. Specifically, the BLET is
concerned that exclusive reliance on mileage-based data in
developing accident/incident and injury casualty rates already has
compromised the quality of analysis of switching operations.
Furthermore, the narrow focus on mileage-based data also may infect
data analysis for other freight operations in the future, because
mileage-based measures fail to reflect the ongoing evolution of
remote control locomotive operations throughout the American
railroad industry.
Mr. Tolman then alluded to FRA's prior 60-day Federal Register
renewal notice pertaining to these activities that was published on
December 14, 2005 (70 FR 74103). He noted:
In response to that notice, the BLET filed comments on January
4, 2006 * * * In those comments, we explained in detail, our
rationale for revising certain FRA forms to require railroads to
report the number of employee hours spent in each of the various
classes of service, in addition to the mileage totals currently
reported.
In its response to BLET's comments of January 4, 2006, FRA
acknowledged that BLET had raised important issues which needed to be
looked into carefully. FRA further remarked that it would like to
examine these issues by initiating an independent study sometime in
2006, budget permitting.
In the current BLET letter dated November 29, 2007, Mr. Tolman goes
on to observe:
In the 21+ months since FRA acknowledged the need to study the
vital safety issues our 2006 comments raised, funding for the study
has not been allocated. We believe that lack of re-authorization for
the rail safety program has been a major factor in this needed work
not going forward. Nonetheless, the need for such a study--and
possible revision of applicable forms thereafter--is as great today
as it was nearly two years ago. Indeed, given that FRA has published
at least two sets of guidelines pertaining to non-incidental remote
control locomotive operations on main track, the issue of data
normalization has become more pressing now, in our view.
Accordingly, we urge FRA to reiterate the shared concerns identified
in our previous comments, and to reaffirm its intention to study the
issue when sufficient funding is available to do so.
FRA appreciates BLET's current letter of support for this vital
information collection, and now reaffirms its intention to study this
issue. Further, FRA hereby states that it will commit agency funding to
this study, and plans on beginning this study sometime in the second
quarter of 2008. Once this study is completed, FRA will review its
accident/incident forms to determine appropriate changes and will, of
course, keep the BLET fully apprised of developments.
Before OMB decides whether to approve these proposed collections 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 summaries below describe the nature of the information
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The proposed
requirements are
[[Page 71733]]
being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
Title: Accident/Incident Reporting and Recordkeeping.
OMB Control Number: 2130-0500.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.54/55/55A/56/57/78/81/97/98/99/107.
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.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 47,521 hours.
Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections 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 via e-mail to
OMB at the following address: [email protected].
Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed
collections of information are 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 estimates of
the burden of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
ways to minimize the burden of the collections 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 December 12, 2007.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-24516 Filed 12-17-07; 8:45 am]
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