[Federal Register: October 27, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 208)]
[Notices]
[Page 63764-63765]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc08-116]
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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 is seeking emergency approval
processing from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)
for the information collection request (ICR) listed below. FRA requests
that OMB authorize the collection of information identified below on or
before October 31, 2008, for a period of 180 days after the date of
issuance of this notice in the Federal Register. On October 7, 2008, in
response to the September 12, 2008, Chatsworth, California, collision
of a Union Pacific (UP) freight train and a Metrolink commuter train,
which resulted in the deaths of 25 people and numerous injuries, as
well as other recent accidents/incidents involving cell phone use and
use of electronic/electrical devices, FRA published in the Federal
Register Emergency Order No. 26 (E.O. 26) (see 73 FR 58702) restricting
on-duty railroad operating employees' use of cell phones and other
distracting electronic and electronic devices. Because E.O. 26 goes
into effect on October 27, 2008, and because E.O. 26 imposes
information collection requirements that must be fulfilled by the
nation's railroads, FRA is seeking emergency approval for the proposed
collection of information to enforce compliance with E.O. 26 and to
ensure the safety of affected railroad employees and the general public
during train operations throughout the United States.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than November 3, 2008.
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, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC
20590, or Ms. Nakia Jackson, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 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--New''
and the title of the proposed collection of information. Alternatively,
comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6216 or (202)
493-6497, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@dot.gov, or to
Ms. Jackson at nakia.jackson@dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB
control number in any correspondence submitted.
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. Nakia Jackson, Office of Information Technology,
RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.,
Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6073). (These
telephone numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Below is a brief summary of the currently
approved information collection activities that FRA is submitting for
clearance by OMB:
OMB Control Number: 2130--New.
Title: FRA Emergency Order No. 26, Notice No. 1.
Type of Request: Emergency approval.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Abstract: Emergency Order No. 26--and its associated collection of
information--is FRA's direct and proactive response to the September
12, 2008, Chatsworth, California, collision of a Union Pacific (UP)
freight train and a Metrolink commuter train, which resulted in the
deaths of 25 people and numerous injuries to train occupants, as well
as to other train accidents/incidents involving cell phone use and use
of electronic/electrical devices that have occurred throughout the
country recently. The collection of information under Emergency Order
No. 26 is aimed at ensuring that railroads revise their programs of
operational tests and inspections, as necessary, to include the
requirements of E.O. 26 and specifically include a minimum number of
operational tests and inspections; and at ensuring railroads instruct
each of their operating employees and supervisors of railroad operating
employees concerning the requirements of E.O. 26 and implementing
railroad rules and instructions. The collection of information under
E.O. 26 also contains a provision that allows railroads to petition for
relief from this Order by adopting other means of ensuring that
railroad operating employees are not
[[Page 63765]]
distracted from their duties by use of electronic or electrical devices
or by implementing technology that will prevent inappropriate acts and
omissions from resulting in injury to persons.
Reporting Burden
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Respondent Total annual Average time per Total annual burden
Emergency order item No. 26 universe responses response hours
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(1) Revision of Railroad's 687 Railroads..... 687 amended 1 hour........... 687 hours
Program of Operational Tests programs.
and Inspections.
Under 49 CFR 217 to Include 20 New Railroads.. 20 amended 1 hour........... 20 hours
Requirements of E.O. 26. programs.
(2) Employee Training in 130,000 RR 130,000 Trained 15 minutes....... 32,500 hours
Requirements of E.O. 26 and Employees. Employees.
Implementing Railroad Rules
and Instructions.
(3) Petitions of Relief from 687 Railroads..... Zero (0) Petitions Zero (0) minutes/ Zero (0) hours
E.O. 26. hours.
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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: 130,707.
Total Annual Estimated Burden: 33,207 hours.
Status: Emergency 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 October 21, 2008.
Kimberly Orben,
Acting Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-25480 Filed 10-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P