Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: November 12, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 218)]

[Notices]

[Page 65496-65497]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12no04-122]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Request for Comments

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirement (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 its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 2, 2004 (69 FR 53765).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 13, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292), or Ms. Debra Steward, Office of Information Technology and Productivity Improvement, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., 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. No. 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 September 2, 2004, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking OMB approval. 69 FR 53765. FRA received no comments in response to this notice.

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 summary below describes the nature of the information collection requirement (ICR) and the expected burden, and is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.

Title: Safety Appliance Concern Recommendation Report; Safety Appliance Standards Guidance Checklist Forms.

OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.

Type of Request: New collection.

Affected Public: Businesses.

Abstract: In an ongoing effort to conduct more thorough and more effective inspections of railroad freight equipment and to further enhance safe rail operations, FRA has developed a safety concern recommendation report form, and a group of guidance checklist forms that will facilitate railroad, rail car owner, and rail equipment manufacturer compliance with agency Railroad Safety Appliance Standards regulations. In lieu of completing an official inspection form (FRA F 6180.96), which takes subject railroad equipment out of service and disrupts rail operations, proposed new Form FRA F 6180.4a will enable Federal and State safety inspectors to report to agency headquarters systemic or other safety concerns. FRA headquarters safety specialists can then contact railroads, car owners, and equipment manufacturers to address the reported issue(s) in a timely fashion without unnecessarily having to take affected rail equipment out of service, unless deemed defective. Proposed forms FRA F 6180.4(b)-(m) will be used in conjunction with the Special Inspection of Safety Appliance Equipment form (Form FRA F 6180.4) to assist Motive, Power, and Equipment (MP&E) field inspectors in ensuring that critical sections of 49 CFR part 231 (Railroad Safety Appliance Standards), pertaining to various types of freight equipment, are complied with through the use of a check-off list. By simplifying their demanding work, check-off lists for 12 essential sections of part 231 will ensure that FRA MP&E field personnel completely and thoroughly inspect each type of freight car for compliance with its corresponding section in part 231. The proposed Guidance Checklist forms may later be used by state field inspectors as well. FRA believes that the proposed collection of information will result in improved construction of newly designed freight cars and improved field inspections of all freight cars currently in use. This, in turn, will serve to reduce the number of accidents/incidents and corresponding injuries and fatalities that occur every year due to unsafe or defective equipment that was not promptly repaired/replaced.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 240 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 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.

[[Page 65497]]

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 3, 2004. Kathy A. Weiner, Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal Railroad Administration.

[FR Doc. 04-25135 Filed 11-10-04; 8:45 am]

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