[Federal Register: October 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 202)]
[Notices]               
[Page 59981-59982]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20oc03-79]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

 
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its 
implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
hereby announces that it is seeking approval of the following 
information collection activities. Before submitting these information 
collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of 
the activities identified below.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than December 19, 2003.

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, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 
20590, 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. 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''. Alternatively, comments may be transmitted 
via facsimile to (202) 493-6230 or (202) 493-6170, or E-mail to Mr. Brogan at robert.brogan@fra.dot.gov, or to Ms. Steward at debra.steward@fra.dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB control 
number or collection title in any correspondence submitted. FRA will 
summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent 
notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB 
for approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning 
and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 
Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6292) or 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. 104-13, Sec. 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 provide 60-days notice to the public for 
comment on information collection activities before seeking approval by 
OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.10(e)(1), 
1320.12(a). Specifically, FRA invites interested respondents to comment 
on the following summary of proposed information collection activities 
regarding (i) whether the information collection activities are 
necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether 
the activities will have practical utility; (ii) the accuracy of FRA's 
estimates of the burden of the information collection activities, 
including the validity of the

[[Page 59982]]

methodology and assumptions used to determine the estimates; (iii) ways 
for FRA to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
being collected; and (iv) ways for FRA to minimize the burden of 
information collection activities on the public by automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses). See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)(i)-(iv); 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1)(i)-(iv). FRA believes that soliciting public comment will 
promote its efforts to reduce the administrative and paperwork burdens 
associated with the collection of information mandated by Federal 
regulations. In summary, FRA reasons that comments received will 
advance three objectives: (i) Reduce reporting burdens; (ii) ensure 
that it organizes information collection requirements in a ``user 
friendly'' format to improve the use of such information; and (iii) 
accurately assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce 
information requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    Below is a brief summary of proposed new information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Maintenance of Way 
Employees.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-New.
    Abstract: In a continuing effort to improve rail safety and to 
reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to rail workers, FRA and 
the rail industry have recently focused on the issue of fatigue among 
train and engine crew personnel. Because railroading is an around-the-
clock, seven-days-a-week operation and because a wide array of workers 
are needed both to operate and to maintain the nation's railroads, 
other crafts--besides train and engine crews--can also be subject to 
fatigue. The non-operating crafts, including locomotive and car repair, 
track maintenance, signal system maintenance and telecommunications, 
fall into this second category. FRA is proposing a study which will 
focus on maintenance of way employees, one of the non-operating 
railroad crafts. The project will be very similar in both method and 
scope to a current study focusing on railroad signalmen. To develop an 
understanding of the work schedule-related fatigue issues for 
maintenance of way employees, FRA proposes to undertake this study. The 
proposed study has two primary purposes: (1) It aims to document and 
characterize the work/rest schedules and sleep patterns of the 
maintenance of way employees; and (2) It intends to examine the 
relationship between these schedules and level of alertness/fatigue for 
the individuals who work these schedules. The intent is to report 
results in the aggregate, not by railroad. Subjective ratings from 
participants of their alertness/sleepiness on both work and non-work 
days will be an integral part of this study. The data will be collected 
through the use of a daily diary or log, as well as a brief background 
questionnaire for each participant. Analysis of the diary data will 
allow FRA to assess whether or not there are any work-related fatigue 
issues for maintenance of way employees.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.113; FRA F 6180.114.
    Affected Public: Rail Workers.
    Respondent Universe: 338 Maintenance of Way Employees.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 874 hours.
    Status: Regular 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 14, 2003.
Kathy A. Weiner,
Director, Office of Information Technology and Support Systems, Federal 
Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-26377 Filed 10-17-03; 8:45 am]

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