Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments; Clearance of a New Information Collection: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers, 59392-59394 [05-20361]
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59392
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 12, 2005 / Notices
period of time. Electronic records are
stored for an indefinite period of time.
SYSTEM MANAGER AND ADDRESS:
Director of Finance and
Administration, Saint Lawrence Seaway
Development Corporation, P.O. Box 520,
180 Andrews Street, Massena, N.Y.
13662–0520.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
Individuals may inquire, in writing, to
the System manager.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Same as ‘‘Notification procedure.’’
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Same as ‘‘Notification procedure.’’
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Information contained in this system
would come from Saint Lawrence
Seaway Development Corporation
records.
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
Dated: October 4, 2005.
Steven Lott,
Departmental Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. 05–20399 Filed 10–11–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–62–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Draft Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement for US 411
Connector, Bartow County, GA
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, the FHWA, in cooperation with
the Georgia Department of
Transportation (GDOT), have jointly
prepared a Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement
(DSEIS) for proposed transportation
improvements in the US 411 Corridor.
The project is within Bartow County.
The DSEIS identifies various
alternatives and the associated
environmental impacts of the proposed
alternatives. Interested citizens are
invited to review the DSEIS and submit
comments. Copies of the DSEIS may be
obtained by telephoning or writing the
contact person listed below under
ADDRESSES. Public reading copies of the
DSEIS are available at the locations
listed under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
DATES: A 45-day public review period
will begin on October 7, 2005 and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:48 Oct 11, 2005
Jkt 208001
conclude on November 21, 2005.
Written comments on the alternatives
and impacts to be considered must be
received by GDOT by November 21,
2005. A public hearing to receive
comments on the DSEIS will be held in
Cartersville, GA on October 24, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
DSEIS should be addressed to Mr.
Harvey D. Keepler, State
Environmental/Location Engineer,
Georgia Department of Transportation,
3993 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA
30336–1593. Requests for a copy of the
DSEIS may be addressed to Mr. Harvey
D. Keepler at the address above. Please
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for a listing of the available documents
and formats in which they may be
obtained. Copies of the Draft EIS are
also available for public inspection and
review. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request copies of the DSEIS or for
additional information, contact: Mr.
Harvey D. Keepler, State
Environmental/Location Engineer,
Georgia Department of Transportation,
3993 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA
30336–1593.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hearing
Date and Location: Monday, October 24,
2005: Cartersville Civic Center, 435
West main Street, Cartersville, GA (4
p.m.–7 p.m.)
Copies of the DSEIS are available in
hard copy format for public inspection
at:
Georgia Department of Transportation,
Office of Environment/Location, 3993
Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA 30336–
1593.
Georgia Department of Transportation
District Six Office, 500 Joe Frank
Harris Parkway, Cartersville, GA
30120.
Bartow County Commissioners Office,
135 W Cherokee Ave, Suite 251,
Cartersville, GA 30120.
City of Cartersville, City Clerks Office,
10 North Public Square, Cartersville,
GA 30120.
City of Rome, City Clerks Office, Rome
City Hall, 601 Broad Street, Rome, GA
30162.
Georgia Highlands College, Cartersville
Campus, Library, 5441 Highway 20,
NE Cartersville, GA 30121.
Bartow County Library, 429 W Main
Street, Cartersville, GA 30120.
Background
This DSEIS provides a detailed
evaluation of the US 411 Connector
project. The project corridor lies within
Bartown County, Georgia. This DSEIS
includes an examination of the purpose
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and need, alternatives under
consideration, travel demand, affected
environment, environmental
consequences, and mitigation measures
as a result of the improvements under
consideration. Five build alternatives,
including the No-Action Alternative, are
considered for improvements to the US
411 Corridor. FHWA was the lead
agency for the preparation of the Draft
SEIS.
The FHWA, the GDOT, and other
local agencies invite interested
individuals, organizations, and Federal,
State, and local agencies to comment on
the evaluated alternatives and
associated social, economic, or
environmental impacts related to the
alternatives.
Dated on: October 5, 2005.
Robert M. Callan,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, Atlanta, Georgia.
[FR Doc. 05–20385 Filed 10–11–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Request for Comments;
Clearance of a New Information
Collection: Work Schedules and Sleep
Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers
Federal Railroad
Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad
Administration invites public comments
about our intention to request the Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
approval for a new information
collection. The proposed collection
involves the work schedules and sleep
patterns of railroad dispatchers. FRA
seeks to develop an understanding of
the work schedule-related fatigue issues
that affect railroad dispatchers. FRA
will use the data obtained from the
proposed collection (a survey) to
identify whether or not this segment of
the railroad workforce has a work and
sleep schedule pattern that may
compromise their ability to carry out
their safety critical role in railroad
operations in a suitable manner. FRA is
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 to publish this notice. The
Federal Register notice with a 60-day
comment period soliciting comments on
the following collection of information
was published on August 4, 2005.
DATES: Please submit comments on or
before November 14, 2005.
E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM
12OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 12, 2005 / Notices
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 Victor Angelo, Office of Support
Systems, RAD–20, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave.,
NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC
20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6470).
(These telephone numbers are not tollfree.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), Pub. L. No. 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 August 4,
2005, FRA published a 60-day notice in
the Federal Register soliciting comment
on ICRs that the agency was seeking
OMB approval. 70 FR 44971. FRA
received two comments in response to
this notice. Both commenters supported
the proposed information collection.
The first comment came from Mr. Leo
McCann, President of the American
Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA).
ATDA is a rail labor organization that
represents approximately 2,100 railroad
workers who are charged with the task
of safely and efficiently moving the
nation’s freight and passenger service on
a daily around-the-clock basis. In his
remarks, Mr. McCann stated the
following:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ATDA is considered one of several ‘‘nonoperating crafts’’ whose members are subject
to work schedule-related fatigue. Fatigue
continues to be a factor for the non-operating
crafts within the rail industry, especially in
view of the working conditions, expanded
territories, frequent changes in workweek
and starting times, and erratic call schedules
for our extra train dispatchers. Our members,
like BRS and BMWE, are subject to a number
of work schedule-related factors which can
lead to fatigue induced accidents and
incidents. As such, we support the study
contemplated in the above-referenced notice
to assist FRA and the rail industry in
understanding the impact of work schedules,
territory size, call schedules, working
conditions, and other factors which may
contribute to ATDA employee fatigue.
The second comment came from Mr.
Freddie Simpson, President of the
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employees (BMWE). The BMWE is a rail
labor organization that represents
40,000 railroad workers who build,
maintain, repair, and inspect tracks,
bridges, and related railroad
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:48 Oct 11, 2005
Jkt 208001
infrastructure throughout the United
States. In his letter, Mr. Simpson noted
the following:
Railroad Dispatchers play a critical role in
the safety of rail operations. Fatigue has been
a huge factor in the railroad industry, and
recent railroad mergers and manpower
reductions have exacerbated the problem.
BMWE contends that the Work Schedules
and Sleep Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers,
OMB Control Number 2130–NEW, study will
help FRA and the rail industry to develop an
understanding of the work schedule-related
fatigue issues that affect Railroad
Dispatchers.
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
being submitted for clearance by OMB
as required by the PRA.
Title: Work Schedules and Sleep
Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers.
OMB Control Number: 2130–XXXX.
Type of Request: Approval of a new
information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.122; FRA F
6180.123.
Abstract: In a continuing effort to
improve rail safety and to reduce the
number of injuries and fatalities to rail
workers, FRA and the railroad industry
have focused on the issue of fatigue,
primarily 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 nonoperating crafts, including track
maintenance, signal system
maintenance and telecommunications
and railroad dispatchers, fall into this
second category. FRA is proposing a
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
59393
study which will focus on railroad
dispatchers, one of the non-operating
railroad crafts. FRA seeks to develop an
understanding of the work schedulerelated fatigue issues that affect railroad
dispatchers. The proposed study has
two primary purposes: (1) It aims to
document and characterize the work/
rest schedules and sleep patterns of the
railroad dispatchers; 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
individual or 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
completed by participants over a
continuous two-week time period, as
well as through a brief background
questionnaire completed by each
participant. Analysis of the diary data
will allow FRA to assess whether or not
there are any work-related fatigue issues
for railroad dispatchers. The proposed
study will provide a defensible and
definitive estimate of the work/rest
cycle parameters and fatigue in
dispatchers that will inform possible
future FRA regulatory policy and action.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 858.
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 are invited on the
following: Whether the proposed
collections of information are necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of FRA, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
the accuracy of FRA’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: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35; and 49 CFR
1.48.
E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM
12OCN1
59394
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 12, 2005 / Notices
Dated in Washington, DC on October 5,
2005.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. 05–20361 Filed 10–11–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB–314 (Sub–No. 3X)]
Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad
Company’Abandonment Exemption’in
Linn County, IA
Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad
Company (CC&P) has filed a notice of
exemption under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart
F—Exempt Abandonments to abandon a
0.79-mile line of railroad, the North
Cedar Rapids Spur, extending from
milepost 87.74 at 16th Street, NE., to
milepost 88.53 near 20th Street NE., at
the end of the track, in Cedar Rapids,
Linn County, IA. The line traverses
United States Postal Service Zip Code
52402.
CC&P has certified that: (1) No local
traffic has moved over the line for at
least 2 years; (2) any overhead traffic
formerly handled on the line can be
rerouted over other lines; (3) no formal
complaint filed by a user of rail service
on the line (or by a state or local
government entity acting on behalf of
such user) regarding cessation of service
over the line either is pending with the
Surface Transportation Board or with
any U.S. District Court or has been
decided in favor of complainant within
the 2-year period;1 and (4) the
requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7
(environmental reports), 49 CFR 1105.8
(historic reports), 49 CFR 1105.11
(transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12
(newspaper publication), and 49 CFR
1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental
agencies) have been met.
As a condition to this exemption, any
employee adversely affected by the
abandonment shall be protected under
Oregon Short Line R. Co.—
Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91
(1979). To address whether this
1 CC&P states that a portion of the North Cedar
Rapids Spur is immediately adjacent to the
industrial facilities of Cedarapids, Inc. (Cedarapids).
In 2002, Cedarapids initiated litigation in state
court, which was later removed to federal court,
with CC&P regarding use of and title to the adjacent
portion of the North Cedar Rapids Spur right-ofway. See Cedarapids, Inc. v. Chicago, Central &
Pac. R. Co., 265 F. Supp.2d 1005 (N.D. Iowa 2003).
As part of a settlement of that litigation, the parties
agreed that CC&P would abandon the North Cedar
Rapids Spur and transfer the subject right-of-way to
Cedarapids. The settlement is conditioned upon
Board approval or exemption of the abandonment.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:48 Oct 11, 2005
Jkt 208001
condition adequately protects affected
employees, a petition for partial
revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)
must be filed.
Provided no formal expression of
intent to file an offer of financial
assistance (OFA) has been received, this
exemption will be effective on
November 11, 2005, unless stayed
pending reconsideration. Petitions to
stay that do not involve environmental
issues,2 formal expressions of intent to
file an OFA under 49 CFR
1152.27(c)(2),3 and trail use/rail banking
requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be
filed by October 21, 2005. Petitions to
reopen or requests for public use
conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must
be filed by November 1, 2005, with the
Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423–
0001.
A copy of any petition filed with the
Board should be sent to CC&P’s
representative: Thomas J. Litwiler,
Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker
Drive, Suite 920, Chicago, IL 60606–
2832.
If the verified notice contains false or
misleading information, the exemption
is void ab initio.
CC&P has filed an environmental/
historic report which addresses the
effects, if any, of the abandonment on
the environment and historic resources.
SEA will issue an environmental
assessment (EA) by October 17, 2005.
Interested persons may obtain a copy of
the EA by writing to SEA (Room 500,
Surface Transportation Board,
Washington, DC 20423–0001) or by
calling SEA, at (202) 565–1539.
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is
available through the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.] Comments on
environmental and historic preservation
matters must be filed within 15 days
after the EA becomes available to the
public.
Environmental, historic preservation,
public use, or trail use/rail banking
conditions will be imposed, where
appropriate, in a subsequent decision.
Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR
1152.29(e)(2), CC&P shall file a notice of
consummation with the Board to signify
2 The Board will grant a stay if an informed
decision on environmental issues (whether raised
by a party or by the Board’s Section of
Environmental Analysis (SEA) in its independent
investigation) cannot be made before the
exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Outof-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any
request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible
so that the Board may take appropriate action before
the exemption’s effective date.
3 Each OFA must be accompanied by the filing
fee, which currently is set at $1,200. See 49 CFR
1002.2(f)(25).
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Frm 00083
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
that it has exercised the authority
granted and fully abandoned the line. If
consummation has not been effected by
CC&P’s filing of a notice of
consummation by October 12, 2006, and
there are no legal or regulatory barriers
to consummation, the authority to
abandon will automatically expire.
Board decisions and notices are
available on our Web site at https://
www.stb.dot.gov.
Decided: October 5, 2005.
By the Board, David M. Konschnik,
Director, Office of Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05–20442 Filed 10–11–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Public Meeting of the President’s
Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform
Department of the Treasury.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This notice advises all
interested persons of a public meeting of
the President’s Advisory Panel on
Federal Tax Reform.
DATES: This meeting will be held on
Thursday, October 27, 2005. The
meeting will be held via teleconference
and will begin at 11 a.m. eastern
daylight time. Interested parties will be
able to listen to the meeting. Call-in
information will be posted on the
Panel’s Web site, https://
www.taxreformpanel.gov, at a later date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
Panel staff at (202) 927–2TAX (927–
2829) (not a toll-free call) or e-mail
info@taxreformpanel.gov (please do not
send comments to this box). Additional
information is available at https://
www.taxreformpanel.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose: The October 27 meeting is
the thirteenth meeting of the Advisory
Panel. At this meeting, the Panel will
continue to discuss issues associated
with reform of the tax code. There is a
possibility that this meeting will not
take place as scheduled. Please check
the Panel’s Web site for updated
information.
Comments: Interested parties are
invited to call into the teleconference to
listen to the meeting; however, no
public comments will be heard at the
meeting. Any written comments with
respect to this meeting may be mailed
to The President’s Advisory Panel on
Federal Tax Reform, 1440 New York
Avenue, NW., Suite 2100, Washington,
E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM
12OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59392-59394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20361]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comments;
Clearance of a New Information Collection: Work Schedules and Sleep
Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration invites public comments
about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's
(OMB) approval for a new information collection. The proposed
collection involves the work schedules and sleep patterns of railroad
dispatchers. FRA seeks to develop an understanding of the work
schedule-related fatigue issues that affect railroad dispatchers. FRA
will use the data obtained from the proposed collection (a survey) to
identify whether or not this segment of the railroad workforce has a
work and sleep schedule pattern that may compromise their ability to
carry out their safety critical role in railroad operations in a
suitable manner. FRA is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
to publish this notice. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day
comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of
information was published on August 4, 2005.
DATES: Please submit comments on or before November 14, 2005.
[[Page 59393]]
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 Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-20, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35,
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6470). (These telephone
numbers are not toll-free.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
Pub. L. No. 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
August 4, 2005, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register
soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking OMB approval. 70
FR 44971. FRA received two comments in response to this notice. Both
commenters supported the proposed information collection.
The first comment came from Mr. Leo McCann, President of the
American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA). ATDA is a rail labor
organization that represents approximately 2,100 railroad workers who
are charged with the task of safely and efficiently moving the nation's
freight and passenger service on a daily around-the-clock basis. In his
remarks, Mr. McCann stated the following:
ATDA is considered one of several ``non-operating crafts'' whose
members are subject to work schedule-related fatigue. Fatigue
continues to be a factor for the non-operating crafts within the
rail industry, especially in view of the working conditions,
expanded territories, frequent changes in workweek and starting
times, and erratic call schedules for our extra train dispatchers.
Our members, like BRS and BMWE, are subject to a number of work
schedule-related factors which can lead to fatigue induced accidents
and incidents. As such, we support the study contemplated in the
above-referenced notice to assist FRA and the rail industry in
understanding the impact of work schedules, territory size, call
schedules, working conditions, and other factors which may
contribute to ATDA employee fatigue.
The second comment came from Mr. Freddie Simpson, President of the
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE). The BMWE is a rail
labor organization that represents 40,000 railroad workers who build,
maintain, repair, and inspect tracks, bridges, and related railroad
infrastructure throughout the United States. In his letter, Mr. Simpson
noted the following:
Railroad Dispatchers play a critical role in the safety of rail
operations. Fatigue has been a huge factor in the railroad industry,
and recent railroad mergers and manpower reductions have exacerbated
the problem. BMWE contends that the Work Schedules and Sleep
Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers, OMB Control Number 2130-NEW, study
will help FRA and the rail industry to develop an understanding of
the work schedule-related fatigue issues that affect Railroad
Dispatchers.
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 being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by
the PRA.
Title: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Railroad Dispatchers.
OMB Control Number: 2130-XXXX.
Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.122; FRA F 6180.123.
Abstract: In a continuing effort to improve rail safety and to
reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to rail workers, FRA and
the railroad industry have focused on the issue of fatigue, primarily
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 track
maintenance, signal system maintenance and telecommunications and
railroad dispatchers, fall into this second category. FRA is proposing
a study which will focus on railroad dispatchers, one of the non-
operating railroad crafts. FRA seeks to develop an understanding of the
work schedule-related fatigue issues that affect railroad dispatchers.
The proposed study has two primary purposes: (1) It aims to document
and characterize the work/rest schedules and sleep patterns of the
railroad dispatchers; 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 individual or 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 completed by
participants over a continuous two-week time period, as well as through
a brief background questionnaire completed by each participant.
Analysis of the diary data will allow FRA to assess whether or not
there are any work-related fatigue issues for railroad dispatchers. The
proposed study will provide a defensible and definitive estimate of the
work/rest cycle parameters and fatigue in dispatchers that will inform
possible future FRA regulatory policy and action.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 858.
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 are invited on the following: Whether the proposed
collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of FRA, including whether the information will have
practical utility; the accuracy of FRA'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: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35; and 49 CFR 1.48.
[[Page 59394]]
Dated in Washington, DC on October 5, 2005.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-20361 Filed 10-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
