Notice and Request for Comments, 61946-61948 [E7-21476]

Download as PDF 61946 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 211 / Thursday, November 1, 2007 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement: Gulf and Bay Counties, Florida Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT. ACTION: Notice of intent. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Gulf and Bay Counties, Florida. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Hadley, Environmental Programs Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 545 John Knox Road, Suite 200, Tallahassee, Florida 32303, Telephone: (850) 942–9650. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS for a proposal to provide a new highway, known as the Gulf Coast Parkway, in the regional transportation network in Gulf and Bay Counties, Florida. The proposed improvements would connect U.S. 98 at CR 386 in Gulf County with U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) in Springfield and U.S. 231 in Bay County, north of Panama City, utilizing a combination of existing roadway facilities and new roadway alignments. The distance of the proposed improvement is approximately 35 miles. The proposed highway would improve mobility and manage future traffic demand by providing additional infrastructure within the regional transportation network serving Bay and Gulf Counties. The proposed improvements would support economic development in Gulf County. The proposed highway would enhance regional connections to intermodal hubs (airports, seaports and the intermodal distribution center), would provide an alternate route to U.S. 98 through the Tyndall Air Force Base Reservation for national security purposes, and would be an additional route for hurricane evacuation. Alternatives under consideration include (1) taking no action, and (2) 4lane roadway alternatives on a combination of existing and new alignments. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed interest in this proposal. A series of public meetings will be held in Gulf and Bay Counties between September 2007 and VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:40 Oct 31, 2007 Jkt 214001 December of 2008. In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing. The draft EIS will be made available for public and agency review and comment. A formal scoping meeting is planned in the project vicinity during the fall of 2007. To ensure that a full range of issues related to the proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address provided above. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Issued on: October 25, 2007. George B. Hadley, Environmental Programs Coordinator, Tallahassee, Florida. [FR Doc. E7–21508 Filed 10–31–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Sunshine Act Meetings; Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. AGENCY: December 6, 2007, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. TIME AND DATE: These meetings will take place telephonically. Any interested person may call Mr. Avelino Gutierrez at (505) 827–4565 to receive the toll free numbers and pass codes needed to participate in these meetings by telephone. PLACE: STATUS: Open to the public. The Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors (the Board) will continue its work in developing and implementing the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement and to that end, may consider matters properly before the Board. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Mr. Avelino Gutierrez, Chair, Unified Carrier Registration Board of Directors at (505) 827–4565. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: October 26, 2007. William A. Quade, Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery. [FR Doc. 07–5463 Filed 10–30–07; 3:42 pm] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration 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 August 23, 2007 (72 FR 48315). DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 3, 2007. 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. Gina Christodoulou, Office of Support Systems Staff, RAD– 43, 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), Public Law 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 August 23, 2007, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking OMB approval. 72 FR 48315. FRA received two comments after issuing this notice. The first comment was submitted by Donald M. Hahs, National President, on behalf of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), who expressed whole hearted support for the proposed study. The BLET is a Division of the Rail Conference of the E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 211 / Thursday, November 1, 2007 / Notices International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and is the duly designated and recognized collective bargaining representative for the craft or class of Locomotive Engineer employed on all Class I railroads. BLET also represents operating and other employees on numerous Class II and Class III railroads. In his letter, Mr. Hahs remarked: * * * The proposed activity will involve the participation of BLET members, and I am pleased to support the activity and strongly urge its approval by OMB. The BLET has long been in the forefront of efforts to combat fatigue among its members and operating crews. Our activities include numerous cooperative ventures with the nation’s railroad carriers and with FRA, as well as proposing and advocating legislative remedies designed to combat fatigue. We have followed previous FRA studies— involving other crafts—with interest and have found the results of those studies helpful to our endeavors. Moreover, we fully support and have actively provided assistance in designing the proposed activity. In our opinion, the activity has significant scientific validity and will produce meaningful data for use in future fatigue-mitigation efforts by BLET and all railroad industry stakeholders. We are satisfied that adequate safeguards are in place to protect all legitimate confidentiality interests, and we look forward to OMB approval and implementation of the information collection. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES The second comment was submitted by Paul C. Thompson, International President, on behalf of the United Transportation Union (UTU), who completely endorsed the proposed study. The UTU represents approximately 65,000 railroad employees who work in the operating crafts on the nation’s railroads today. In his letter, Mr. Thompson noted: * * * This FRA proposed study will focus on train and engine service employees, which consists of locomotive engineers, conductors, remote control operators, and switchmen. Fatigue is a major safety concern for our operating crews today, and UTU fully supports this study ‘to develop an understanding of the work schedule-related fatigue issues that affect these operating crafts.’ This study will be very similar in both method and scope to the recently completed studies of railroad signalmen, maintenance of way employees, and train dispatchers. In response to the Federal Register Notice and request for comments published on August 23, 2007, UTU files the following supportive comments: • The proposed collection of information is necessary to assist the Department in furthering its understanding of workschedule related fatigue issues affecting railroad train and engine employees. This information will provide the Department with the means to evaluate the overall impact VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:40 Oct 31, 2007 Jkt 214001 of work/rest scheduling practices in the railroad industry. • The collected information will have practical utility to the Department in its ongoing effort to analyze and combat workschedule related fatigue within the railroad industry. • The methodology proposed for this information collection activity is suitable and appropriate for the study and the respondent population, and will facilitate the collection of high quality data with high utility. • The proposed information collection activity has been designed to be minimally burdensome on respondents. The proposed information collection activity is of limited duration and is compatible with the work environment where the data will be recorded by respondents. Neither BLET nor UTU addressed the issue of burden hour estimates or burden cost estimates. After carefully reviewing these comments, DOT announces that these information collection activities have been reevaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c). 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, and are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA. Title: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Train and Engine Service Employees. OMB Control Number: 2130–NEW. Type of Request: New collection. Affected Public: Rail Workers. Abstract: In a continuing effort to improve rail safety and to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to rail workers, the issue of fatigue has received considerable attention from both FRA and the railroad industry. One of FRA’s fatigue-related activities has PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61947 been a series of studies designed to document and characterize the work/ rest schedules and sleep patterns in signalmen, maintenance-of-way workers, and dispatchers. These studies used the methodology approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), including random selection of participants to ensure a representative sample of each group. FRA has not yet collected data from two critically important labor crafts whose work schedules are regulated by FRA, locomotive engineers and conductors. FRA is proposing a study that will focus on train and engine service employees, which consists of locomotive engineers, conductors, remote control operators, and switchmen. FRA seeks to develop an understanding of the work schedulerelated fatigue issues that affect these operating crafts. The project will be very similar in both method and scope to the recently completed studies of railroad signalmen, maintenance of way employees, and dispatchers. The FRA proposes to undertake this study to develop an understanding of the work schedule-related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees. The proposed study has two primary purposes: • To document and characterize the work/rest schedules and sleep patterns of train and engine service employees. • 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 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 the FRA to assess the extent of any work-related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees. The proposed study will provide a defensible and definitive estimate of the work/rest cycle parameters and fatigue in train and engine service employees that will inform future FRA regulatory policy and action. Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.127; FRA F 6180.128. Affected Public: Rail Workers. Respondent Universe: 340 Train and Engine Service Employees. Frequency of Submission: On occasion. Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 878 hours. Status: Regular Review. E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1 61948 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 211 / Thursday, November 1, 2007 / Notices 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. The earliest this transaction may be consummated is November 15, 2007, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the exemption was filed). If the notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the transaction. Petitions for stay must be filed no later than November 8, 2007 (at least 7 days before the exemption becomes effective). An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB Finance Docket No. 35089, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423– 0001. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be served on Karl Morell, Suite 225, 1455 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005. Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at https:// www.stb.dot.gov. Issued in Washington, DC on October 25, 2007 . D.J. Stadtler, Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad Administration. [FR Doc. E7–21476 Filed 10–31–07; 8:45 am] Decided: October 23, 2007. By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of Proceedings. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–21200 Filed 10–31–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P BILLING CODE 4915–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Surface Transportation Board Community Development Financial Institutions Fund [STB Finance Docket No. 35089] East Penn Railroad, LLC—Acquisition Exemption-Berks County, PA mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES East Penn Railroad, LLC (ESPN), a Class III rail carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire 8.60 miles of rail line from Berks County, PA. The line, known as the Colebrookdale Line, extends between milepost 0.00, at Pottsgrove Township, PA, and milepost 8.60, at Colebrookdale Township, PA, in Berks County.1 ESPN certifies that its projected annual revenues as a result of this transaction will not result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail carrier and further certifies that its projected annual revenues will not exceed $5 million. 1 ESPN indicates that its new owner, Regional Rail, LLC, a noncarrier, discovered that one of ESPN’s predecessors, Penn Eastern Rail Lines, Inc., had consummated the acquisition of the line in July 2003, but inadvertently failed to obtain prior Board approval for that acquisition. ESPN here seeks such approval. VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:40 Oct 31, 2007 Jkt 214001 Funding Opportunity Title: Revised Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) inviting applications for the FY 2008 Funding Round of the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program Announcement Type: Initial announcement of funding opportunity. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.020. Dates: Applications for the FY 2008 Funding Round of the NACA Program must be received by 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 19, 2007. Executive Summary: Subject to funding availability, this NOFA is issued in connection with the FY 2008 funding round of the NACA Program. I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Through the NACA Program, the Fund provides: (i) Financial Assistance (FA) awards to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that have at least 50 percent of their activities directed toward serving Native American, Alaska Native and/or Native Hawaiian Communities (Native PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 CDFIs) that have Comprehensive Business Plans for creating demonstrable community development impact through the deployment of credit, capital, and financial services within their respective Target Markets or the expansion into new Investment Areas, Low-Income Targeted Populations, or Other Targeted Populations, and (ii) Technical Assistance (TA) grants to Native CDFIs entities proposing to become Native CDFIs, and to Native organizations, Tribes and Tribal organizations (Sponsoring Entities) that propose to create Native CDFIs, in order to build their capacity to better address the community development and capital access needs of their existing or proposed Target Markets, and/or to become certified Native CDFIs. B. The regulations governing the CDFI Program, found at 12 CFR part 1805 (the Interim Rule), provide guidance on evaluation criteria and other requirements of the NACA Program. The Fund encourages Applicants to review the Interim Rule. Detailed application content requirements are found in the applicable funding application and related guidance materials. Each capitalized term in this NOFA is more fully defined in the Interim Rule, the application or the guidance materials. C. The Fund reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications submitted in response to this NOFA. The Fund reserves the right to re-allocate funds from the amount that is anticipated to be available under this NOFA to other Fund programs, particularly if the Fund determines that the number of awards made under this NOFA is fewer than projected. II. Award Information A. Funding Availability 1. Anticipated FY 2008 Funding: Through this NOFA, and subject to funding availability, the Fund expects that it may award approximately $3.5 million in appropriated funds through the NACA Program. The Fund reserves the right to award in excess of $3.5 million in appropriated funds to Applicants in the FY 2008 Funding Round, provided that the funds are available and the Fund deems it appropriate. 2. Availability of Funds for the FY 2008 Funding Round: Funds for the FY 2008 Funding Round have not yet been appropriated. If funds are not appropriated for the FY 2008 Funding Round, there will not be a FY 2008 Funding Round. Further, it is possible that if funds are appropriated for the FY E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 211 (Thursday, November 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61946-61948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21476]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


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 August 23, 2007 (72 FR 48315).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 3, 2007.

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. Gina Christodoulou, Office of 
Support Systems Staff, RAD-43, 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), 
Public Law 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 August 23, 2007, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. 72 FR 48315. FRA received two comments after issuing this 
notice.
    The first comment was submitted by Donald M. Hahs, National 
President, on behalf of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and 
Trainmen (BLET), who expressed whole hearted support for the proposed 
study. The BLET is a Division of the Rail Conference of the

[[Page 61947]]

International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and is the duly designated and 
recognized collective bargaining representative for the craft or class 
of Locomotive Engineer employed on all Class I railroads. BLET also 
represents operating and other employees on numerous Class II and Class 
III railroads. In his letter, Mr. Hahs remarked:

* * * The proposed activity will involve the participation of BLET 
members, and I am pleased to support the activity and strongly urge 
its approval by OMB.
    The BLET has long been in the forefront of efforts to combat 
fatigue among its members and operating crews. Our activities 
include numerous cooperative ventures with the nation's railroad 
carriers and with FRA, as well as proposing and advocating 
legislative remedies designed to combat fatigue. We have followed 
previous FRA studies--involving other crafts--with interest and have 
found the results of those studies helpful to our endeavors.
    Moreover, we fully support and have actively provided assistance 
in designing the proposed activity. In our opinion, the activity has 
significant scientific validity and will produce meaningful data for 
use in future fatigue-mitigation efforts by BLET and all railroad 
industry stakeholders. We are satisfied that adequate safeguards are 
in place to protect all legitimate confidentiality interests, and we 
look forward to OMB approval and implementation of the information 
collection.

    The second comment was submitted by Paul C. Thompson, International 
President, on behalf of the United Transportation Union (UTU), who 
completely endorsed the proposed study. The UTU represents 
approximately 65,000 railroad employees who work in the operating 
crafts on the nation's railroads today. In his letter, Mr. Thompson 
noted:

* * * This FRA proposed study will focus on train and engine service 
employees, which consists of locomotive engineers, conductors, 
remote control operators, and switchmen. Fatigue is a major safety 
concern for our operating crews today, and UTU fully supports this 
study `to develop an understanding of the work schedule-related 
fatigue issues that affect these operating crafts.'
    This study will be very similar in both method and scope to the 
recently completed studies of railroad signalmen, maintenance of way 
employees, and train dispatchers.
    In response to the Federal Register Notice and request for 
comments published on August 23, 2007, UTU files the following 
supportive comments:
     The proposed collection of information is necessary to 
assist the Department in furthering its understanding of work-
schedule related fatigue issues affecting railroad train and engine 
employees. This information will provide the Department with the 
means to evaluate the overall impact of work/rest scheduling 
practices in the railroad industry.
     The collected information will have practical utility 
to the Department in its ongoing effort to analyze and combat work-
schedule related fatigue within the railroad industry.
     The methodology proposed for this information 
collection activity is suitable and appropriate for the study and 
the respondent population, and will facilitate the collection of 
high quality data with high utility.
     The proposed information collection activity has been 
designed to be minimally burdensome on respondents. The proposed 
information collection activity is of limited duration and is 
compatible with the work environment where the data will be recorded 
by respondents.

    Neither BLET nor UTU addressed the issue of burden hour estimates 
or burden cost estimates. After carefully reviewing these comments, DOT 
announces that these information collection activities have been re-
evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
    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, and are being 
submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Work Schedules and Sleep Patterns of Train and Engine 
Service Employees.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-NEW.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Affected Public: Rail Workers.
    Abstract: In a continuing effort to improve rail safety and to 
reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to rail workers, the issue 
of fatigue has received considerable attention from both FRA and the 
railroad industry. One of FRA's fatigue-related activities has been a 
series of studies designed to document and characterize the work/rest 
schedules and sleep patterns in signalmen, maintenance-of-way workers, 
and dispatchers. These studies used the methodology approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), including random selection of 
participants to ensure a representative sample of each group. FRA has 
not yet collected data from two critically important labor crafts whose 
work schedules are regulated by FRA, locomotive engineers and 
conductors.
    FRA is proposing a study that will focus on train and engine 
service employees, which consists of locomotive engineers, conductors, 
remote control operators, and switchmen. FRA seeks to develop an 
understanding of the work schedule-related fatigue issues that affect 
these operating crafts. The project will be very similar in both method 
and scope to the recently completed studies of railroad signalmen, 
maintenance of way employees, and dispatchers. The FRA proposes to 
undertake this study to develop an understanding of the work schedule-
related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees.
    The proposed study has two primary purposes:
     To document and characterize the work/rest schedules and 
sleep patterns of train and engine service employees.
     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 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 the FRA to assess the extent of any work-
related fatigue issues for train and engine service employees. The 
proposed study will provide a defensible and definitive estimate of the 
work/rest cycle parameters and fatigue in train and engine service 
employees that will inform future FRA regulatory policy and action.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.127; FRA F 6180.128.
    Affected Public: Rail Workers.
    Respondent Universe: 340 Train and Engine Service Employees.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 878 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.

[[Page 61948]]

    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.

    Issued in Washington, DC on October 25, 2007 .
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E7-21476 Filed 10-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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