
[Federal Register: February 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 35)]
[Notices]               
[Page 8303-8304]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24fe09-113]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0001-N-4]

 
Information Collection Requirement (ICR)

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 December 16, 2008 (73 FR 76442).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 26, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 25, 
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., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 35, 
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6073). (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 December 16, 2008, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment

[[Page 8304]]

on this ICR that the agency was seeking OMB approval. 73 FR 76442. FRA 
received no comments after issuing this notice. Accordingly, DOT 
announces that these information collection activities have been 
evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.10(a).
    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. The revised 
requirement is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the 
PRA.
    Title: Notice Requesting Expressions of Interest in Implementing a 
High-Speed Inter-City Passenger Rail Corridor.
    OMB Control Number: 2130--New.
    Type of Request: Regular approval of a new collection of 
information.
    Affected Public: 50 states, District of Columbia, Amtrak, eligible 
entities.
    Abstract: Section 502 of the Passenger Rail Investment and 
Improvement Act of 2008, Public Law 110-690 (October 16, 2008), 
requires the Secretary of Transportation to ``issue a request for 
proposals for projects for the financing, design, construction, 
operation, and maintenance of a high-speed intercity passenger rail 
system operating within'' either the Northeast Corridor or a Federally-
designated high-speed rail (HSR) corridor. To satisfy this requirement, 
FRA is soliciting and encouraging the submission of Expressions of 
Interest for potential projects to finance, design, construct, operate, 
and maintain an improved HSR intercity passenger system in the 
Northeast Corridor or in one of ten Federally-designated corridors. FRA 
envisions this as the first phase of a qualification process that 
Congress may follow with more specific actions regarding particular 
concepts in one or more corridors. Section 502 prescribes that 
Expressions of Interest received will be considered by FRA and possibly 
by commissions, representing affected and involved governors, mayors, 
freight railroads, transit authorities, labor organizations, and 
Amtrak. The results of these reviews will be summarized in one or more 
reports to Congress, which will make recommendations for further action 
regarding no more than one project concept for each corridor. FRA 
envisions this as the first phase of a qualification process that 
Congress may follow with more specific actions regarding particular 
concepts in one or more corridors.
    Although authorized, no funds have been appropriated to support 
implementation of HSR under this program, and the availability of such 
funds in the future is not known. Respondents to FRA's request in the 
December 16, 2008, Federal Register (73 FR 76443) acknowledge, by 
virtue of their response, that the likelihood of future funding and 
implementation of the projects covered by that notice is unknown, and 
that the Federal Government will not be liable for any costs incurred 
in the preparation of responses to this notice.
    The information collected will be used by the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA), commissions to be formed in accordance with 
Section 502, and Congress. The collection of information--responses 
that describe high speed rail proposals--will be used to inform the 
Department and Congress about the benefits to the public and the 
national transportation system from high speed rail proposals received. 
Upon receipt of responses and after the close of the Expression of 
Interest solicitation, FRA will evaluate them and determine if each 
Expression of Interest is complete and if there is evidence provided in 
the response that would support conclusions, based on criteria 
specified in Section 502. If FRA determines that one or more 
Expressions of Interest satisfy this screening evaluation, FRA would 
form a commission for each relevant corridor to review and consider the 
response(s).
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 34,063 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 may also be sent via e-mail to 
OMB at the following address: oira_submissions@omb.eop.gov.
    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. Sec. Sec.  3501-3520.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18, 2009.
Kimberly Orben,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-3901 Filed 2-23-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
