
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71116-71117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29605]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2011-001-N-16]


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 renewal of the following currently 
approved 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 January 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
proposed activities by mail to either: Ms. Janet Wylie, Office of 
Planning and Administration, RPD-3, Federal Railroad Administration, 
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. 
Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-20, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., 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 2130-0548.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6170, or via email to Mr. Wylie at janet.wylie@dot.gov, or to Ms. Toone 
at kim.toone@dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number 
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: Ms. Janet Wylie, Office of Planning 
and Administration, RPD-3, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Ave, SE., Mail Stop 20, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 
493-6353) or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD-
20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail 
Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6132). (These 
telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 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 for reinstatement or renewal 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 
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 the information collection activities 
that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0548.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a previously approved 
collection.
    Abstract: Title V of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory 
Reform Act of 1976 (Act), 45 U.S.C. 821 et seq., authorized the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) to provide railroads financial assistance 
through the purchase of preference shares, and the issuance of loan 
guarantees. Section 7203 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century of 1998, Public Law 105-178 (1998) (TEA 21), and subsequent 
amendments in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59 (2005) SAFETEA-LU and 
the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA), Division A of Public 
Law 110-432 have since replaced the previous Title V financing program. 
On July 6, 2000, FRA published a final rule (FR) with procedures and 
requirements to cover applications of financial assistance in the form 
of direct loans and loan guarantees consistent with the changes made to 
Title V of the Act by section 7203 of TEA 21. On September 29, 2010, 
FRA published a Notice Regarding Consideration and Processing of 
Applications for Financial Assistance Under the Railroad Rehabilitation 
and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program. The collection of information 
is used by FRA staff to determine the legal and financial eligibility 
of applicants for direct loans regarding eligible projects. Eligible 
projects include: (1) Acquisition, improvement or rehabilitation of 
intermodal or rail equipment or facilities (including tracks, 
components of tracks, bridges, yards, buildings, and shops); (2) 
Refinancing outstanding debt incurred for these purposes; or (3) 
Development or establishment of new intermodal or

[[Page 71117]]

railroad facilities. The aggregate unpaid principal amounts of 
obligations cannot exceed $35.0 billion at any one time, and not less 
than $7.0 billion is to be available solely for projects benefitting 
freight railroads other than Class I carriers. The Secretary of 
Transportation has delegated his authority under the RRIF Program to 
the FRA Administrator in 1 CFR 1.49.
    Affected Public: State and local governments, government sponsored 
authorities and corporations, railroads, and joint ventures that 
include at least one railroad.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Average time
            CFR section              Respondent universe        Total annual       per response    Total annual
                                                                 responses            (hours)      burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
260.23--Form and Content of         75,635 potential       18 applications......              20             360
 Application.                        applicants.
260.25--Additional Information      650 potential........  15 financial                       50             750
 Loan Guarantees.                                           documents.
260.31--Execution and Filing of     75,635 potential.....  18 executed app......              .6            10.8
 Application.
Certificates with Original          75,635 potential.....  18 certificates......              .6            10.8
 Application.
Transmittal Letters...............  75,635 potential.....  18 letters...........              .6            10.8
Application Packages..............  75,635 potential.....  18 packages..........             1.5              27
260.33--Information Statements....  75,635 potential.....  18 statements........             *30               9
260.35--Environmental Impact        75,635 potential.....  1 Impact Statement...          15,552          15,552
 Statement.
Environmental Assessment..........  75,635 potential.....  2 Assessments........           4,992           9,984
Categorical Exclusions............  75,635 potential.....  15 exclusions........             176           2,640
Environmental Consultations.......  75,635 potential.....  5 consultations......               1               5
260.41--Inspection and Reporting--  75,635 potential.....  18 financial records.              10             180
 Financial Records and Other
 Documents.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In minutes.


    Total Responses: 164.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 29,539.4.
    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 November 9, 2011.
Kimberly Coronel,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-29605 Filed 11-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


