[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 2006)] [Notices] [Pages 43837-43839] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: E6-12406] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 October 2, 2006. 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 Mr. Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-43, 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 2130-0008.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493- 6230 or (202) 493-6170, or E-mail to Mr. Brogan at [email protected], or to Mr. Angelo at [email protected]. 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: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Ave., NW., Mail Stop 21, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-6292) or Victor Angelo, Office of Support Systems, RAD-43, 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, 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 currently approved information collection request (ICR) that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA: Title: Inspection Brake System Safety Standards For Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment (Power Brakes and Drawbars). OMB Control Number: 2130-0008. Abstract: Section 7 of the Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act of 1992, Public Law No. 102-365, amended Section 202 of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 421, 431 et seq.), empowered the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the Department's rules with respect to railroad power brakes and, where applicable, prescribe standards regarding dynamic brake equipment. In keeping with the Secretary's mandate and the authority delegated from him to the FRA Administrator, FRA recently published a comprehensive regulatory revision of the then current requirements related to the inspection, testing, and maintenance of the brake equipment used in freight car operations. The Final Rule focused solely on freight and other non- passenger trains, and codified and solidified the maintenance requirements related to the power brake system and its components. The collection of information is used by FRA to monitor and enforce safety requirements related to power brakes on freight cars. The collection of information is also used by locomotive engineers and road crews to verify that the terminal air brake test has been performed in a satisfactory manner. Form Number(s): None. Affected Public: Businesses. Respondent Universe: 545 railroads. Frequency of Submission: On occasion. Affected Public: Businesses. Reporting Burden: [[Page 43838]] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Respondent Total annual Average time Total annual Total annual CFR section universe responses per response burden hours burden cost ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 229.27--Annual Tests......... 20,000 18,000 tests... 15 minutes..... 4,500 $166,500 Locomotives. 232.1--Scope--Requests For 545 Railroads.. 4 requests..... 1 hour......... 4 224 Earlier Application of Requirements in Subparts A- C, F. 232.3--Applicability--Cars 545 Railroads.. 8 cards........ 10 minutes..... 1 35 Not Used in Service. 232.7--Waivers............... 545 railroads.. 20 petitions... 40 hours....... 800 28,000 232.11--Penalties............ 545 railroads.. 1 false record. 10 minutes..... .20 6 232.15--Movement of Defective 1,620,000 cars/ 128,400 tags... 2.5 minutes.... 5,350 197,950 Equipment. locomotives. 232.15--Notice of Defective 1,620,000 cars/ 25,000 notices. 3 minutes...... 1,250 46,250 Car/Locomotive and locomotives. Restrictions. 232.17--Special Approval 545 railroads.. 4 petitions.... 100 hours...... 400 22,400 Procedure. --Petitions For Special 545 railroads.. 2 petitions.... 100 hours...... 200 11,200 Approval of Pre-Revenue Service Acceptance Testing Plan. --Copies of Petitions For 545 railroads.. 4 petitions.... 40 hours....... 160 5,600 Special Approval Procedure. --Statements of Interest..... Public/ 14 statements.. 8 hours........ 112 3,920 Railroads. --Comments on Special Public/ 13 comments.... 4 hours........ 52 1,820 Approval Procedure Petition. Railroads. 232.103--General Requirements 370,000 cars... 66,660 stickers 10 minutes..... 11,110 230,644 For All Train Brakes. 232.105--General Requirements 20,000 20,000 forms... 5 minutes...... 1,667 61,679 For Locomotives. locomotives. 232.107--Air Source 545 railroads.. 50 plans....... 40 hours....... 2,000 112,000 Requirements--Plans To Monitor All Air Yard Sources: First Year. --Subsequent Years........... 25 new 1 plan......... 40 hours....... 40 2,240 railroads. --Amendments to Plan......... 50 Existing 10 amendments.. 20 hours....... 200 11,200 Plans. --Record Keeping............. 50 Existing 1,150 records.. 20 hours....... 23,000 805,000 Plans. --Written Operating 545 railroads.. 37 plans....... 20 hours....... 740 41,440 Procedures/Plans. 232.109--Dynamic Brake 545 railroads.. 1,656,000 4 minutes...... 110,400 3,864,000 Requirements--Records. records. --Repair of Inoperative 20,000 6,358 records.. 4 minutes...... 424 14,840 Dynamic Brakes. locomotives. --Locomotives with 20,000 6,358 tags..... 30 seconds..... 53 1,961 Inoperative Dynamic Brakes-- locomotives. Tag. --Deactivated Dynamic Brakes-- 8,000 2,800 markings. 5 minutes...... 233 8,621 Markings. locomotives. --Subsequent Years--Markings. 8,000 20 markings.... 5 minutes...... 2 74 locomotives. --Written Operating Rules-- 545 railroads.. 100 oper. rules 4 hours........ 400 22,400 Safe Train Handling. --Subsequent Years--Safe 5 new railroads 5 oper. rules.. 4 hours........ 20 1,120 Train Handling Procedures. --Amendments................. 545 railroads.. 15 amendments.. 1 hour......... 15 525 --Over Speed Top Rules....... 545 railroads.. 545 rules...... 1 hour......... 545 30,520 --Requests to Increase 5 MPH 545 railroads.. 5 requests..... 20.5 hours..... 103 3,605 Over Speed Restriction. --Locomotive Engineer 545 railroads.. 100 amendments. 16 hours....... 1,600 89,600 Certification Programs/ PBrake. --Subsequent Years........... 5 new railroads 5 amendments... 16 hours....... 80 4,480 232.111--Train Information 545 railroads.. 545 procedures. 140 hours...... 21,890 1,225,840 Handling--Procedures. --Subsequent Years........... 10 new 10 procedures.. 40 hours....... 400 22,400 railroads. --Amendments................. 100 railroads.. 100 amendments. 20 hours....... 2,000 70,000 --Reports to Train Crews..... 545 railroads.. 2,112,000 rpts. 10 minutes..... 352,000 13,024,000 232.203--Training 545 railroads.. 300 programs... 100 hours...... 30,000 1,680,000 Requirements: Training Programs. --Subsequent Years........... 15 railroads... 1 program...... 100 hours...... 100 5,600 --Amendments to Written 545 railroads.. 545 amendments. 8 hours........ 4,360 152,600 Program. --Training Records........... 545 railroads.. 67,000 records. 8 minutes...... 8,933 312,655 --Training Notifications..... 545 railroads.. 67,000 notices. 3 minutes...... 3,350 117,250 --Validation/Assessment Plans 545 railroads.. 545 copies..... 40 hours/1 49 2,375 minute. Amendments to Validation/ 545 railroads.. 50 amendments.. 20 hours....... 1,000 35,000 Assessment Plans. 232.205--Class I Brake Test-- 545 railroads.. 1,656,000...... 45 minutes..... 20,7000 931,500 Initial Terminal Insp. 232.207--Class I A Brake 545 railroads.. 25 designations 30 minutes..... 13 455 Tests: 1000 Mile Insp. --Subsequent Years........... 545 railroads.. 1 designation.. 1 hour......... 1 35 --Amendments................. 545 railroads.. 5 amendments... 1 hour......... 5 175 232.209--Class II Brake 545 railroads.. 1,600,000 3 seconds...... 1,333 59,985 Tests--Intermediate Insp. commnt. [[Page 43839]] 232.213--Extended Haul 84,000 train 100 15 minutes..... 25 875 Trains--Designations. movements. designations. --Records.................... 84,000 train 25,200 records. 20 minutes..... 8,400 294,000 movements. 232.303--General 1,600,000 5,600 tags..... 5 minutes...... 467 17,279 Requirements--Track Brake freight cars. Test. --Location of Last Track 1,600,000 320,000 5 minutes...... 26,667 986,679 Brake Test/Single Car Test. freight cars. stenciling. 232.305--Single Car Tests.... 1,600,000 320,000 tests/ 45 minutes..... 240,000 8,880,000 freight cars. rcds.. 232.309--Equipment and 640 shops...... 5,000 tests.... 30 minutes..... 2,500 92,500 Devices--Tests/Calibrations. 232.403--Design Standards For 245 railroads.. 12 requests.... 5 minutes...... 1 hour 35 One-way EOT Devices--Unique Code. 232.407--Operations Requiring 245 railroads.. 50,000 commun.. 30 seconds..... 417 18,765 2-Way EOTs. 232.409--Inspection and 245 railroads.. 450,000 commun. 30 seconds..... 3,750 138,750 Testing of 2-Way EOTs. --Testing Telemetry Equipment 245 railroads.. 32,708 markings 60 seconds..... 545 20,165 232.503--Process to Introduce 545 railroads.. 1 request/ 60 minutes..... 1 56 New Brake System Technology-- letter. Special Approval. --Pre-Revenue Service 545 railroads.. 1 request...... 3 hours........ 3 168 Demonstration. 232.505--Pre-Revenue Service 545 railroads.. 1 procedure.... 160 hours...... 160 8,960 Acceptance Testing Plan: Maintenance Procedure--1st Year. --Subsequent Years........... 545 railroads.. 1 procedure.... 160 hours...... 160 8,960 --Amendments................. 545 railroads.. 1 amendment.... 40 hours....... 40 1,400 --Design Description- 545 railroads.. 1 petition..... 67 hours....... 67 3,752 Petitions. --Results Pre-Revenue Service 545 railroads.. 1 report....... 13 hours....... 13 455 Acceptance Testing. --Description of Brake 545 railroads.. 5 descriptions. 40 hours....... 200 7,000 Systems Technologies Previously Used in Revenue Service. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Responses: 8,644,448. Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 895,011 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 July 24, 2006. D.J. Stadtler, Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad Administration. [FR Doc. E6-12406 Filed 8-1-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P