[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2009)] [Notices] [Pages 9331-9333] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: E9-4458] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA 2009-0001-N-5] 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 (ICRs) 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 May 4, 2009. 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, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Nakia Jackson, 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 ------.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493- 6216 or (202) 493-6497, or via e-mail to Mr. Brogan at [email protected], or to Ms. Jackson 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, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Mail Stop 17, 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., 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, 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 [[Page 9332]] 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 are brief summaries of eight currently approved information collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA: OMB Control Number: 2130-0006. Title: Railroad Signal System Requirements. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Businesses. Form Number(s): N/A. Abstract: The regulations pertaining to railroad signal systems are contained in 49 CFR Parts 233 (Signal System Reporting Requirements), 235 (Instructions Governing Applications for Approval of a Discontinuance or Material Modification of a Signal System), and 236 (Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Systems, Devices, and Appliances). Section 233.5 provides that each railroad must report to FRA within 24 hours after learning of an accident or incident arising from the failure of a signal appliance, device, method, or system to function or indicate as required by Part 236 of this Title that results in a more favorable aspect than intended or other condition hazardous to the movement of a train. Section 233.7 sets forth the specific requirements for reporting signal failures within 15 days in accordance with the instructions printed on Form FRA F 6180.14. Finally, Section 233.9 sets forth the specific requirements for the ``Signal System Five Year Report.'' It requires that every five years each railroad must file a signal system status report. The report is to be prepared on a form issued by FRA in accordance with the instructions and definitions provided. Title 49, Part 235 of the Code of Federal Regulations, sets forth the specific conditions under which FRA approval of modification or discontinuance of railroad signal systems is required and prescribes the methods available to seek such approval. The application process prescribed under Part 235 provides a vehicle enabling FRA to obtain the necessary information to make logical and informed decisions concerning carrier requests to modify or discontinue signaling systems. Section 235.5 requires railroads to apply for FRA approval to discontinue or materially modify railroad signaling systems. Section 235.7 defines material modifications and identifies those changes that do not require agency approval. Section 235.8 provides that any railroad may petition FRA to seek relief from the requirements under 49 CFR Part 236. Sections 235.10, 235.12, and 235.13 describe where the petition must be submitted, what information must be included, the organizational format, and the official authorized to sign the application. Section 235.20 sets forth the process for protesting the granting of a carrier application for signal changes or relief from the rules, standards, and instructions. This section provides the information that must be included in the protest, the address for filing the protest, the item limit for filing the protest, and the requirement that a person requesting a public hearing explain the need for such a forum. Section 236.110 requires that the test results of certain signaling apparatus be recorded and specifically identify the tests required under sections 236.102-109; sections 236.377-236.387; sections 236.576; 236.577; and section 236.586-589. Section 236.110 further provides that the test results must be recorded on pre-printed or computerized forms provided by the carrier and that the forms show the name of the railroad, place and date of the test conducted, equipment tested, test results, repairs, and the condition of the apparatus. This section also requires that the employee conducting the test must sign the form and that the record be retained at the office of the supervisory official having the proper authority. Results of tests made in compliance with sections 236.587 must be retained for 92 days, and results of all other tests must be retained until the next record is filed, but in no case less than one year. Additionally, section 236.587 requires each railroad to make a departure test of cab signal, train stop, or train control devices on locomotives before that locomotive enters the equipped territory. This section further requires that whoever performs the test must certify in writing that the test was properly performed. The certification and test results must be posted in the locomotive cab with a copy of the certification and test results retained at the office of the supervisory official having the proper authority. However, if it is impractical to leave a copy of the certification and test results at the location of the test, the test results must be transmitted to either the dispatcher or one other designated official who must keep a written record of the test results and the name of the person performing the test. All records prepared under this section are required to be retained for 92 days. Finally, section 236.590 requires the carrier to clean and inspect the pneumatic apparatus of automatic train stop, train control, or cab signal devices on locomotives every 736 days, and to stencil, tag, or otherwise mark the pneumatic apparatus indicating the last cleaning date. Reporting Burden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total annual Average time per Total annual CFR section Respondent universe responses response burden hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 233.5--Reporting of accidents.... 687 railroads...... 10 phone calls..... 30 minutes......... 5 233.7--False proceed signal 687 railroads...... 100 reports........ 15 minutes......... 25 failures report. 233.9--Reports................... 687 railroads...... 687 applications... 60 minutes......... 687 235.5--Changes requiring filing 80 railroads....... 111 applications... 10 hours........... 1,110 of application. 235.8--Applications for relief 80 railroads....... 24 relief requests. 2.5 hours.......... 60 from Part 236. [[Page 9333]] 235.20--Protest letters.......... 80 railroads....... 84 protest letters. 30 minutes......... 42 236.110--Results of tests-- 80 railroads....... 936,660 forms...... 27 minutes......... 427,881 recordkeeping. 236.587--Departure test.......... 18 railroads....... 730,000 tests...... 4 minutes.......... 48,667 236.590--Pneumatic apparatus-- 18 railroads....... 6,697 stencilings.. 22.5 minutes....... 2,511 stenciling/tagging pneumatic valves. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Estimated Responses: 1,674,373. Total Estimated Annual Burden: 480,988 hours. Status: Regular Review. Title: U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form. OMB Control Number: 2130-0017. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: Form FRA F 6180.71 is a voluntary form, and is used by States and railroads to periodically update certain site specific highway-rail crossing information which is then transmitted to FRA for input into the National Inventory File. This information has been collected on the U.S. DOT-AAR Crossing Inventory Form (previous designation of this form) since 1974 and maintained in the National Inventory File database since 1975. The primary purpose of the National Inventory File is to provide for the existence of a uniform database which can be merged with accidents data and used to analyze information for planning and implementation of crossing safety programs by public, private, and governmental agencies responsible for highway-rail crossing safety. Following the official establishment of the National Inventory in 1975, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) assumed the principal responsibility as custodian for the maintenance and continued development of the U.S. DOT/AAR National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory Program. The major goal of the Program is to provide Federal, State, and local governments, as well as the railroad industry, information for the improvement of safety at highway-rail crossings. Good management practices necessitate maintaining the database with current information. The data will continue to be useful only if maintained and updated as inventory changes occur. FRA previously cleared the reporting and recordkeeping burden for this form under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Clearance Number 2130-0017. OMB approved the burden for this form through August 31, 2009. FRA is requesting a new three year approval from OMB for this information collection. Form Number(s): Form FRA F 6180.71. Affected Public: Businesses. Respondent Universe: 683 Railroads. Frequency of Submission: On occasion; monthly. Reporting Burden ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average time Respondent universe Total annual per response Total annual responses (min) burden hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crossing Inventory--Forms......... 683 railroads........ 1,311 forms.......... 30 656 Crossing Inventory--Mass Update 683 railroads........ 290 printouts (3,630 30 145 Printouts. updated records). Crossing Inventory--Disc/Tape (non- 683 railroads........ 798 discs/tapes 30 399 GX). (117,498 records updated). Crossing Inventory--GX Electronic 683 railroads........ 28 GX Electronic 6 1,141 Updates. files (11,411 records updated). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Responses: 133,850. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,341 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 February 25, 2009. Kimberly Orben, Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad Administration. [FR Doc. E9-4458 Filed 3-2-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P