[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 122 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30663-30664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-15028]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0001-N-15]


Notice and Request for Comments

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 Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The 
ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their 
expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment 
period soliciting comments on the following collections of information 
was published on April 16, 2009 (74 FR 17762).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 27, 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., 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, 
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 
April 16, 2009, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking OMB approval. 74 
FR 17762. FRA received no comments after issuing this 60-day notice. 
Accordingly, 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. The current 
requirements are being submitted for renewed clearance by OMB as 
required by the PRA.
    Title: Grade Crossing Signal System Safety.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0534.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Abstract: FRA believes that highway-rail grade crossing (grade 
crossing) accidents resulting from warning system failures can be 
reduced. Motorists lose faith in warning systems that constantly warn 
of an oncoming train when none is present. Therefore, the fail-safe 
feature of a warning system loses its effectiveness if the system is 
not repaired within a reasonable period of time. A greater risk of an 
accident is present when a warning system fails to activate as a train 
approaches a grade crossing. FRA's regulations require railroads to 
take specific responses in the event of an activation failure. FRA uses 
the information to develop better

[[Page 30664]]

solutions to the problems of grade crossing device malfunctions. With 
this information, FRA is able to correlate accident data and equipment 
malfunctions with the types of circuits and age of equipment. FRA can 
then identify the causes of grade crossing system failures and 
investigate them to determine whether periodic maintenance, inspection, 
and testing standards are effective. FRA also uses the information 
collected to alert railroad employees and appropriate highway traffic 
authorities of warning system malfunctions so that they can take the 
necessary measures to protect motorists and railroad workers at the 
grade crossing until repairs have been made.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.83.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 8,152 hours.
    Title: Bridge Worker Safety Rules.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0535.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Abstract: Section 20139 of Title 49 of the United States Code 
required FRA to issue rules, regulations, orders, and standards for the 
safety of maintenance-of-way employees on railroad bridges, including 
for ``bridge safety equipment'' such as nets, walkways, handrails, and 
safety lines, and requirements for the use of vessels when work is 
performed on bridges located over bodies of water. FRA has added 49 CFR 
Part 214 to establish minimum workplace safety standards for railroad 
employees as they apply to railroad bridges. Specifically, section 
214.15(c) establishes standards and practices for safety net systems. 
Safety nets and net installations are to be drop-tested at the job site 
after initial installation and before being used as a fall-protection 
system; after major repairs; and at six-month intervals if left at one 
site. If a drop-test is not feasible and is not performed, then a 
written certification must be made by the railroad or railroad 
contractor, or a designated certified person, that the net does comply 
with the safety standards of this section. FRA and State inspectors use 
the information to enforce Federal regulations. The information that is 
maintained at the job site promotes safe bridge worker practices.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 1 hour.
    Title: Railroad Police Officers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0537.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Abstract: Under 49 CFR Part 207, railroads are required to notify 
states of all designated police officers who are discharging their 
duties outside of their respective jurisdictions. This requirement is 
necessary to verify proper police authority.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 181 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20503, 
Attention: FRA Desk Officer. Alternatively, comments may be sent via e-
mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office 
of Management and Budget, at the following address: [email protected].
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collections of information are 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 estimates of 
the burden of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collections 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 June 22, 2009.
Kimberly Orben,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-15028 Filed 6-25-09; 8:45 am]
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