[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 152 (Monday, August 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39993-39996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19060]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2009-0001-19]


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 October 9, 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 25, 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 2130-0560.'' 
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,

[[Page 39994]]

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 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 currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0560
    Abstract: The collection of information is used by FRA to increase 
safety at highway-rail grade crossings nationwide by requiring that 
locomotive horns be sounded when train approach and pass through these 
crossings, or by ensuring that a safety level at least equivalent to 
that provided by blowing horns exists for rail corridors in which horns 
are silenced. Communities that qualify for this exception may create 
``quiet zones'' within which locomotive horns would not be routinely 
sounded. FRA reviews applications by public authorities intending to 
establish new or, in some cases, continue pre-rule quiet zones to 
ensure that the necessary level of safety is achieved.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Public Authorities/Railroads.
    Respondent Universe: 340 Public Authorities.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                          Total
                                                                 Total annual        Average time per    annual
             CFR section                Respondent universe        responses             response        burden
                                                                                                          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.11--Penalties--Falsified Records/  727 Railroads/340     5 records/reports     2 hours                    10
 Reports                                Public Authorities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.15--Waiver Petitions               727 Railroads/340     5 petitions           4 hours                    20
                                        Public Authorities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.17--Applications to Become a       68 State Agencies     7 applications        8 hours                    56
 Recognized State Agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.39--Establishment of Quiet Zone--  340 Public            105 applications      80 hours                8,400
 Public Authority Application to FRA    Authorities          53 diagnostic team    32 hours                1,696
--Application Diagnostic Team Reviews  340 Public             reviews              1 hour                    302
--Completed Grade Crossing Inventory    Authorities          302 updated forms     10 minutes                105
 Forms                                 340 Public            630 copies            2.5 hours                 125
--Copies of Public Authority Quiet      Authorities          50 comments
 Zone Applications                     340 Public
--Comments on Public Authority Quiet    Authorities
 Zone Applications                     715 Railroads/State
                                        Agencies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.41--Notice of Quiet Zone           247 Communities/PAs   247 notices + 1,482   40 hours + 10 min.     10,127
 Establishment and Notification to     262 Communities        notification         5 minutes                  22
 Parties                               200 Communities       262 certifications    60 minutes              2,364
--Certification by Public Authority    200 Communities       2,364 forms           40 hours + 10 min.      8,200
 CEO                                   200 Communities       200 notices + 1,200   5 minutes                  17
--Required Grade Crossing Inventory    200 Communities        notification         1 hour                    416
 Forms                                 200 Communities/PAs   200 certifications    40 hours                4,000
--Notice of Quiet Zone Continuation    25 State Agencies     416 forms             120 hours                 360
 and Notification to Parties           200 Public            100 plans             20 hours + 10           2,100
--Certification by Public Authority     Authorities          3 impl. Plans          minutes                  280
 CEO                                   200 RRs/State         100 notices + 600     4 hours
--Required Grade Crossing Inventory     Agencies              notifications
 Forms                                                       70 comments
--Filing of Detailed Plans by Public
 Authority
--Statewide Implementation Plan to
 Continue Horn Ban--Notice of Intent
 to Create New Quiet Zone
--Comments on Public Authorities
 Notice of Intent
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[[Page 39995]]

 
222.42--Intermediate Quiet Zones/      10 Communities/PAs    10 notices + 60       40 hours + 10 min.        410
 Partial Quiet Zones                   10 Communities/PAs     notifications        1 hour                    100
--Notice of Quiet Zone Continuation    10 Communities/PAs    100 forms             5 minutes                   1
--Required Grade Crossing Inventory    10 Communities/PAs    10 certifications     40 hours + 10 min.        205
 Forms                                 20 RRs/State          5 notices + 30        4 hours                    20
--Certification by Public Authority     Agencies              notifications        40 hours + 10 min.        205
 CEO                                   10 Public             5 comments            4 hours                    20
--Notice of Intent to Establish New/    Authorities          5 notices + 30
 Partial Quiet Zone                    20 RRs/State           notifications
--Comments on Public Authorities        Agencies             5 comments
 Notice of Intent
--Conversion of Intermediate Partial
 Quiet Zone into 24-hour Quiet Zone--
 Notices + Notifications
--Public Comments on Notice of Intent
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222.43--Notices and Other Required     216 Communities/PAs   216 notices + 648     40 hours + 10 min.      8,748
 Information to Create or Continue a   216 Communities        notifications        1 hour                    376
 Quiet Zone                            715 RRs/State         376 updated forms     4 hours                   432
--Notice of Intent to Create New/       Agencies             108 comments          40 hours + 10 min.      2,952
 Partial Quiet Zone or Implement New   316 Public            72 notices + 432      1 hour                    950
 Supplementary Safety Measures or       Authorities           notifications        5 minutes                  18
 Auxiliary Safety Measures w/in Pre-   316 Public            950 updated forms
 Rule Quiet Zone                        Authorities          216 certifications
--Required Grade Crossing Inventory    216 Public
 Forms                                  Authorities
--Comments on Public Authorities
 Notice of Intent
--Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment
--Required Grade Crossing Inventory
 Forms
--Certification by Public Authority
 CEO
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222.47--Periodic Updates               200 Public            100 affirmations +    30 min. + 2 min.           70
--Written Affirmations That All         Authorities           600 copies           60 minutes                500
 Supplementary Safety Measures (SSMs)/ 200 Public            500 updated forms
 Auxiliary Safety Measures (ASMs)       Authorities
 Meet Requirements
--Required Grade Crossing Inventory
 Forms
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222.51--Review of Quiet Zone Status    9 Public Authorities  2 commitments         5 hours                    10
--Written Commitment to Lower Risk     3 Public Authorities  20 comments           30 minutes                 10
 Where Quiet Zone Risk Index Exceeds
 Nationwide Significant Risk
 Threshold
--Review at FRA's Initiative--
 Opportunity to Comment
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222.55--New Supplementary Safety       265 Interested        1 approval letter     30 minutes                  1
 Measures or Alternative Safety         Parties              5 comments            30 minutes                  3
 Measures--Administrator Approval      265 Interested        1 approval letter     30 minutes                  1
--Opportunity for Public Comment        Parties
--Request for Approval After           265 Interested
 Completed Demonstration                Parties
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.57--Review of the Associate        265 Interested        1 petition + 5        60 min. + 2 min.            1
 Administrator's Actions--Petition      Parties               copies               5 hrs. + 2 min.             5
 for Review of Decision                200 Public            1 petition + 6        2 hours                     2
--Petition for Reconsideration of       Authorities           copies               30 minutes                  1
 Denial of QZ Application              200 Public            1 document
--Follow-up Documents to Associate      Authorities          1 letter
 Administrator                         200 Public
--Requests for Informal Hearing         Authorities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.59--Use of Wayside Horns           200 Public            10 notices + 60       2.5 hours + 10             35
--Installation w/in QZ and Written      Authorities           copies                minutes                   35
 Notice to Railroads                   200 Public            10 notices + 60       2.5 hours + 10
--Installation at Grade Crossing        Authorities           notice copies         minutes
 Outside Quiet Zone
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B to Part 222--Alternative    200 Public            10 records            500 hours               5,000
 Safety Measures                        Authorities          10 records            9 hours                    90
--Non-Engineering ASMs--Programmed     200 Public
 Enforcement--Monitoring and Sampling   Authorities
 Records
--Photo Enforcement--Monitoring &
 Sampling Records
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229.129--Locomotive Horn--Testing      687 railroads         7,743 reports/        60 minutes              7,743
 Requirements --Written Reports/       687 railroads          records              60 minutes                650
 Records of Testing                                          650 report/records
--Re-Testing of Locomotive Horns--
 Reports/Records
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[[Page 39996]]

    Total Responses: 21,476.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 67,194 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 August 4, 2009.
Martin Eble,
Acting Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-19060 Filed 8-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P