[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63889-63892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26158]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2010-0005-N-19]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 approval of the following 
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 December 17, 2010.

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. 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-----
--.'' 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. Toone at [email protected]. 
Please refer to the assigned OMB control number or collection title 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. 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, 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 provide 60 days' notice to the public 
for comment on information collection activities before seeking 
approval 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

[[Page 63890]]

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 current information collection 
activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under 
the PRA:
    Title: Safety Integration Plans.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0557.
    Abstract: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Surface 
Transportation Board (STB), working in conjunction with each other, 
have issued joint final rules establishing procedures for the 
development and implementation of safety integration plans (``SIPs'' or 
``plans'') by a Class I railroad proposing to engage in certain 
specified merger, consolidation, or acquisition of control transactions 
with another Class I railroad, or a Class II railroad with which it 
proposes to amalgamate operations. The scope of the transactions 
covered under the two rules is the same. FRA uses the information 
collected, notably the required SIPs, to maintain and promote a safe 
rail environment by ensuring that affected railroads (Class Is and some 
Class IIs) address critical safety issues unique to the amalgamation of 
large, complex railroad operations.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Respondent Universe: Class I Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

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                                                                                                    Average time per       Total annual    Total annual
                CFR Section                   Respondent  universe     Total annual  responses          response           burden hours     burden cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
244.13--Safety Integration Plans:           8 railroads               1 plan                    340 hours                            340         $24,016
 Amalgamation of Operations
--SIP Development & Quarterly Meetings
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244.17--Procedures                          8 railroads               25 reports                40 hours/2 hours                      88           5,632
--Responses to FRA Inquiries Re: SIP data   8 railroads               6 responses               8 hours                               48           3,072
--Coordination in Implementing Approved     8 railroads               25 phone calls            10 minutes                             4             256
 SIP                                        8 railroads               1 request                 16 hours                              16           2,512
--Request for Confidential Treatment
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244.19--Disposition                         8 railroads               2 reports                 16 hours                              32           2,048
--Comments on Proposed SIP Amendments
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    Total Responses: 60.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 528 hours.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Locomotive Crashworthiness.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0564.
    Abstract: In a final rule published June 28, 2006, the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) issued comprehensive standards for 
locomotive crashworthiness. These crashworthiness standards are 
intended to help protect locomotive cab occupants in the event of a 
locomotive collision. The collection of information is used by FRA to 
ensure that locomotive manufacturers and railroads meet minimum 
performance standards and design load requirements for newly 
manufactured and re-manufactured locomotives in order to help protect 
locomotive cab occupants in the event that one of these covered 
locomotives collides with another locomotive, the rear of another 
train, a piece of on-track equipment, a shifted load on a freight car 
on an adjacent parallel track, or a highway vehicle at a rail-highway 
grade crossing.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads/ 4 locomotive manufacturers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

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                                                                                                    Average time per       Total annual
                CFR Section                    Respondent universe     Total annual  responses          response           burden hours
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229.207--Petition for FRA Approval of New   685 Railroads + 4 Loco.   2 petitions               1,050 hours                        2,100
 Locomotive Crashworthiness Standards        Manufacturers            1 petition                1,050 hours                        1,050
--Petition for FRA Approval of Substantive  685 Railroads + 4 Loco.   1 petitions               400 hours                            400
 Change to FRA-Approved Crashworthiness      Manufacturers
 Design Standard                            685 Railroads + 4 Loco.
--Petition for FRA Approval of Non-          Manufacturers
 Substantive Change to FRA-Approved
 Crashworthiness Design Standard
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229.209--Petition for FRA Approval of       685 Railroads + 4 Loco.   1 petition                2,550 hours                        2,550
 Alternative Locomotive Crashworthiness      Manufacturers
 Design Standard
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[[Page 63891]]

 
229.211--Comments on FRA Notice of          4 Loco. Manuf./RR         10 comments               16 hours                             160
 Petitions Received by Agency                Association/Labor        4 hearings (16 comments)  24 hours                              96
--Agency Request for Additional              Organizations/Public
 Information Concerning Petitions:          685 Railroads/4 Loco.
 Hearings                                    Manuf./Other Interested
                                             Parties/Public
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229.213--Locomotive Manufacturing           685 Railroads             1,000 records or          6 minutes                            100
 Information: Retention of Required Info.                              stickers or badge
                                                                       plates
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229.215--Retention of Records--Original     4 Loco. Manuf.            24 loco. rcds.            8 hours                              192
 Designs                                    685 Railroads             6 records                 4 hours                               24
--Retention of Records--Repairs and         6 Loco. Manuf./           10 records                2 minutes                            .33
 Modifications                               Rebuilders
--Inspection of Records
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    Total Responses: 1,059.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,672 hours.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Safety Appliance Concern Recommendation Report; Guidance 
Checklist Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0565.
    Abstract: In an ongoing effort to conduct more thorough and more 
effective inspections of railroad freight equipment and to further 
enhance safe rail operations, FRA has developed a safety concern 
recommendation report form, and a group of guidance checklist forms 
that facilitate railroad, rail car owner, and rail equipment 
manufacturer compliance with agency Railroad Safety Appliance Standards 
regulations. In lieu of completing an official inspection report (Form 
FRA F 6180.96), which takes subject railroad equipment out of service 
and disrupts rail operations, Form FRA F 6180.4a enables Federal and 
State safety inspectors to report to agency headquarters systemic or 
other safety concerns. FRA headquarters safety specialists can then 
contact railroads, car owners, and equipment manufacturers to address 
the reported issue(s) and institute necessary corrective action(s) in a 
timely fashion without unnecessarily having to take affected rail 
equipment out of service, unless deemed defective. Forms FRA F 
6180.4(b)-(m) are used in conjunction with the Special Inspection of 
Safety Appliance Equipment form (Form FRA F 6180.4) to assist Federal 
Motive, Power, and Equipment (MP&E) field inspectors in ensuring that 
critical sections of 49 CFR part 231 (Railroad Safety Appliance 
Standards), pertaining to various types of freight equipment, are 
complied with through use of a check-off list. By simplifying their 
demanding work, check-off lists for 12 essential sections of Part 231 
ensure that FRA MP&E field personnel completely and thoroughly inspect 
each type of freight car for compliance with its corresponding section 
in Part 231. The Guidance Checklist forms may later be used by state 
field inspectors as well. FRA believes that this collection of 
information will result in improved construction of newly designed 
freight cars and improved field inspections of all freight cars 
currently in use. This, in turn, will serve to reduce the number of 
accidents/incidents and corresponding injuries and fatalities that 
occur every year due to unsafe or defective equipment that was not 
promptly repaired/replaced.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.4(a)-(m).
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Reporting Burden:

 
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                                                                                   Average time
             Form No.                 Respondent universe        Total annual      per response    Total annual
                                                                  responses            (min)       burden hours
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FRA F 6180.4a--MP& E Safety        130 Fed'l & State         30 Forms...........              60              30
 Concern and Recommendation         Inspectors.
 Report.
FRA F 6180.4b--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         10 Forms...........              60              10
 231.1.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4c--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         30 Forms...........              60              30
 231.2.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4d--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         3 Forms............              60               3
 231.3.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4e--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         15 Forms...........              60              15
 231.4.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4f--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         5 Forms............              60               5
 231.5.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4g--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         30 Forms...........              60              30
 231.6.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4h--Check List 231.7..  130 Fed'l & State         3 Forms............              60               3
                                    Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4i--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         5 Forms............              60               5
 231.8.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4j--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         5 Forms............              60               5
 231.9.                             Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4k--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         10 Forms...........              60              10
 231.21.                            Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4l--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         10 Forms...........              60              10
 231.27.                            Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4m--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         10 Forms...........              60              10
 231.28.                            Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4n--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         5 Forms............              30               3
 231.138.                           Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4o--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         5 Forms............              30               3
 231.14.                            Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4p--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         5 Forms............              60               5
 231.29.                            Inspectors.
FRA F 6180.4q--Check List Sec.     130 Fed'l & State         5 Forms............              60               5
 231.29.                            Inspectors.
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[[Page 63892]]

    Respondent Universe: Federal and State Safety Inspectors.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 186 forms.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 182 hours.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Passenger Train Emergency Systems.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0576.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to passenger train 
emergency regulations set forth in 49 CFR 238 to further the safety of 
passenger train occupants through both enhancements and additions to 
FRA's existing requirements. The collection of information is used by 
FRA, railroad employees, rescue workers, and the public. Emergency 
responders use the information collected to be able to quickly find and 
understand how to operate passenger cars' emergency windows, doors, and 
roof hatches so that they can successfully perform their jobs and save 
lives. The information collected is used by train passengers to: (1) 
Recognize and immediately report potential emergencies to train crew 
members; (2) recognize hazards; (3) recognize and know how and when to 
operate appropriate emergency-related features and equipment, such as 
fire extinguishers, train doors, and emergency exits; and (4) recognize 
the potential special needs of fellow passengers, such as children, the 
elderly, and disabled, during an emergency; and (5) know how to quickly 
and safely evacuate the train in the event of an emergency, such as a 
collision, derailment, explosion, fire, or some other unanticipated 
occurrence. Luminescent or lighted emergency exit markings are used by 
train passengers and emergency responders to determine where the 
closest and most accessible emergency exit is located as well as how to 
operate the emergency exit mechanisms. Records of the inspection, 
maintenance, and repairs of emergency window and door exits and 
operational efficiency tests are used by FRA inspectors to monitor 
railroads' regulatory compliance with this Part.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Reporting Burden:

 
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                                          Respondent         Total annual      Average time per    Total annual
             49 CFR 238                    universe            responses           response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
238.113--Emergency Window Exits--     22 railroads        662 window          60 minutes/90                  964
 Markings                                                  markings            minutes/120
                                                                               minutes
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238.114-Rescue Access Windows         22 railroads        1,092 access        45 minutes                     819
                                                           window markings
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238.121--Emergency Communications--   22 railroads        116 marked          5 minutes                       10
 Marked Intercom Locations                                 intercom
                                                           locations
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238.123--Emergency Road Access--      22 railroads        232 marked roof     30 minutes                     116
 Markings and Instructions                                 access locations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
238.303--Exterior Calendar Day        22 railroads        150 required        20 minutes                      50
 Mechanical Inspection of Equip                            replacement
                                                           markings
    --Rescue Access Exterior          22 railroads        150 records         2 minutes                        5
     Markings/Signage/Instructions
    --Records of Non-Compliance
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238.305--Interior Calendar Day
 Mechanical Inspection of Cars.
    --Written Notification to Train   22 railroads        260 notifications   1 minute                         9
     Crew of Non-compliant Car +                           + 260 notices
     Notice on Door
    --Inoperative PA system and       22 railroads        300 notifications   1 minute                         5
     Notification to Crew
    --Records of Non-complying        22 railroads        300 records         2 minutes                       10
     Condition
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238.307--Periodic Mechanical          22 railroads        32 replacement      20 minutes                      11
 Inspection of Pass. Cars--                                markings
 Replacement Roof Access Markings
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    Respondent Universe: Businesses (railroads).
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Total Responses: 3,554.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1,999 hours.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    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 October 13, 2010.
Kimberly Coronel,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-26158 Filed 10-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P