[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50320-50323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20464]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2011-0001-N-10]


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 11, 2011.

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. 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 2130-0008.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6216 or (202) 493-6479, 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 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 21, 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, 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

[[Page 50321]]

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 issued revisions to the regulations governing 
freight power brakes and equipment in October 2008 by adding a new 
Subpart addressing electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake 
systems. The revisions are designed to provide for and encourage the 
safe implementation and use of ECT brake system technologies. These 
revisions contain specific requirements relating to design, 
interoperability, training, inspection, testing, handling defective 
equipment and periodic maintenance related to ECP brake systems. The 
final rule also identifies provisions of the existing regulations and 
statutes where FRA is proposing to provide flexibility to facilitate 
the voluntary adoption of this advanced brake system technology. The 
collection of information is used by FRA to monitor and enforce current 
regulatory requirements related to power brakes on freight cars as well 
as the recently added requirements related to ECP brake systems. 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: 559 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Reporting Burden

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                                                            Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR Section             Respondent universe       responses             response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
229.27: Annual Tests.............  30,000 Locomotives.  30,000 tests.......  15 minutes.........           7,500
232.3: Applicability--Cars Not     559 Railroads......  8 cards............  10 minutes.........               1
 Used in Service.
232.7: Waivers...................  559 railroads......  20 petitions.......  40 hours...........             800
232.11: Penalties................  559 railroads......  1 false record.....  10 minutes.........             .17
232.15: Movement of Defective      1,620,000 cars/      128,400 tags.......  2.5 minutes........           5,350
 Equipment--Notice of Defective     locos.
 Car/Locomotive and Restrictions.
                                   1,620,000 cars/      25,000 notices.....  3 minutes..........           1,250
                                    locos.
232.17:
    Special Approval Procedure...  559 railroads......  4 petitions........  100 hours..........             400
    Petitions--Pre-Revenue Svc     559 railroads......  2 petitions........  100 hours..........             200
     Plans.
    Copies of Petitions--Special   559 railroads......  4 petitions........  40 hours...........             160
     Approval.
    Statements of Interest.......  Public/Railroads...  14 statements......  8 hours............             112
    Comments on Special Approval   Public/Railroads...  13 comments........  4 hours............              52
     Procedure Petition.
232.103: General Requirements for  114,000 cars.......  70,000 stickers....  10 minutes.........          11,667
 All Train Brakes.
232.105: General Requirements For  30,000 locomotives.  30,000 forms.......  5 minutes..........           2,500
 Locomotives.
232.107:
    Air Source Requirements--      10 new railroads...  1 plan.............  40 hours...........              40
     Plans.
    Amendments to Plan...........  50 Existing Plans..  10 amendment.......  20 hours...........             200
    Record Keeping...............  50 Existing Plans..  1,150 records......  20 hours...........          23,000
232.109:
    Dynamic Br. Requirements--Rcd  559 railroads......  1,656,000 rcd......  4 minutes..........         110,400
    Repair of Inoperative Dynamic  30,000 locomotives.  6,358 records......  4 minutes..........             424
     Brakes.
    Locomotives w/Inoperative      30,000 locomotives.  6,358 tags.........  30 seconds.........              53
     Dynamic Br.
    Deactivated Dynamic Brakes:    8,000 locomotives..  10 markings........  5 minutes..........               1
     Markings.
    Rule Safe Train Handling       5 new railroads....  5 oper. rules......  4 hours............              20
     Procedures.
    Amendments...................  559 railroads......  15 amendment.......  1 hour.............              15
    Over Speed Top Rules--5 MPH    559 railroads......  5 requests.........  20.5 hours.........             103
     Increase.
    Locomotive Engineer            5 new railroads....  5 amendments.......  16 hours...........              80
     Certification Programs--
     Dynamic Brakes Training.
232.111:
    Train Information Handling...  5 new railroads....  5 procedures.......  40 hours...........             200
    Amendments...................  100 railroads......  100 am. proc.......  20 hours...........           2,000
    Reports to Train Crews.......  559 railroads......  2,112,000 rpts.....  10 minutes.........         352,000
232.203:
    Training Requirements:         15 railroads.......  5 programs.........  100 hours..........             500
     Training Programs--
     Subsequent Years.
    Amendments to Written Program  559 railroads......  559 am. prog.......  8 hours............           4,472

[[Page 50322]]

 
    Training Records.............  559 railroads......  67,000 records.....  8 minutes..........           8,933
    Training Notifications.......  559 railroads......  67,000 notices.....  3 minutes..........           3,350
    Validation/Assessment Plans..  559 railroads......  1 plan +559 copies.  40 hrs./1 min......              49
    Amendments to Validation/      559 railroads......  50 amendment.......  20 hours...........           1,000
     Assessment Plans.
232.205: Class I Brake Test--      559 railroads......  1,646,000 notices..  45 seconds.........          20,575
 Initial Terminal Insp.
232.207:
    Class I A Brake Tests: 1000    559 railroads......  25 designations....  30 minutes.........              13
     Mile Insp.
    Subsequent Years.............  559 railroads......  1 designation......  1 hour.............               1
    Amendments...................  559 railroads......  5 amendments.......  1 hour.............               5
232.209: Class II Brake Tests--    559 railroads......  1,600,000 comments.  3 seconds..........           1,333
 Intermediate Insp.
232.213:
    Extended Haul Trains--         84,000 train         100 designations...  15 minutes.........              25
     Designations.                  movements.
    Records......................  84,000 train         25,200 records.....  20 minutes.........           8,400
                                    movements.
232.303:
    General Requirements--Track    1,600,000 freight    5,600 tags.........  5 minutes..........             467
     Brake Test.                    cars.
    Location of Last Track Brake   1,600,000 freight    320,000 stenciling.  5 minutes..........          26,667
     Test/Single Car Test.          cars.
232.305: Single Car Tests........  1,600,000 freight    320,000 tests/rcds.  45 minutes.........         240,000
                                    cars.
232.309: Equipment and Devices--   640 shops..........  5,000 tests........  30 minutes.........           2,500
 Tests/Calibrations.
232.403: Design Standards For One- 245 railroads......  12 requests........  5 minutes..........               1
 way EOT Devices--Unique Code.
232.407: Operations Requiring 2-   245 railroads......  50,000 commun......  30 seconds.........             417
 Way EOTs.
232.409:
    Inspection and Testing of 2-   245 railroads......  450,000 commun.....  30 seconds.........           3,750
     Way EOTs.
Testing Telemetry Equipment        245 railroads......  32,708 markings....  60 seconds.........             545
232.503:
    Process to Introduce New       559 railroads......  1 request/letter...  60 minutes.........               1
     Brake System Technology--
     Special Approval.
    Pre-Revenue Service            559 railroads......  1 request..........  3 hours............               3
     Demonstration.
232.505:
    Pre-Revenue Service            559 railroads......  1 procedure........  160 hours..........             160
     Acceptance Testing Plan:
     Maintenance Procedure--1st
     Year.
    Subsequent Years.............  559 railroads......  1 amendment........  40 hours...........              40
    Amendments...................  559 railroads......  1 petition.........  67 hours...........              67
    Design Descriptions--          559 railroads......  1 report...........  13 hours...........              13
     Petitions.
    Results Pre-Revenue Service    559 railroads......  5 descriptions.....  40 hours...........             200
     Acceptance Testing.
    Description of Brake Systems
     Technologies Previously Used
     in Revenue Service.
232.603:
    ECP Requirements Brakes--      4 railroads........  1 plan.............  160 hours..........             160
     Configuration Management
     Plans.
    Updated Plans in Subsequent    4 railroads........  1 plan.............  160 hours..........             160
     Years.
    Modification of Standards--    4 railroads........  1 request + 4        8 hours + 5 minutes               8
     Requests.                                           copies.
    RR Statement Affirming Copy    4 railroads........  4 statements + 24    60 minutes + 5                    6
     of Modification Request to                          copies.              minutes.
     Employee Reps.
    Comments on Modification       Public/Interested    4 comments.........  2 hours............               8
     Request.                       Parties.
232.605:
    ECP Training Programs........  4 railroads........  4 programs.........  100 hours..........             400
    Programs in Subsequent Years.  4 railroads........  2 programs.........  100 hours..........             200
    ECP Trained Employees........  4 railroads........  6,409 empl.........  8 hrs./24 hrs......          10,512
    ECP Trained Employees--        4 railroads........  6,409 empl.........  1 hr./8 hrs........          30,264
     Subsequent Yr.
    ECP Trained Employees--        4 railroads........  6,409 records......  4 minutes..........             855
     Records.
    ECP Trained Employees--Sub.    4 railroads........  6,409 records......  4 minutes..........             428
     Records.
    RR/Contractor Assessment of    4 railroads........  4 amended plans....  40 hours...........             160
     ECP Training Programs--
     Amended Plans.
232.607:
    ECP Trains Inspection/Testing  4 railroads........  10,000 tests +       90 minutes + 45              15,125
                                                         10,000 notices.      seconds.
    Notification to Locomotive
     Engineer:
    Cars Added en Route--Tests/    4 railroads........  1,000 tests + 1,000  60 minutes + 45               1,006
     Notifications.                                      notices.             seconds.
    Non-ECP Cars Added--           2000 Cars..........  200 insp. + 400      5 minutes + 2.5                  34
     Inspections and Tagging of                          tags.                minutes.
     Defective Equipment.
232.609:

[[Page 50323]]

 
    Handling of Defective          25 Cars............  50 tags............  2.5 minutes........               2
     Equipment w/ECP Brake
     Systems--Tagging.
    Train in ECP Mode w/Less Than  20 Cars............  20 insp. + 40 tags.  5 minutes + 2.5                   3
     85% of Cars w/Operative                                                  minutes.
     Brakes--Insp. + Tagging.
    Freight Cars w/ECP Systems     75 Cars............  150 tags...........  2.5 minutes........               6
     Found with Defective Non-
     Safety Appliance--Tagging.
    Conventional Train Operating   500 Cars...........  1,000 tags.........  2.5 minutes........              42
     with ECP Stand Alone Brake
     Systems--Tagging.
    Procedures for Handling ECP    4 railroads........  4 procedures.......  24 hours...........              96
     Brake System Repairs.
    Submission to FRA of ECP       4 railroads........  4 lists............  8 hours............              32
     Brake System Repair
     Locations--Lists.
    Notice to FRA of Change in     4 railroads........  1 notification.....  60 minutes.........               1
     List.
232.611:
    Periodic Maintenance           500 freight Cars...  500 inspection and   10 minutes.........              83
     Inspection and Repair of ECP                        records.
     Cars Before Release from
     Repair Shop or Track.
    Petitions for Special          AAR................  1 petition + 2       24 hours + 5                     24
     Approval of Pre-Revenue                             copies.              minutes.
     Service Acceptance Testing
     Plan.
    Single Car Brake Test on ECP   2,500 freight Cars.  2,500 tests/Records  45 minutes.........           1,875
     Retrofitted Cars.
    Modification of Single Car     AAR................  1 procedure........  40 hours...........              40
     Test Standard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 8,677,078.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 990,276 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 5, 2011 .
Kimberly Coronel,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-20464 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P