[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65777-65778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27340]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2011-0001-N-15]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (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 Requirement (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the following collection of information was 
published on August 12, 2011 (76 FR 50320).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 23, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, 
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS-21, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop 25, 
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., 3rd Floor, 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 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 August 12, 2011, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on this ICR for which the agency 
was seeking OMB approval. 76 FR 50320. FRA received no comments in 
response to this notice.
    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 summary below describes the nature of the information 
collection requirement (ICR) and the expected burden for the ICR being 
submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 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.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Abstract: Section 7 of the Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act 
of 1992, Public Law 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): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 990,660 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding this information collection to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20503, 
Attention: FRA Desk Officer. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to 
OMB at the following address: [email protected].
    Comments are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have

[[Page 65778]]

practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection 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 October 17, 2011.
Kimberly Coronel,
Director, Office of Financial Management, Federal Railroad 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-27340 Filed 10-21-11; 8:45 am]
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