[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58907-58909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23451]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2012-0006-N-13]


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 renewal of the following currently 
approved information collection activities. Before submitting these 
information collection requirements (ICRs) 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 November 23, 2012.

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-----
--.'' Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 
493-6216 or (202) 493-6497, or via email 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 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., 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 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 ICRs that FRA 
will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: State Safety Participation Regulations and Remedial Actions.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0509.
    Abstract: The collection of information is set forth under 49 CFR

[[Page 58908]]

part 212, and requires qualified state inspectors to provide various 
reports to FRA for monitoring and enforcement purposes concerning state 
investigative, inspection, and surveillance activities regarding 
railroad compliance with Federal railroad safety laws and regulations. 
Additionally, railroads are required to report to FRA actions taken to 
remedy certain alleged violations of law.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.33/61/67/96/96A/109/110/111/112.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: States and Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Respondent          Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR section                   universe            responses             response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application For Participation....  15 States..........  15 updates.........  2.5 hours..........              38
Training Funding Agreement.......  30 States..........  30 agreements......  1 hour.............              30
Inspector Training Reimbursement.  30 States..........  300 vouchers.......  1 hour.............             300
Annual Work Plan.................  30 States..........  30 reports.........  15 hours...........             450
Inspection Form (Form FRA F        30 States..........  16,000 forms.......  15 minutes.........           4,000
 6180.96).
Violation Report--Motive, Power,   17 States..........  550 reports........  4 hours............           2,200
 and Equipment Regulations (Form
 FRA F 6180.109).
Violation Report--Operating        16 States..........  140 reports........  4 hours............             560
 Practices Regulations (Form FRA
 F 6180.67).
Violation Report--Hazardous        15 States..........  170 reports........  4 hours............             680
 Materials Regulations (Form FRA
 F 6180.110).
Violation Report--Hours of         16 States..........  35 reports.........  4 hours............             140
 Service Law (F 6180.33).
Violation Report--Accident/        16 States..........  30 reports.........  4 hours............             120
 Incident Reporting Rules (Form
 FRA F 6180.61).
Violation Report--Track Safety     25 States..........  100 reports........  4 hours............             400
 Regulations (Form FRA F
 6180.111).
Violation Report--Signal and       14 States..........  20 reports.........  4 hours............              80
 Train Control Regulations (Form
 FRA F 6180.112).
Remedial Actions Reports.........  563 Railroads......  3,500 reports......  15 minutes.........             875
Violation Report Challenge.......  563 Railroads......  700 challenges.....  1 hours............             700
Delayed Reports..................  573 Railroads......  350 reports........  30 minutes.........             175
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    Total Responses: 21,970.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 10,748 hours.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Title: Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0560.
    Abstract: Under Title 49 Part 222 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, FRA seeks to collect information from railroads and public 
authorities in order to increase safety at highway-rail grade crossings 
nationwide by requiring that locomotive horns be sounded when trains 
approach and pass through these crossings or by ensuring that a safety 
level at least equivalent to that provided by blowing locomotive horns 
exists for corridors in which horns are silenced. FRA reviews 
applications by public authorities intending to establish new or, in 
some cases, continue pre-rule quiet zones to ensure the necessary level 
of safety is achieved.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Respondent Universe: 728 railroads/340 Public Authorities.

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                                                            Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR section             Respondent universe       responses             response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
222.11--Penalties--Falsified       728 Railroads/340    1 report/record....  2 hours............               2
 Report.                            Public Authorities.
222.15--Waiver Petitions.........  728 Railroads/340    5 petitions........  4 hours............              20
                                    Public Authorities.
222.17--Application to Become      68 State Agencies..  1 application......  8 hours............               8
 Recognized State Agency.
222.39--Applications to Establish  340 Public           10 applications....  80 hours...........             800
 Quiet Zone.                        Authorities.
    --Diagnostic Team Rev........  340 Public           2 team reviews.....  16 hours...........              32
                                    Authorities.
    --Updated Crossing Inventory   340 Public           50 updated forms...  1 hour.............              50
     Forms.                         Authorities.
    --Copies of Quiet Zone         340 Public           60 copies..........  10 minutes.........              10
     Application.                   Authorities.
    --Comments to FRA on Quiet     715 Railroads/State  20 comments........  2.5 hours..........              30
     Zone Application.              Agencies.
222.43--Written Notice of Public   216 Communities/     30 notices + 90      40 hours + 10                 1,215
 Authority Intent to Create New     Public Authorities.  notifications.       minutes.
 Quiet Zone and Notification to
 Required Parties.
    --Updated Crossing Inventory   216 Communities....  150 updated forms..  1 hour.............             150
     Forms.
Comments on proposed Quiet Zone..  715 Railroads/State  60 comments........  4 hours............             240
                                    Agencies.
    --Notice of Quiet Zone         316 Public           30 notices + 180     40 hours + 10                 1,230
     Establishment + Notification   Authorities.         notifications.       minutes.
     to Required Parties.
    --Updated Crossing Inventory   316 Public           150 updated forms..  1 hour.............             150
     Forms.                         Authorities.

[[Page 58909]]

 
    --Certification by CEO of      216 Public           30 certifications..  5 minutes..........               3
     Public Authority Regarding     Authorities.
     Accuracy of Information.
222.47--Periodic Updates: Written  200 Public           70 written           30 minutes + 2                   70
 Affirmation that Supplementary     Authorities.         affirmations + 420   minutes.
 Safety Measures Implemented w/in                        copies (to
 Quiet Zone Conform to Rule or                           required parties).
 Terms of Approval.
    --Updated Crossing Inventory   200 Public           350 updated forms..  1 hour.............             350
     Forms.                         Authorities.
222.51--Written Commitment to      9 Public             5 written            5 hours............              25
 Lower Risk to Traveling Public     Authorities.         commitments.
 in Quiet Zones Exceeding
 Nationwide Significant Risk
 Threshold.
    --Comments Upon FRA Review of  3 Public             4 comments.........  30 minutes.........               2
     Quiet Zone Status.             Authorities.
222.55--Request for FRA Approval   265 Interested       1 letter...........  30 minutes.........               1
 of New Supplementary Safety        Parties.
 Measures or Alternative Safety
 Measures (ASMs) for Quiet Zone.
    --Comments on New SSMs or      265 Interested       5 comments.........  30 minutes.........               3
     ASMs.                          Parties/General
                                    Public.
    --Request for SSM/ASM          265 Interested       1 letter...........  30 minutes.........               1
     Approval--Demo.                Parties.
222.57--Petition for FRA Review    265 Public           5 petitions + 5      60 minutes + 2                    1
 of Decision Granting or Denying    Authorities/         petition copies.     minutes.
 a New SSM or ASM; Petition         Interested Parties.
 Copies to Relevant Parties.
    --Request for FRA              200 Public           1 letter + 6 letter  5 hours + 2 minutes               5
     Reconsideration of             Authorities.         copies.
     Disapproval of Quiet Zone +
     Party Copies.
    --Additional Documents to FRA  200 Public           1additional          2 hours............               2
     as Follow-up to Petition for   Authorities.         document/set of
     Reconsideration.                                    materials.
    --Letter Requesting FRA        200 Public           1 letter...........  30 minutes.........               1
     Informal Hearing.              Authorities.
222.59--Written Notice of Use of   200 Public           5 notices + 30       2.5 hours + 10                   18
 Wayside Horn at Grade Crossing     Authorities.         notice copies.       minutes.
 within Quiet Zone + Party Copies.
    --Notice of Wayside Horn       200 Public           5 notices + 30       2.5 hours + 10                   18
     Outside Q. Zone.               Authorities.         notice copies.       minutes.
Appendix B--Public Authority       200 Public           1 record...........  500 hours..........             500
 Record Relating to Monitoring      Authorities.
 and Sampling Efforts at Grade
 Crossing in Quiet Zone with
 Programmed Enforcement.
    --Public Authority Record      200 Public           1 record...........  9 hours............               9
     Relating to Monitoring and     Authorities.
     Sampling Efforts at Grade
     Crossing in Quiet Zone with
     Photo Enforcement.
222.129--Written Reports/Records   728 Railroads......  650 reports/records  60 minutes.........             650
 of Locomotive Horn Testing.
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    Total Estimated Responses: 2,466.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 5,596 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 September 18, 2012.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-23451 Filed 9-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P