[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1930-1933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00221]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2013-0002-N-1]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

[[Page 1931]]


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 March 11, 2013.

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: Passenger Equipment Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0544.
    Abstract: The information gained from daily inspections is used to 
detect and correct equipment problems so as to prevent collisions, 
derailments, and other occurrences involving railroad passenger 
equipment that cause injury or death to railroad employees, railroad 
passengers, or to the general public; and to mitigate the consequences 
of any such occurrences, to the extent that they cannot be prevented. 
The information provided promotes passenger train safety by ensuring 
requirements are met for railroad equipment design and performance; 
fire safety; emergency systems; the inspection, testing, and 
maintenance of passenger equipment; and other provisions for the safe 
operation of railroad passenger equipment.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 27 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion; annually.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR Section             Respondent universe       responses             response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
229.47: Emergency Brake Valve--    27 railroads.......  30 stencillings....  1 minute...........               1
 Stenciling Locomotives
    Stenciling: DMU, MU, Cab       27 railroads.......  5 stencillings.....  1 minute...........             .08
     Control Locomotives.
238.7 Waivers....................  27 railroads.......  5 waivers..........  2 hours............              10
238.15: Movement of Passenger      27 railroads.......  1,000 tags/cards...  3 minutes..........              50
 Equip. w/power brake defects:
 Limitations on movement found
 during Class I/IA Brake Test
    Limitations on movement of     27 railroads.......  288 tags/cards.....  3 minutes..........              14
     passenger equip. in
     passenger service that
     becomes defective en route
     after Class I/IA brake test.
     Conditional Requirement:      27 railroads.......  144 Notifications..  3 minutes..........               7
     Notifications.

[[Page 1932]]

 
238.17: Movement of Passenger      27 railroads.......  200 tags/cards.....  3 minutes..........              10
 Equip. w/Other than Power Brake
 Defects: Defects Developed En
 Route
    Special Requisites For         27 railroads.......  76 tags/cards......  3 minutes..........               4
     Movement of Equipment w/
     Safety Appliance Defects.
    Notifications................  22 railroads.......  38 notifications...  30 seconds.........             .32
238.21: Special Approval           27 railroads.......  1 petition.........  16 hours...........              16
 Procedure: Petitions For
 Alternative Std.
    Petitions For Alternative      27 railroads.......  1 petition.........  120 hours..........             120
     Compl.
238.21: Petitions For Special      27 railroads.......  10 petitions.......  40 hours...........             400
 Approval of Pre-Revenue Service
 Acceptance Plan
    Comments.....................  Public/RR Industry.  4 comments.........  1 hour.............               4
238.103: Fire Safety: Fire Safety  2 New Railroads....  2 fire safety        150 hours..........             300
 Analysis: New Railroads--New                            analyses.
 Equipment
    Existing Equipment: Fire       27 railroads.......  1 analysis.........  40 hours...........              40
     Safety Analysis.
    Equipment Transferred to New   27 railroads.......  3 analyses.........  20 hours...........              60
     Service: Fire Safety
     Analysis.
238.107: Inspection, Testing, and  27 railroads.......  12 reviews.........  60 hours...........             720
 Maintenance Plan: Annual Reviews
238.109: Training, Qualification,  7,500 employees;     2,500 employees      1.33 hours.........           3,458
 and Designation Prog.--Training    100 trainers.        trained/100
 Employees Who Perform Mechanical                        instructors.
 Insp.
    Recordkeeping................  27 railroads.......  2,500 records......  3 minutes..........             125
238.111: Pre-Revenue Service       9 equipment          2 plans............  16 hours...........              32
 Acceptance Testing Plan:           manufacturers.
 Equipment Previously Used in
 Revenue Service
    Equipment Not Previously Used  9 equipment          2 plans............  192 hours..........             384
     in Revenue Service.            manufacturers.
    Subsequent Orders............  9 equipment          2 plans............  60 hours...........             120
                                    manufacturers.
238.213: Corner Posts--Plan in     27 railroads.......  10 plans...........  40 hours...........             400
 lieu of meeting requirements of
 section (b) of this provision
238.229: Welded Safety             27 railroads.......  27 lists...........  60 minutes.........              27
 Appliances--List identifying
 each piece of equipment w/a
 welded safety bracket/support
    List of passenger equipment    27 railroads.......  27 lists...........  60 minutes.........              27
     placed into service prior to
     Jan. 1, 2007, with a welded
     safety appliance.
    Tagging defective welded       27 railroads.......  4 tags.............  3 minutes..........              20
     safety appliance.
    Notification to crewmembers    27 railroads.......  2 notifications....  1 minutes..........           .0333
     of movement of defective
     equipment.
    Written safety appliance       27 railroads.......  27 plans...........  16 hours...........             432
     inspection plan to FRA.
    Training of RR inspection      27 railroads.......  54 tr. Employees...  4 hours............             216
     personnel.
    Remedial action: Record......  27 railroads.......  1 record...........  2.25 hour..........               2
    Petition for Special Approval  27 railroads.......  15 petitions.......  4 hours............              60
     of Alternative Compliance
     pursuant to section 238.21.
    Record of inspection/repair    27 railroads.......  3,054 records......  12 minutes.........             611
     of welded safety appliance
     brackets/supports.
238.230: Safety Appliances: New    27 railroads.......  100 records........  6 minutes..........              10
 Equipment--Inspection/Record of
 welded safety appliance brackets/
 supports
    Documentation to FRA of Other  27 railroads.......  15 documents.......  4 hours............              60
     welded safety appliances &
     safety appliance brackets/
     supports.
238.231: RR Procedure to secure    27 railroads.......  27 procedures......  2 hours............              54
 unattended locomotive required
 to have a hand brake or parking
 brake applied
238.237: Automated Monitoring--    27 railroads.......  3 documents........  2 hours............               6
 Documentation for setting
 alerter or deadman control
    Tagging defective alerter or   27 railroads.......  25 tags............  3 minutes..........               1
     deadman control in
     locomotive cab.
238.303: Exterior Calendar Day     27 railroads.......  25 notices.........  2 minutes..........               1
 Inspection of Equip.
    Defective Dynamic Brakes on    27 railroads.......  50 tags/cards......  3 minutes..........               3
     MU Locomotive.
    Defective Dynamic Brakes on    27 railroads.......  50 tags/cards......  3 minutes..........               3
     Conventional Locos.
    MU equipment with inoperative/ 27 railroads.......  4 documents........  2 hours............               8
     or ineffective air
     compressor: documentation of
     train safety.

[[Page 1933]]

 
    Notice to train crew of        27 railroads.......  100 notices........  3 minutes..........               5
     number of units with
     inoperative or ineffective
     air compressors.
    Record of inoperative or       27 railroads.......  100 records........  2 minutes..........               3
     ineffective air compressor.
    Record of each exterior        27 railroads.......  2,376,920 records..  1 minute...........         435,769
     calendar day mechanical
     inspection.
238.305: Interior Calendar Day     27 railroads.......  540 tags...........  1 minute...........               9
 Mechanical Insp.: Tagging Req.
    Inspection and Records.......  27 railroads.......  1,968,980 inspect/   5 minutes + 1               196,898
                                                         records.             minute.
238.307: Periodic Mechanical       27 railroads.......  2 notifications....  5 hours............              10
 Inspection of Pass. Cars:
 Notification of Alternative
 Intervals
    Non-Complying Conditions.....  27 railroads.......  200 notices........  2 minutes..........               7
    Inspections and Records of     27 railroads.......  19,284 inspections/  200 hours + 2             3,857,443
     Insp.                                               records.             minutes.
    Reliability Assessments        27 railroads.......  5 documents........  100 hours..........             500
     Concerning Alt. Inspection
     Interval.
238.311: Single Car Test:          27 railroads.......  50 tags............  3 minutes..........               3
 Movement to Nest Forward
 Location
238.313: Class I Brake Test--      27 railroads.......  15,600 records.....  30 minutes.........           7,800
 Records
238.315: Class IA Brake Test       27 railroads.......  18,250 verbal        5 seconds..........              25
                                                         notices.
    Communication Signal Tests...  22 railroads.......  365,000 tests......  15 seconds.........           1,521
238.317: Class II Brake Test:      27 railroads.......  365,000 tests......  15 seconds.........           1,521
 Communication Signal System Test
238.321: Out-of-service credit     27 railroads.......  1,250 notations....  2 minutes..........              42
238.445: Automated Monitoring      1 railroad.........  10,000 alerts/       10 seconds.........              28
                                                         alarms.
    Self-Tests: Notific..........  1 railroad.........  21,900               20 seconds.........             122
                                                         notifications.
238.503/505: FRA approval of       27 railroads.......  1 program/plan.....  1,200 hours........           1,200
 written inspection, testing, and
 maintenance program for Tier II
 passenger equipment prior to
 implementation of program & use
 of equipment in passenger
 operation
    Comments on program..........  Public/Interested    3 comments.........  3 hours............               9
                                    Rail Parties.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 5,151,727.
    Estiamated Total Annual Burden: 4,510,711 hours.
    Status: Regular Review.
    Title: Designation of Qualified Persons.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0511.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used to prevent the 
unsafe movement of defective freight cars. Railroads are required to 
inspect freight cars for compliance and to determine restrictions on 
the movements of defective cars.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 40 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 January 3, 2013.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-00221 Filed 1-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P