[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36817-36819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14578]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2013-0002-N-14]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) 
abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of 
the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the 
following collections of information was published on March 27, 2013 
(78 FR 18668).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 19, 2013.

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 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 March 27, 2013, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. See 78 FR 18668. FRA received no comments after issuing 
this notice. Accordingly, these information collection activities have 
been re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and forwarded to 
OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12(c).
    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 requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirements are

[[Page 36818]]

being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Stenciling Reporting Mark on Freight Cars.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0520.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Title 49, Section 215.301 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, sets forth certain requirements that must be followed by 
railroad carriers and private car owners relative to identification 
marks on railroad equipment. FRA, railroads, and the public refer to 
the stencilling to identify freight cars.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 18,750 hours.
    Title: Rear-End Marking Devices.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0523.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: The collection of information is set forth under 49 CFR 
Part 221 which requires railroads to furnish a detailed description of 
the type of marking device to be used for the trailing end of rear cars 
in order to ensure rear cars meet minimum standards for visibility and 
display. Railroads are required to furnish a certification that the 
device has been tested in accordance with current ``Guidelines For 
Testing of Rear End Marking Devices.'' Additionally, railroads are 
required to furnish detailed test records which include the testing 
organizations, description of tests, number of samples tested, and the 
test results in order to demonstrate compliance with the performance 
standard.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 39 hours.
    Title: Locomotive Certification (Noise Compliance Regulations).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0527.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Locomotive Manufacturers.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Part 210 of title 49 of the United States Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) pertains to FRA's noise enforcement procedures which 
encompass rail yard noise source standards published by the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA has the authority to set 
these standards under the Noise Control Act of 1972. The information 
collected by FRA under Part 210 is necessary to ensure compliance with 
EPA noise standards for new locomotives.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 2,767 hours.
    Title: Grade Crossing Signal System Safety Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0534.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.83.
    Abstract: FRA believes that highway-rail grade crossing (grade 
crossing) accidents resulting from warning system failures can be 
reduced. Motorists lose faith in warning systems that constantly warn 
of an oncoming train when none is present. Therefore, the fail-safe 
feature of a warning system loses its effectiveness if the system is 
not repaired within a reasonable period of time. A greater risk of an 
accident is present when a warning system fails to activate as a train 
approaches a grade crossing. FRA's regulations require railroads to 
take specific responses in the event of an activation failure. FRA uses 
the information to develop better solutions to the problems of grade 
crossing device malfunctions. With this information, FRA is able to 
correlate accident data and equipment malfunctions with the types of 
circuits and age of equipment. FRA can then identify the causes of 
grade crossing system failures and investigate them to determine 
whether periodic maintenance, inspection, and testing standards are 
effective. FRA also uses the information collected to alert railroad 
employees and appropriate highway traffic authorities of warning system 
malfunctions so that they can take the necessary measures to protect 
motorists and railroad workers at the grade crossing until repairs have 
been made.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 8,152 hours.
    Title: Bridge Worker Safety Rules.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0535.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Section 20139 of Title 49 of the United States Code 
required FRA to issue rules, regulations, orders, and standards for the 
safety of maintenance-of-way employees on railroad bridges, including 
for ``bridge safety equipment'' such as nets, walkways, handrails, and 
safety lines, and requirements for the use of vessels when work is 
performed on bridges located over bodies of water. FRA has added 49 CFR 
Part 214 to establish minimum workplace safety standards for railroad 
employees as they apply to railroad bridges. Specifically, section 
214.15(c) establishes standards and practices for safety net systems. 
Safety nets and net installations are to be drop-tested at the job site 
after initial installation and before being used as a fall-protection 
system; after major repairs; and at six-month intervals if left at one 
site. If a drop-test is not feasible and is not performed, then a 
written certification must be made by the railroad or railroad 
contractor, or a designated certified person, that the net does comply 
with the safety standards of this section. FRA and State inspectors use 
the information to enforce Federal regulations. The information that is 
maintained at the job site promotes safe bridge worker practices.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 1 hour.
    Title: Railroad Police Officers.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0537.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: Under 49 CFR Part 207, railroads are required to notify 
states of all designated police officers who are discharging their 
duties outside of their respective jurisdictions. This requirement is 
necessary to verify proper police authority.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 181 hours.
    Title: Foreign Railroads' Foreign-Based (FRFB) Employees Who 
Perform Train or Dispatching Service in the United States.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0555.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Railroads.
    Form(s): N/A.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used by FRA to determine 
compliance of FRFB train and dispatching service employees and their 
employers with the prohibition against the abuse of alcohol and 
controlled substances. Because of the increase in cross-border train 
operations and the increased risk posed to the safety of train 
operations in the United States, FRA seeks to apply all of the 
requirements of 49 CFR 219 to FRFB train and dispatching service 
employees. The basic information--evidence of unauthorized use of drugs 
and alcohol--is used by FRA to help prevent accidents/incidents by 
screening FRFB who perform safety-sensitive functions for unauthorized 
drug or alcohol use. FRFB train and dispatching service employees 
testing positive for unauthorized use of alcohol and drugs are removed 
from service, thereby enhancing safety and serving as a deterrent to 
other FRFB train and dispatching service employees who

[[Page 36819]]

might be tempted to engage in the unauthorized use of drugs or alcohol.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 33 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections 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 are invited on the following: Whether the proposed 
collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Department, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimates of 
the burden of the proposed information collections; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collections 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 June 13, 2013.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-14578 Filed 6-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P