[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77550-77553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30363]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2013-0002-N-27]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

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 the 
information collection requests (ICRs) below 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 February 21, 2014.

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 17, 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 --------
--.'' Alternatively, comments may be

[[Page 77551]]

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 17, 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 currently approved information 
collection activities that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as 
required under the PRA:
    Title: Bridge Safety Standards.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0586.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used by FRA to ensure 
that railroads/track owners meet Federal safety standards for bridge 
safety and comply with all the requirements stipulated under the 
Railroad Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) of 2008 and 49 CFR 237. In 
particular, the collection of information is used by FRA to confirm 
that railroads/track owners adopt and implement bridge management 
programs to properly inspect, maintain, modify, and repair all bridges 
that carry trains over them for which they are responsible. Railroads/
track owners must conduct annual inspections of railroad bridges. 
Further, railroads must incorporate provisions for internal audit into 
their bridge management program and must conduct internal audits of 
bridge inspection reports. The internal audit information is used by 
railroads/track owners to verify that the inspection provisions of the 
bridge management program are being followed and to continually 
evaluate the effectiveness of their bridge management program and 
bridge inspection activities. FRA uses this information to ensure that 
railroads/track owners implement a safe and effective bridge management 
program and bridge inspection regime.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 693 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                             Total annual        Average time per   Total annual
           CFR Section              Respondent universe        responses             response       burden hours
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237.3
    Notifications to FRA of        693 Railroads.......  15 notifications....  90 minutes.........          22.5
     Assignment of Bridge          693 Railroads.......  15 signed statements  30 minutes.........           7.5
     Responsibility.
    Signed Statement by Assignee
     Concerning Bridge
     Responsibility.
237.9
    Waivers--Petitions...........  693 Railroads.......  12 petitions........  4..................            48
23731/33
    Development/Adoption of        693 Railroads.......  693 plans...........  Varies.............        20,100
     Bridge Management Program.
237.57
    Designation of Qualified       693 Railroads.......  200 designation.....  30 minutes.........           100
     Individuals.
237.71
    Determination of Bridge Load   693 Railroads.......  2,000 determinations  8..................        16,000
     Capacities.
237.73
    Issuance of Instructions to    693 Railroads.......  2,000 instructions..  2..................         4,000
     Railroad Personnel by Track
     Owner.
237.105
    Special Bridge Inspections     693 Railroads.......  7,500 insp. and       12.50 hours........        93,750
     and Reports/Records.                                 reports/records.
    Special Underwater             693 Railroads.......  50 insp. andReports/  40 hours...........         2,000
     Inspections.                                         rcds.
237.107 and 237.109
    Nationwide Annual Bridge       693 Railroads.......  18,000 insp. &        4 hours............        72,000
     Inspections--Reports.                                reports.
Records                            693 Railroads.......  18,000 records......  1 hour.............        18,000

[[Page 77552]]

 
Report of Deficient Condition on   693 Railroads.......  50 reports..........  30 minutes.........            25
 a Bridge (New Requirement from
 NPRM)
237.111
    Review of Bridge Inspection    693 Railroads.......  2,000 insp. rpt.      30 minutes.........         1,000
     Reports by RR Bridge                                 reviews.
     Engineers.
    Prescription of Bridge Insp.   693 Railroads.......  200 insp. proc.       30 minutes.........           100
     Procedure Modifications                              modifications.
     After Review.
237.131
    Design of Bridge               693 Railroads.......  1,250 designs.......  16 hours...........        20,000
     Modifications or Bridge
     Repairs.
    Bridge Modification Repair     693 Railroads.......  1,250 br. mod.        1.50 hours.........         1,875
     Reviews/Supervisory Efforts.                         repair reviews.
    Common Standard Designed by    693 Railroads.......  50 standards........  24 hours...........         1,200
     Railroad Bridge Engineer
     (New Requirement from NPRM).
237.153
    Audits of Inspections........  693 Railroads.......  693 insp. audits....  80 hours/24 hours/6         5,470
                                                                                hours.
237.155
    Documents and Records........  693 Railroads.......  5 systems...........  80 hours...........           400
    Establishment of RR
     Monitoring and Info.
     Technology Security Systems
     for Electronic Recordkeeping.
    Employees Trained in System..  693 Railroads.......  100 employees.......  8 hours............           800
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 256,898 hours.
    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Title: Locomotive Crashworthiness.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0564.
    Abstract: In a final rule published on June 28, 2006, the Federal 
Railroad Administration (FRA) issued comprehensive standards for 
locomotive crashworthiness. These crashworthiness standards are 
intended to help protect locomotive cab occupants in the event of a 
locomotive collision. The collection of information is used by FRA 
ensure that locomotive manufacturers and railroads meet minimum 
performance standards and design load requirements for newly 
manufactured and re-manufactured locomotives in order to help protect 
locomotive cab occupants in the event that one of these covered 
locomotives collides with another locomotive, the rear of another 
train, a piece of on-track equipment, a shifted load on a freight car 
on an adjacent track, or a highway vehicle at a rail-highway grade 
crossing.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads and 4 Locomotive Manufacturers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                        Respondent          Total annual       Average time per    Total annual
           CFR Section                   universe            responses             response        burden hours
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229.207--Petition for FRA          685 Railroads + 4    2 petitions........  1,050 hours........        2,100
 Approval of New Locomotive         Loco.
 Crashworthiness Standards.         Manufacturers.
    Petition for FRA Approval of   685 Railroads + 4    1 petition.........  1,050 hours........        1,050
     Substantive Change to FRA-     Loco.
     Approved Crashworthiness       Manufacturers.
     Design Standard.
    Petition for FRA Approval of   685 Railroads + 4    1 petition.........  400 hours..........          400
     Non- Substantive Change to     Loco.
     FRA-Approved Crashworthiness   Manufacturers.
     Design Standard.
229.209
    Waivers--Petition for FRA      685 Railroads + 4    1 petition.........  2,550 hours........        2,550
     Approval of Alternative        Loco.
     Locomotive Crashworthiness     Manufacturers.
     Design Standard.
229.211
    Comments on FRA Notice of      4 Loco. Makers/RR    10 comments........  16 hours...........          160
     Petitions Received by the      Associations/Labor
     Agency.                        Organizations/
                                    Public.
229.213
    Locomotive Manufacturing       685 Railroads......  1,000 records or     6 minutes..........          100
     Information: Retention of                           stickers or badge
     Required Information.                               plates.
229.215
    Retention of Records--         4 Loco.              24 loco. Record....  8 hours............          192
     Original Designs.              Manufacturers.
    Retention of Records--Repairs  685 Railroads......  6 records..........  4 hours............           24
     and Modifications.
    Inspection of Records........  6 Loco.              10 records.........  2 minutes..........             .33
                                    Manufacturers/
                                    Rebuilders.
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[[Page 77553]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,544 hours.
    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    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 December 13, 2013.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-30363 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P