[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10225-10226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03851]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-3]


Information Collection Requirements

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 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 describe 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 December 23, 2013 
(78 FR 246).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 26, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Janet Wylie, Office of Information 
Technology, RAD-20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493-
6353), 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 December 23, 2013, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comments on ICR that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. 78 FR 246. FRA received no comments after issuing this 
60-day notice. Accordingly, DOT announces that 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 summaries below describe the nature of the ICRs and the 
expected burden. The revised requirements are being submitted for 
clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0580
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: State and local governments, government sponsored 
authorities and corporations, railroads, and joint ventures that 
include at least one railroad.
    Abstract: The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and 
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 110-329; September 30, 
2008), established the Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Program, 
making Federal funds available directly to States. This Program allowed 
grant to fund up to 80 percent of the cost of rehabilitation and 
repairs to Class II and Class III railroad infrastructure damaged by 
hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters in areas that are 
located in counties that have been identified in a Disaster Declaration 
for Public Assistance by the President under title IV of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974. Funding 
was made available on a reimbursement basis for costs incurred after a 
major disaster declaration that was made between January 1, 2008, and 
the date of the publication of the notice of funding availability in 
the counties covered by such a declaration. Rehabilitation and repairs 
include rights-of-way, bridges, signals, and other infrastructure which 
is part of the general railroad system of transportation and primarily 
used by railroads to move freight traffic.
    FRA recently revised this ICR to allow for the submission of 
additional grants under this program based on the Notice of Funding 
Availability published by FRA on October 13, 2013, and the emergency 
clearance request approved by OMB on November 5, 2013. Any grants 
submitted as part of this previous information collection request were 
due by December 9, 2013. Therefore, this revision no longer includes 
any burden hours for the application process, as no new applications 
are being accepted at this time.
    Due to the nature of these disaster assistance funds, current 
economic conditions, and the various States need for immediate 
assistance to vital freight transportation pathways and the important 
role these sectors of transportation play in the overall national 
economy, FRA is requesting OMB to extend this ICR in order to manage 
the current grants obligated under this program until the remaining 
grants have properly closed-out and are completed.
    Form Number(s): SF-425, SF271, SF-270.
    Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 504 hours
    Addressee: Send comments regarding these information collections to 
the

[[Page 10226]]

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: 
FRA Desk Officer. Alternatively, comments may be sent via email to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of 
Management and Budget, at the following address: [email protected].
    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 February 19, 2014.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-03851 Filed 2-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P