[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12263-12264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04665]



[[Page 12263]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-5]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

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 request (ICR) 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 May 5, 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 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 2130-0594.'' 
Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-
6216 or (202) 493-6479, 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: Railroad Safety Appliance Standards (Miscellaneous 
Revisions).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0594.
    Abstract: FRA amended the regulations related to safety appliance 
arrangements on railroad equipment on April 28, 2011. See 76 FR 23714. 
The amendments are intended to promote the safe placement and 
securement of safety appliances on modern rail equipment by 
establishing a process for the review and approval of existing industry 
standards. This process permits railroad industry representatives to 
submit requests for the approval of existing industry standards 
relating to the safety appliance arrangements on newly constructed 
railroad cars, locomotives, tenders, or other rail vehicles in lieu of 
the specific provisions currently contained in part 231. It is 
anticipated that this special approval process enhances railroad safety 
by allowing FRA to consider technological advancements and ergonomic 
design standards for new car construction and ensuring that modern rail 
equipment complies with the applicable statutory and safety-critical 
regulatory requirements related to safety appliances while also 
providing the flexibility to efficiently address safety appliance 
requirements on new designs in the future for railroad cars, 
locomotives, tenders, or other rail vehicles. The information collected 
under this regulation is used by FRA to better serve the goal of 
adapting to changes in modern rail car design while also facilitating 
statutory and regulatory compliance.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 734 railroads/labor unions/general public.
    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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231.33--Procedure for Special     AAR (Industry Rep.)  5 petitions........  160 hours...........             800
 Approval of Existing Industry
 Safety Appliance Standards--
 Filing of Petitions:

[[Page 12264]]

 
    --Affirmative Statement by    AAR (Industry Rep.)  5 statements.......  30 minutes..........               3
     Petitioner that a Petition
     Copy has been served on
     Rep. of Employees
     Responsible for Equipment's
     Operation/Inspection/
     Testing/Maintenance.
    --Service of Each Special     AAR (Industry Rep.)  565 petition copies  2 hours.............           1,130
     Approval Petition on
     Parties Designated in
     section 231.33(c).
    --Statement of Interest in    5 RR Labor Unions/   15 statements......  7 hours.............             105
     Reviewing Special Approval    General Public.
     Filed with FRA.
    --Comments on Petitions for   728 Railroads/5      25 comments........  6 hours.............             150
     Special Approval.             Labor Groups/
                                   General Public.
    --Disposition of Petitions:   AAR/5 RR Labor       1 hearing..........  8 hours.............               8
     Hearing on Petition for       Unions/General
     Special Approval.             Public.
    --Disposition of Petitions:   AAR (Industry Rep.)  1 amended document.  3 hours.............               3
     Petition Returned by FRA
     Requesting Additional
     Information.
231.35--Procedure for             AAR (Industry Rep.)  5 petitions for      160 hours...........             800
 Modification of An Approved                            modification.
 Industry Safety Appliance
 Standard for New Car
 Construction--Filing of
 Petitions:
    --Affirmative Statement by    AAR (Industry Rep.)  5 statements.......  30 minutes..........               3
     Petitioner that a Petition
     Copy has been served on
     Rep. of Employees
     Responsible for Equipment's
     Operation/Inspection/
     Testing/Maintenance.
    --Service of Each Special     AAR (Industry Rep.)  565 petition copies  2 hours.............           1,130
     Approval Petition on
     Parties Designated in
     section 231.35(b).
    --Statement of Interest in    5 RR Labor Unions/   15 statements......  7 hours.............             105
     Reviewing Special Approval    General Public.
     Filed with FRA.
    --Comments on Petitions for   728 Railroads/5      25 comments........  6 hours.............             150
     Modification.                 Labor Groups/
                                   General Public.
    --Disposition of Petitions:   AAR (Industry Rep.)  1 amended document.  3 hours.............               3
     Petition Returned by FRA
     Requesting Additional
     Information.
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    Estimated Annual Burden: 4,390 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 25 February 2014.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-04665 Filed 3-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P