[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22178-22181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08949]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-7]


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 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 June 20, 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 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

[[Page 22179]]

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 Operating Rules.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0035.
    Abstract: The collection of information is due to the railroad 
operating rules set forth in 49 CFR part 217 which require Class I and 
Class II railroads to file with FRA copies of their operating rules, 
timetables, and timetable special instructions, and subsequent 
amendments thereto. Class III railroads are required to retain copies 
of these documents at their systems headquarters. Also, 49 CFR 
220.21(b) prescribes the collection of information which requires 
railroads to retain one copy of their current operating rules with 
respect to radio communications and one copy of each subsequent 
amendment thereto. These documents must be made available to FRA upon 
request. Through these rules, FRA learns the condition of operating 
rules and practices with respect to trains and instructions provided by 
the railroad to their employees in operating practices.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 720 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Total annual      Average time per    Total annual
            CFR section             Respondent universe       responses            response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
217.7--Copy--FRA--Operating rules,  2 new railroads....  2 submissions......  1 hour............               2
 timetables, Class I & II RRs.
    --Amendments..................  55 railroads.......  165 amendments.....  20 minutes........              55
    --Copy of operating rules/      5 new railroads....  5 submissions......  55 minutes........               5
     timetables, etc. by Class III.
    --Amendments by Class III       687 railroads......  2,061 amendments...  15 minutes........             515
     Railroads.
217.9--RR and RR Testing Officer    720 railroads......  4,732 field trained  8 hours...........          37,856
 Qualification.                                           officers/training
                                                          sessions.
    --Records of Qualification....  720 railroads......  4,732 records......  2 minutes.........  ..............
    --Written Prog. of Operational  5 new railroads....  5 programs.........  9.92 hours........             158
     Tests.
    --Records of Operational Tests/ 720 railroads......  9,188,700 records..  5 minutes.........              50
     Inspections.
    --Amendments..................  55 railroads.......  165 amendments.....  1.92 hours........         765,725
    --Quarterly Review of Accident/ 720 railroads......  196 reviews........  1 hour............             317
     Incident Data/Prior Op. Tests/                                                                          196
     Insp..
    --Designated Officers &         720 railroads......  61 designations +    5 seconds + 1 hour  ..............
     Conduct of 6 Mo. Rev..                               132 reviews.
    --Designated Officers &         Amtrak + 23          24 designations +    5 seconds + 1 hour             132
     Conduct of Six Month Review     railroads.           48 reviews.                                         48
     by Passenger/Commuter
     Railroads.
    --Records of Periodic Reviews.  720 railroads......  752 review records.  1 minute..........  ..............
    --Annual Summary on             61 railroads.......  61 summary records.  61 minutes........              13
     Operational Tests/Insp..
    --FRA Disapproval of RR         720 railroads......  10 supporting        1 hour............              62
     Program of Operational Tests/                        documents.                                          10
     Insp. & Response by RR.
    --Amended Prog. Docs..........  720 railroads......  10 amended           30 minutes........  ..............
                                                          documents.
271.11--Instruction of Program      720 railroads......  130,000 instr.       8 hours...........       1,040,000
 Employees.                                               employees.
    --New RR & Copy of Program of   5 new railroads....  5 Programs.........  8 hours...........              40
     Op. Tests.
    --Amendments to Op. Rules       720 railroads......  220 amendments.....  55 minutes........             202
     Instr. Program.
218.95--Instruction, Training,      720 railroads......  98,000 records.....  5 minutes.........           8,167
 Examination--Records.
    --Response to FRA Disapproval   720 railroads......  25 written/oral      1 hour............              25
     of Program.                                          submissions.
    --Programs Needing Amendment..  720 railroads......  10 amended programs  30 minutes........               5
218.97--Written Procedures on Good  720 railroads......  41 written           2 hours...........              82
 Faith Challenges by Employees Re:                        procedures.
 Actions.
    --Employee Copy of Written      720 railroads......  4,000 copies.......  6 minutes.........             400
     Procedures.
    --Employee Copy of Amended      720 railroads......  125,000 copies.....  3 minutes.........           6,250
     Procedures.
    --Good Faith Challenges by RR   98,000 RR Employees  15 challenges......  10 minutes........               3
     Employees.
    --RR Responses to Empl.         720 railroads......  5 immediate reviews  15 minutes........               1
     Challenge.
    --Immediate Review of Employee  720 railroads......  5 immediate reviews  15 minutes........               1
     Challenge.
    --RR Officer Explanation of     720 railroads......  5 explanations.....  1 minutes.........             .08
     Federal Law Protection
     Against Retaliation.
    --Documented Protest by RR      720 railroads......  10 written protests  15 minutes........               3
     Employee.
    --Copies of Protests..........  720 railroads......  10 protest copies..  1 minute..........  ..............
    --Further Reviews.............  720 railroads......  3 further reviews..  15 minutes........              17
    --Written Verification--        720 railroads......  10 verification      10 minutes........               1
     Decision to Employee.                                decisions.                                           2

[[Page 22180]]

 
    --Copy of Written Procedures    720 railroads......  773 copies of        5 minutes.........              64
     at RR Hdtrs..                                        procedures.
    --Copy of Verification          720 railroads......  20 verification      5 minutes.........               2
     Decision at RR Headquarters &                        decision.
     Division Headquarters.
218.99--Shoving or Pushing          ...................  ...................  ..................  ..............
 Movements.
    --Operating Rule Modifications  720 railroads......  41 rule              1 hour............              41
                                                          modifications.
    --Locomotive Engineer Job       100,000 RR           60,000 job           1 minute..........           1,000
     Briefing Before Movement.       Employees.           briefings.
    --Point Protection              100,000 RR           87,600,000           1 minute + 1             2,920,000
     Determinations & Signals/       Employees.           determinations +     minute.
     Instructions to Control                              87,600,000 signals/
     Movements.                                           instructions.
    --Remote Control Movements--    100,000 RR           876,000              1 minute..........          14,600
     Verbal Confirmation.            Employees.           confirmations.
    --Remote Control                100,000 RR           876,000              1 minute..........          14,600
     Determinations That Zone Is     Employees.           determinations.
     Not Jointly Occupied/Track
     Clear.
    --Dispatcher Authorized Train   6,000 RR             30,000 movements...  1 minute..........             500
     Movements.                      Dispatchers.
218.101--Operating Rule Re:         720 railroads......  41 amended op.       30 minutes........        21 hours
 Leaving Rolling & On-Track MOW                           rules.
 Equipment in the Clear.
218.103--Hand-Operated Switches--   720 railroads......  41 modified          1 hour............              41
 RR Operating Rule That Complies w/                       operating rules.
 Sec.   218.103.
    --Specification of Minimum Job  720 railroads......  55 modified op.      30 minutes........              28
     Briefing Requirements.                               rules.
    --Employee Operating or         720 railroads......  1,125,000 job        1 minute..........          18,750
     Verifying Position of Hand-                          briefings.
     operated Switches: Job
     Briefings.
218.105--Additional Requirements    720 railroads......  60,000 job           1 minute..........           1,000
 for Hand Operated Main Track                             briefings.
 Switches--Job Briefing.
    --Roadway Worker Report on      720 railroads......  100,000 empl.        1 minute + 1                 3,334
     Position of Switches to                              reports + 100,000    minute.
     Roadway Worker in Charge                             conveyances.
     (RWIC) or Designated Employee
     Conveying Information to RWIC.
    --Dispatcher Acknowledgment of  720 railroads......  60,000               30 seconds + 5                 583
     Switch Position and Employee                         acknowledgment +     seconds.
     Confirmation to Train                                60,000
     Dispatcher.                                          confirmations.
218.109--Hand Operated Fixed        720 railroads......  562,500 hours......  30 seconds........           4,688
 Derails: Job Briefings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Responses: 188,669,706.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 4,839,583 hours.
    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Title: Reflectorization of Freight Rolling Stock.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0566.
    Abstract: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued this 
regulation to mandate the reflectorization of freight rolling stock 
(freight cars and locomotives) to enhance the visibility of trains in 
order to reduce the number and severity of accidents at highway-rail 
grade crossings in which train visibility acted as a contributing 
factor. The information collected is used by FRA to ensure that 
railroads/car owners follow the schedule established by the regulation 
for placing retro-reflective material on the sides of freight rolling 
stock (freight cars and locomotives) in order to improve the visibility 
of trains. The information is also used by FRA to confirm that 
railroads/car owners meet the prescribed standards for the application, 
inspection, and maintenance of the required retro-reflective material.
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.113.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 685 railroads and 4 Locomotive Manufacturers.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Total annual      Average time per    Total annual
            CFR section             Respondent universe       responses            response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
224.7--Waivers....................  753 Railroads/Car    15 petitions.......  1 hour............              15
                                     Owners.
224.15--Special Approval            3 Manufacturers....  12 petitions.......  40 hours..........             480
 Procedures--Petitions.
    --Public Comment on Petitions.  3 Manufacturers/     3 comment..........  1 hour............               3
                                     Railroads.
224.107--Implementation Schedule:   753 Railroads/Car    200 reports/forms..  15 minutes........              50
 Freight Cars.                       Owners.
    --Existing Freight Cars with    753 Railroads/Car    200 reports/forms..  20 hours..........           4,000
     Retroreflective Sheeting.       Owners.
    --Updated Reflectorization      753 Railroads/Car    5 failure reports..  2 hours...........              10
     Implementation Plans: Failure   Owners.
     Rpt..
    II. Existing Cars w/            753 Railroads/Car    172 reports/forms..  20 hours..........           3,440
     Retroreflective Sheeting.       Owners.
    (b Existing Locomotives         753 Railroads/Car    35 reports/forms...  15 minutes........               9
     without Retroreflective         Owners.
     sheeting.
    --Updated Reflectorization      753 Railroads/Car    35 reports/forms...  3 hours...........             105
     Compliance Reports.             Owners.

[[Page 22181]]

 
    --Failure reports after         753 Railroads/Car    1 failure report...  2 hours...........               2
     initial 24 mo..                 Owners.
    II. Existing Locomotives with   753 Railroads/Car    150 reports/forms..  4 hours...........             600
     Retroreflective Sheeting--      Owners.
     Reports of Compliance.
224.109--Inspection, Repair,        AAR + 300 Car Shops  272,600 Notices....  2 minutes.........           9,090
 Replacement--Freight Cars.
    --Locomotives: Records of       22,045 Locomotives.  4,809 records......  3 minutes.........             240
     Restrictions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 278,237.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 18,044 hours.
    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Title: Track Safety Standards: Concrete Crossties.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0592.
    Abstract: On April 1, 2011, FRA amended the Federal Track Safety 
Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations over track 
constructed with concrete crossties. In particular, FRA mandated 
specific requirements for effective concrete crossties, for rail 
fastening systems connected to concrete crossties, and for automated 
inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties. The 
information collected under Sec.  213.234 is used by FRA to ensure that 
automated track inspections of track constructed with concrete 
crossties are carried out as specified in this section to supplement 
visual inspections by Class I and Class II railroads, intercity 
passenger railroads, and commuter railroads or small government 
jurisdictions that serve populations greater than 50,000.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 18 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Total annual      Average time per    Total annual
            CFR section             Respondent universe       responses            response        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
213.234--Automated Inspection of    18 Railroads.......  150 reports........  8 hours...........           1,200
 Track Constructed with Concrete
 Crossties: Exception Reports
 Listing All Exception to Sec.
 213.109(d)(4).
    -- Copies of Exception Report   18 Railroads.......  150 report copies..  12 minutes........              30
     Provided to Designated Person
     under Sec.   213.234(e)(1).
    --Field Verification of         18 Railroads.......  150 verification...  2 hours...........             300
     Exception Reports.
    --Records of Inspection Data..  18 Railroads.......  150 records........  30 minutes........              75
    --Institution of Procedures by  18 Railroads.......  18 procedures......  4 hours...........              72
     Track Owner to Maintain
     Integrity of Track Data
     Collected by the Measurement
     System.
    --Training by Track Owner:      18 Railroads.......  2,000 trained        8 hours...........          16,000
     Annual Training in Handing                           employees.
     Rail Seat Deterioration
     Exceptions to All Persons
     Designated Fully Qualified
     under Sec.   213.7.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Responses: 2,618.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 17,677 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 15 April 2014.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-08949 Filed 4-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P