[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40835-40836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16354]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-14]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (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 renewal Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) abstracted below are being 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 April 21, 2014 
(79 FR 22178).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 13, 2014.

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 April 21, 2014, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICRs that the agency was seeking 
OMB approval. See 79 FR 22178. FRA received no comments in response to 
this notice.
    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

[[Page 40836]]

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 information 
collection requests (ICRs) and their expected burdens. The revised 
requests are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 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.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 4,835,299 hours.

    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.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form Number(s): FRA F 6180.113.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 8,769 hours.

    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.
    Type of Request: Extension with change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 5,677 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 may also be sent via email to OMB 
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 July 7, 2014.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-16354 Filed 7-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P