[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42396-42397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16984]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-02]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) 
abstracted below are being forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes 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 May 7, 2014 (79 
FR 26299).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 20, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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). (This telephone number is 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 May 7, 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 26299. FRA received no comments after issuing this 
notice. Accordingly, these information collection activities have been 
re-evaluated and certified under 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and are being 
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 summary below describes the nature of the information 
collection requirements (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised 
requirements are being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by 
the PRA.
    Title: Capital Grants for Rail Line Relocation and Improvement 
Projects.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0578.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a previously approved 
collection.
    Abstract: Section 9002 of SAFETEA-LU amended chapter 201 of Title 
49 of the United States Code by adding new section 20154, which 
establishes the basic elements of a funding program for capital grants 
for rail relocation and improvement projects. Subsection (b) of the new 
section 20154 mandates that the Secretary of Transportation issue 
``temporary regulations'' to implement the capital grants program and 
then issue final regulations by October 1, 2006.

[[Page 42397]]

    In FY 2008, Congress appropriated $20,145,000 for the Program, 
reduced by rescission to $20,040,200. Of this sum, $14,905,000 was 
available for discretionary (competitive) grants. After evaluating and 
scoring 37 applications, FRA awarded $14,315,300 to seven different 
projects, leaving $589,700. In FY 2009, Congress appropriated 
$25,000,000 and directed that $17,100,000 be awarded to 23 specific 
projects, with $7,900,000 left over for discretionary grants. 
Subsequently, in FY 2010, Congress appropriated $34,532,000 for the 
Program, and directed that $24,519,200 go to 27 specifically enumerated 
projects. FRA combined the remaining $10,012,800 with the $589,700 that 
was not awarded from the FY 2008 competition, $2,000,000 that was 
awarded to one of the FY 2008 projects but which the project sponsors 
ultimately turned down, and the $7,900,000 in FY 2009 discretionary 
funding for a total of $20,502,500. These funds were the subject of a 
Notice of Funding Availability that FRA published in the Federal 
Register on September 10, 2010. The application period closed on 
October 29, 2010.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 26,083 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 15, 2014.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-16984 Filed 7-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P