[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56616-56618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22500]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-17]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 56617]]

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 November 21, 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 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: Identification of Cars Moved in Accordance with Order 13528.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0506.
    Abstract: This collection of information identifies a freight car 
being moved within the scope of Order 13528 (now codified at under 49 
CFR 232.3). Otherwise, an exception will be taken, and the car will be 
set out of the train and not delivered. The information that must be 
recorded is specified at 49 CFR 232.3(d)(3), which requires that a car 
be properly identified by a card attached to each side of the car and 
signed stating that such movement is being made under authority of the 
Order. Section 232.2(d)(3) does not require retaining cards or tags. 
When a car bearing a tag for movement under this provision arrives at 
its destination, the tags are simply removed. This requirement/record 
comes into play only when a railroad finds it necessary to move 
equipment as specified above. FRA estimates that approximately 400 cars 
per year are moved under this Order.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 718 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

                                                Reporting Burden
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                                      Respondent         Total annual      Average time per      Total annual
           CFR section                 universe            responses           response          burden hours
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232.3(d)--Cars moved in           718 railroads.....  800 tags..........  5 minutes.........  67 hours.
 Accordance with Emergency Order
 13528--Tagging.
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    Total Estimated Responses: 800.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 67 hours.
    Status: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Title: U.S. Locational Requirement for Dispatching U.S. Rail 
Operations.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0556.
    Abstract: Part 241 requires, in the absence of a waiver, that all 
dispatching of railroad operations that occurs in the United States be 
performed in this country, with a minor exception. A railroad is 
allowed to conduct extraterritorial dispatching from Mexico or Canada 
in emergency situations, but only for the duration of the emergency. A 
railroad relying on the exception must provide written notification of 
its action to the FRA Regional Administrator of each FRA region in 
which the railroad operation occurs; such notification is not required 
before addressing the emergency situation. The information

[[Page 56618]]

collected under this rule will be used as part of FRA's oversight 
function to ensure that extraterritorial dispatchers comply with 
applicable safety regulations.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 4 Railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Respondent         Total annual      Average time per      Total annual
           CFR section                 universe            responses           response          burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
241.9--Written Notification to    4 Railroads.......  1 Notice..........  8 hours...........  8 hours.
 FRA Regional Administrator of
 Emergency Where Dispatcher
 Outside the U.S. dispatches a
 Railroad Operation in the U.S.
 for Duration of Emergency.
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    Total Responses: 1.
    Total Estimated Total Annual Burden: 8 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.

Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-22500 Filed 9-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P