[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62513-62517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24688]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-19]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 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 December 16, 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_--.'' 
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

[[Page 62514]]

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: Inspection Brake System Safety Standards for Freight and 
Other Non-Passenger Trains and Equipment (Power Brakes and Drawbars).
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0008.
    Abstract: Section 7 of the Rail Safety Enforcement and Review Act 
of 1992, Public Law 102-365, amended Section 202 of the Federal 
Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 421, 431 et seq.), empowered the 
Secretary of Transportation to conduct a review of the Department's 
rules with respect to railroad power brakes and, where applicable, 
prescribe standards regarding dynamic brake equipment. In keeping with 
the Secretary's mandate and the authority delegated from him to the FRA 
Administrator, FRA issued revisions to the regulations governing 
freight power brakes and equipment in October 2008 by adding a new 
subpart addressing electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake 
systems. The revisions are designed to provide for and encourage the 
safe implementation and use of ECT brake system technologies. These 
revisions contain specific requirements relating to design, 
interoperability, training, inspection, testing, handling defective 
equipment and periodic maintenance related to ECP brake systems. The 
final rule also identifies provisions of the existing regulations and 
statutes where FRA is proposing to provide flexibility to facilitate 
the voluntary adoption of this advanced brake system technology. The 
collection of information is used by FRA to monitor and enforce current 
regulatory requirements related to power brakes on freight cars as well 
as the recently added requirements related to ECP brake systems. The 
collection of information is also used by locomotive engineers and road 
crews to verify that the terminal air brake test has been performed in 
a satisfactory manner.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 559 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                        Total
                                                             Total annual        Average time per       annual
           CFR section              Respondent universe        responses             response           burden
                                                                                                        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
229.27--Annual Tests.............  30,000 Locomotives..  30,000 tests........  15 minutes..........        7,500
232.3--Applicability--Cars Not     559 Railroads.......  8 cards.............  10 minutes..........            1
 Used in Service.
232.7--Waivers...................  559 railroads.......  25 petitions........  80 hours............        2,000
232.11--Penalties................  559 railroads.......  1 false record......  10 minutes..........           17
232.15--Movement of Defective      1,620,000 cars/locos  128,400 tags........  2.5 minutes.........        5,350
 Equipment.
    --Notice of Defective Car/     1,620,000 cars/locos  25,000 notices......  3 minutes...........        1,250
     Locomotive and Restrictions.
232.17--Special Approval           559 railroads.......  4 petitions.........  100 hours...........          400
 Procedure.
    --Petitions--Pre-Revenue Svc   559 railroads.......  2 petitions.........  100 hours...........          200
     Plans.
    --Copies of Petitions--        559 railroads.......  4 petitions.........  20 hours............           80
     Special Approval.
    --Statements of Interest.....  Public/Railroads....  14 statements.......  8 hours.............          112
    --Comments on Special          Public/Railroads....  13 comments.........  4 hours.............           52
     Approval Procedure Petition.
232.103--General Requirements for  114,000 cars........  70,000 stickers.....  10 minutes..........       11,667
 All Train Brakes.
232.105--General Requirements For  30,000 locomotives..  30,000 forms........  5 minutes...........        2,500
 Locomotives.
232.107--Air Source Requirements-- 10 new railroads....  1 plan..............  40 hours............           40
 Plans.
    --Amendments to Plan.........  50 Existing Plans...  10 amendment........  20 hours............          200
    --Record Keeping.............  50 Existing Plans...  1,150 records.......  20 hours............       23,000
232.109--Dynamic Br.               559 railroads.......  1,656,000 rcd.......  4 minutes...........      110,400
 Requirements--Rcd.

[[Page 62515]]

 
    --Repair of Inoperative        30,000 locomotives..  6,358 records.......  4 minutes...........          424
     Dynamic Brakes.
    --Locomotives w/Inoperative    30,000 locomotives..  6,358 tags..........  30 seconds..........           53
     Dynamic Br.
    --Deactivated Dynamic Brakes:  8,000 locomotives...  10 markings.........  5 minutes...........            1
     Markings.
    --Rule Safe Train Handling     5 new railroads.....  5 oper. rules.......  4 hours.............           20
     Procedures.
    --Amendments.................  559 railroads.......  15 amendment........  1 hour..............           15
    --Over Speed Top Rules--5 MPH  559 railroads.......  5 requests..........  20.5 hours..........          103
     Increase.
    --Locomotive Engineer          5 new railroads.....  5 amendments........  16 hours............           80
     Certification Programs--
     Dynamic Brakes Training.
232.111--Train Information         5 new railroads.....  5 procedures........  40 hours............          200
 Handling.
    --Amendments.................  100 railroads.......  100 am. proc........  20 hours............        2,000
    --Reports to Train Crews.....  559 railroads.......  2,112,000 rpts......  10 minutes..........      352,000
232.203--Training Requirements:    15 railroads........  5 programs..........  100 hours...........          500
 Training Programs--Subsequent
 Years.
    --Amendments to Written        559 railroads.......  559 am. prog........  8 hours.............        4,472
     Program.
    --Training Records...........  559 railroads.......  67,000 records......  8 minutes...........        8,933
    --Training Notifications.....  559 railroads.......  67,000 notices......  3 minutes...........        3,350
    --Validation/Assessment Plans  559 railroads.......  1 plan + 559 copies.  40 hrs./1 min.......           49
    --Amendments to Validation/    559 railroads.......  50 amendment........  20 hours............        1,000
     Assessment Plans.
232.205--Class I Brake Test--      559 railroads.......  1,646,000 notices...  45 seconds..........       20,575
 Initial Terminal Insp.
232.207--Class I A Brake Tests:
 1000 Mile Insp.
    --Subsequent Years...........  559 railroads.......  5 designations......  1 hour..............            5
    --Amendments.................  559 railroads.......  5 amendments........  1 hour..............            5
232.209--Class II Brake Tests--    559 railroads.......  1,597,000 comments..  3 seconds...........        1,331
 Intermediate Insp.
232.213--Extended Haul Trains--    84,000 train          200 designates......  15 minutes..........           50
 Designations.                      movements.
232.303--General Requirements--    1,600,000 freight     5,600 tags..........  5 minutes...........          467
 Track Brake Test.                  cars.
    --Location of Last Track       1,600,000 freight     320,000 stencillings  5 minutes...........       26,667
     Brake Test/Single Car Test.    cars.
232.305--Single Car Tests........  1,600,000 freight     320,000 tests/rcds..  45 minutes..........      240,000
                                    cars.
232.307--Request to Modify Single  AAR.................  1 request + 3 copies  20 hours + 5 minutes           20
 Car Air Brake Test Procedures.
    --Statement Affirming That     AAR.................  1 statement + 4       30 minutes + 5                  1
     Request Copies Have been                             copies.               minutes.
     Served on Designated
     Employee Representatives.
    --Comment on Modification      RR Industry/Public/   2 comments..........  8...................           16
     Request.                       Interested Parties.
232.309--Equipment and Devices--   640 shops...........  5,000 tests.........  30 minutes..........        2,500
 Tests/Calibrations.
232.403--Design Standards For One- 245 railroads.......  12 requests.........  5 minutes...........            1
 way EOT Devices--Unique Code.
232.407--Operations Requiring 2-   245 railroads.......  50,000                30 seconds..........          417
 Way EOTs.                                                communications.
232.409--Inspection and Testing    245 railroads.......  447,500               30 seconds..........        3,729
 of 2-Way EOTs.                                           communications.
    --Testing Telemetry Equipment  245 railroads.......  32,708 markings.....  60 seconds..........          545
232.503--Process to Introduce New  559 railroads.......  1 request/letter....  60 minutes..........            1
 Brake System Technology--Special
 Approval.
    --Pre-Revenue Service          559 railroads.......  1 request...........  3 hours.............            3
     Demonstration.
232.505--Pre-Revenue Service       559 railroads.......  1 procedure.........  160 hours...........          160
 Acceptance Testing Plan:
 Maintenance Procedure--
 Subsequent Years.
    --Amendments.................  559 railroads.......  1 amendment.........  40 hours............           40
    --Design Descriptions--        559 railroads.......  1 petition..........  67 hours............           67
     Petitions.
    --Results Pre-Revenue Service  559 railroads.......  1 report............  13 hours............           13
     Acceptance Testing.
    --Description of Brake         559 railroads.......  5 descriptions......  40 hours............          200
     Systems Technologies
     Previously Used in Revenue
     Service.
232.603--ECP Requirements:         4 railroads.........  1 plan..............  160 hours...........          160
 Brakes--Configuration Management
 Plans.
    --Updated Plans in Subsequent  4 railroads.........  1 plan..............  60 hours............           60
     Years.
    --Modification of Standards--  4 railroads.........  1 request + 4 copies  8 hours + 5 minutes.            8
     Requests.
    --RR Statement Affirming Copy  4 railroads.........  4 statements + 24     60 minutes + 5                  6
     of Modification Request to                           copies.               minutes.
     Employee Reps.
    --Comments on Modification     Public/Interested     4 comments..........  2 hours.............            8
     Request.                       Parties.
232.605--ECP Training Programs...  4 railroads.........  4 programs..........  100 hours...........          400
    --Programs in Subsequent       4 railroads.........  2 programs..........  100 hours...........          200
     Years.
    --ECP Trained Employees......  4 railroads.........  6,409 workers.......  8 hrs./24 hrs.......       10,512
    --ECP Trained Employees--      4 railroads.........  6,409 workers.......  1 hr./8 hrs.........       30,264
     Subsequent Yr.

[[Page 62516]]

 
    --ECP Trained Employees--      4 railroads.........  6,409 records.......  4 minutes...........          855
     Records.
    --ECP Trained Employees--Sub.  4 railroads.........  6,409 records.......  4 minutes...........          428
     Records.
    --RR/Contractor Assessment of  4 railroads.........  4 amended Plans.....  40 hours............          160
     ECP Training Programs--
     Amended Plans.
    --ECP Amended Operating Rules  4 railroads.........  4 am. rules.........  24 hours............           96
    --Amended Locomotive Engineer  4 railroads.........  4 programs..........  40 hours............          160
     Certification Programs.
232.607--ECP Trains Inspection/    4 railroads.........  10,000 tests +        90 minutes + 45            15,125
 Testing:--Notification to                                10,000 notices.       seconds.
 Locomotive Engineer.
    --Cars Added en Route--Tests/  4 railroads.........  1,000 tests + 1,000   60 minutes + 45             1,006
     Notifications.                                       notices.              seconds.
    --Non-ECP Cars Added--         2000 Cars...........  200 insp. + 400 tags  5 minutes + 2.5                34
     Inspections and Tagging of                                                 minutes.
     Defective Equipment.
232.609--Handling of Defective     25 Cars.............  50 tags.............  2.5 minutes.........            2
 Equipment w/ECP Brake Systems--
 Tagging.
    --Train in ECP Mode w/Less     20 Cars.............  20 insp. + 40 tags..  5 minutes + 2.5                 3
     Than 85% of Cars w/Operative                                               minutes.
     Brakes--Insp. + Tagging.
    --Freight Cars w/ECP Systems   75 cars.............  150 tags............  2.5 minutes.........            6
     Found with Defective Non-
     Safety Appliance--Tagging.
    --Conventional Train           500 cars............  1,000 tags..........  2.5 minutes.........           42
     Operating with ECP Stand
     Alone Brake Systems--Tagging.
    --Procedures for Handling ECP  4 railroads.........  4 procedures........  24 hours............           96
     Brake System Repairs.
    --Submission to FRA of ECP     4 railroads.........  4 lists.............  8 hours.............           32
     Brake System Repair
     Locations--Lists.
    --Notice to FRA of Change in   4 railroads.........  1 notification......  60 minutes..........            1
     List.
232.611--Periodic Maintenance      500 freight Cars....  500 inspection and    10 minutes..........           83
 Inspection and Repair of ECP                             records.
 Cars Before Release from Repair
 Shop or Track.
    --Petitions for Special        AAR.................  1 petition + 2        24 + 5 minutes......           24
     Approval of Pre-Revenue                              copies.
     Service Acceptance Testing
     Plan.
    --Single Car Brake Test on     2,500 freight Cars..  2,500 tests/records.  45 minutes..........        1,875
     ECP Retrofitted Cars.
    --Modification of Single Car   AAR.................  1 procedure.........  40 hours............           40
     Test Standard.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 8,677,683.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 991,451 hours.
    Status: Extension without Change of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
    Title: Occupational Noise Exposure for Railroad Operating 
Employees.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0571.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used by FRA to ensure 
that railroads covered by this rule establish and implement--by 
specified dates--noise monitoring, hearing conservation, and 
audiometric testing programs, as well as hearing conservation training 
programs, to protect their employees against the damaging and 
potentially dangerous effects of excessive noise in the everyday rail 
environment.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent Universe: 460 railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: On occasion.
    Reporting Burden:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        Total
                                                             Total annual        Average time per       annual
           CFR section              Respondent universe        responses             response           burden
                                                                                                        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
227.9--Waivers...................  460 Railroads.......  5 petitions.........  60 minutes..........            5
227.103--Noise Monitoring Program  460 Railroads.......  460 programs........  3 hours/30 hours/600        5,128
                                                                                hours.
    --Notification of Employee of  460 Railroads.......  905 lists...........  30 minutes..........          453
     Monitoring.
227.107--Hearing Conservation      460 railroads.......  461 HCPs............  150 hrs/2 hrs/31 hrs/       2,875
 Program (HCP).                                                                 7.5 hours.
    --Revised Hearing              460 railroads.......  5 HCPs..............  1.74 hours..........            9
     Conservation Programs (HCPs).
227.109--Audiometric Testing       85,600 Employees....  7,100 a-grams.......  25 minutes..........        2,958
 Program--Existing Employees--
 Baseline Audiograms.
    --Periodic Audiograms........  85,600 Employees....  8,000 a-grams.......  10 minutes..........        1,333
    --Evaluation of Audiograms...  85,600 Employees....  2,330 eval. + 93      6 min./2.5 hrs......          280
                                                          retests.
    --Problem Audiograms/&         8,000 Employees.....  45 documents........  10 minutes..........            8
     required documents to
     Medical Professional.
    --Follow-up Procedures--       8,000 Employees.....  93 notices..........  15 minutes..........            8
     Notifications.
    --Fitting/Training of          240 Employees.......  240 tr. session.....  2 minutes...........            8
     Employees: Hearing
     Protectors.
    --Referrals For Clinical/      240 Employees.......  20 referrals........  2 hours.............           40
     Otological Exam.

[[Page 62517]]

 
    --Notification to Employee of  240 Employees.......  20 notices..........  5 minutes...........            2
     Need: Otological Examination.
    --New Audiometric              240 Employees.......  20 notices..........  5 minutes...........            2
     Interpretation.
227.111--Audiometric Test          1,000 Mobile Vans...  1,000 tests.........  45 minutes..........          750
 Requirements.
227.117--Hearing Protection        460 Railroads.......  50 evaluations......  30 minutes..........           25
 Attenuation--Evaluation.
    --Re-Evaluations.............  460 Railroads.......  10 re-evals.........  30 minutes..........            5
227.119--Hearing Conservation      460 Railroads/AAR...  441 programs........  1 hour/58 hrs/30              353
 Training Program--Development.                                                 minutes.
    --Employee Training..........  460 Railroads.......  26,000 tr. Employees  30 minutes..........       13,000
    --Periodic Training..........  460 Railroads.......  7,100 tr. Employees.  30 minutes..........        3,550
227.121--Record Keeping--          460 Railroads.......  30 requests + 30      10 minutes + 15                13
 Authorization: Records.                                  responses.            minutes.
    --Request for Copies of        460 Railroads.......  150 requests + 150    21 minutes + 45               166
     Reports.                                             responses.            minutes.
    --Records Transfer When        460 Railroads.......  10 records..........  24 minutes..........            4
     Carrier Becomes Defunct.
    --Railroad Audiometric Test    460 Railroads.......  26,000 records......  2 minutes...........          867
     Records.
    --Hearing Conservation         460 Railroads.......  54,000 records......  45 seconds..........          675
     Program (HCP) Records.
229.121--Locomotive Cab Noise--    3 Equipment           700 tests/records...  40 minutes + 5                111
 Tests/Certification.               Manufacturers.                              minutes.
    --Equipment Maintenance:       460 Railroads.......  3,000 reports +       1 minute + 1 minute.          100
     Excessive Noise Reports.                             3,000 record.
    --Maintenance Records........  460 Railroads.......  3,750 records.......  1 minute............           63
    --Internal Auditable           460 Railroads.......  460 systems.........  36 min. + 8.25 hours          506
     Monitoring Systems.
Appendix H--Static Test Protocols/ 700 Locomotives.....  2 retests + 2         10 minutes + 5                  1
 Records.                                                 records.              minutes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 145,682.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 33,928 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.
Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-24688 Filed 10-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P