[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 224 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69187-69188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27436]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2014-0011-N-21]


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 ICR describes the nature 
of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal 
Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the 
following collection of information was published on September 3, 2014 
(79 FR 52409).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 22, 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

[[Page 69188]]

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 September 3, 2014, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment on ICR that the agency is seeking 
OMB approval. See 79 FR 52409. 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 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 request (ICR) and the expected burden. The revised request 
is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Roadway Worker Protection.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0539.
    Abstract: This rule establishes regulations governing the 
protection of railroad employees working on or near railroad tracks. 
The regulation requires that each railroad devise and adopt a program 
of on-track safety to provide employees working along the railroad with 
protection from the hazards of being struck by a train or other on-
track equipment. Elements of this on-track safety program include an 
on-track safety manual; a clear delineation of employers' 
responsibilities, as well as employees' rights and responsibilities 
thereto; well-defined procedures for communication and protection; and 
annual on-track safety training. The program adopted by each railroad 
is subject to review and approval by FRA. Part 214 regulations have 
been deemed different enough from the part 213 regulations as to 
require a separate and distinct reporting form (new Form FRA F 
6180.119). Regardless of discipline, the FRA inspector will complete 
the new Roadway Workplace Safety Violation Report Form (FRA F 6180.119) 
when recommending civil penalties for part 214 infractions.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.119.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 845,230 hours.
    Title: Conductor Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0596.
    Abstract: On November 9, 2011, FRA issued regulations for 
certification of conductors, as required by the Rail Safety Improvement 
Act of 2008. See 76 FR 69802. This rule requires railroads to have a 
formal program for certifying conductors. As part of that program, 
railroads are required to have a formal process for training 
prospective conductors and determining that all persons are competent 
before permitting them to serve as a conductor. FRA issued this 
regulation to ensure that only those persons who meet minimum Federal 
safety standards serve as conductors, to reduce the rate and number of 
accidents and incidents, and to improve railroad safety. Although this 
rule does not propose any specific amendments to the regulation 
governing locomotive engineer certification, it does highlight areas in 
that regulation that may require conforming changes. The information 
collected under this rule is used by FRA to ensure that railroads and 
their employees fully comply with all the requirements of part 242, 
including a conductor certification/recertification program, fitness 
requirements, initial and periodic testing of conductors, territorial 
qualifications, etc.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 922,317 hours.
    Addressee: Send comments regarding this 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.

Rebecca Pennington,
Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-27436 Filed 11-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P