[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52839-52841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21542]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2015-0007-N-22]


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 FRA is forwarding the regular Clearance and 
renewal information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below 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 May 26, 2015 (80 FR 30109).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Regulatory Safety 
Analysis 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

[[Page 52840]]

information collection activities before OMB may approve paperwork 
packages. 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, 1320.8(d)(1), and 
1320.12. On May 26, 2015, FRA published a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register soliciting comment on the ICRs that the agency is seeking OMB 
approval. See 80 FR 30109. FRA received no comments in response to this 
notice.
    Accordingly, FRA has reevaluated and certified these information 
collection activities under 5 CFR 1320.5(a), and is forwarding these 
ICRs 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 summaries below describe the nature of the ICRs and the 
expected burden. FRA is submitting these proposed information 
collections to OMB for clearance as required by the PRA.
    Title: FRA Safety Advisory 2015-01, Mechanical Inspections and 
Wheel Impact Detector Standards for Trains Transporting Large Amounts 
of Class 3 Flammable Liquids.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0607.
    Abstract: Recent derailments have occurred involving trains 
transporting large quantities of petroleum crude oil and ethanol. 
Preliminary investigation of one of these recent derailments involving 
a crude oil train indicates that a mechanical defect involving a broken 
tank car wheel may have caused or contributed to the incident. FRA 
issued this Safety Advisory to make recommendations to enhance the 
mechanical safety of the cars in trains transporting large quantities 
of flammable liquids. This Safety Advisory recommended that railroads 
use highly qualified individuals to conduct the brake and mechanical 
inspections and recommends a reduction to the impact threshold levels 
the industry currently uses for wayside detectors that measure wheel 
impacts to ensure the wheel integrity of tank cars in those trains.
    Type of Request: Regular Clearance of an Information Collection 
Approved under Emergency Processing
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Annual Estimated Responses: 351,000.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden: 6,333 hours.
    Title: FRA Safety Advisory 2015-02, Hazardous Materials: 
Information Requirements Related to the Transportation of Trains 
Carrying Specified Volumes of Flammable Liquids.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0608.
    Abstract: Due to recent derailments involving ``high hazard 
flammable trains'' (HHFTs), FRA and PHMSA have conducted several post-
accident investigations and to ensure that stakeholders are fully aware 
of each agency's investigative authority and cooperate with agency 
personnel conducting such investigations, where time is of the essence 
in gathering evidence, the agencies issued a Safety Advisory (FRA 
Safety Advisory 2015-02 and Docket NO. PHMSA-2015-0118, Notice No. 15-
11) to remind railroads operating HHFTs--defined as a train comprised 
of 20 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid in a 
continuous block, or a train with 35 or more loaded tank cars of a 
Class 3 flammable liquid across the entire train--as well as the 
offerors of Class 3 flammable liquids transported on such trains, of 
their obligation to provide PHMSA and FRA, as expeditiously as 
possible, with information agency personnel need to conduct 
investigations immediately following an accident or incident.
    Type of Request: Regular Clearance of an Information Collection 
Approved under Emergency Processing.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Annual Estimated Responses: 50.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden: 100 hours.
    Title: FRA Emergency Order No. 30, Emergency Order Establishing a 
Maximum Operating Speed Operating Speed of 40 mph in High-Threat Urban 
Areas for Certain Trains Transporting Large Quantities of Class 3 
Flammable Liquids.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0609.
    Abstract: FRA issued Emergency Order No. 30 (EO or Order) to 
require that trains transporting large amounts of Class 3 flammable 
liquid through certain highly populated areas adhere to a maximum 
authorized operating speed limit. FRA has determined that public safety 
compels issuance of the Order. The Order was necessary due to the 
recent occurrence of railroad accidents involving trains transporting 
petroleum crude oil and ethanol and the increasing reliance on 
railroads to transport voluminous amounts of those hazardous materials 
in recent years. Under the EO, an affected train is one that contains: 
(1) 20 or more loaded tank cars in a continuous block, or 35 or more 
loaded tank cars, of Class 3 flammable liquid; and (2) at least one DOT 
Specification 111 (DOT-111) tank car (including those built in 
accordance with Association of American Railroads (AAR) Casualty 
Prevention Circular 1232 (CPC-1232)) loaded with a Class 3 flammable 
liquid. Affected trains must not exceed 40 miles per hour (mph) in 
high-threat urban areas (HTUAs) as defined in 49 CFR 1580.3. This Order 
took effect immediately upon issuance.
    Type of Request: Regular Clearance of an Information Collection 
Approved under Emergency Processing.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Total Annual Estimated Responses: 25.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden: 1,000 hours.
    Title: Railroad Signal System Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0006.
    Abstract: The regulations pertaining to railroad signal systems are 
contained in 49 CFR parts 233 (Signal System Reporting Requirements), 
235 (Instructions Governing Applications for Approval of a 
Discontinuance or Material Modification of a Signal System), and 236 
(Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the Installation, 
Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Systems, Devices, and 
Appliances). Section 233.5 provides that each railroad must report to 
FRA within 24 hours after learning of an accident or incident arising 
from the failure of a signal appliance, device, method, or system to 
function or indicate as required by part 236 of this Title that results 
in a more favorable aspect than intended or other condition hazardous 
to the movement of a train. Section 233.7 sets forth the specific 
requirements for reporting signal failures within 15 days in accordance 
with the instructions printed on Form FRA F 6180.14.
    Finally, Sec.  233.9 sets forth the specific requirements for the 
``Signal System Five Year Report.'' It requires that every

[[Page 52841]]

five years each railroad must file a signal system status report. The 
report is to be prepared on a form issued by FRA in accordance with the 
instructions and definitions provided. Title 49 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, part 235 sets forth the specific conditions under which 
FRA approval of modification or discontinuance of railroad signal 
systems is required and prescribes the methods available to seek such 
approval. The application process prescribed under part 235 provides a 
vehicle enabling FRA to obtain the necessary information to make 
logical and informed decisions concerning carrier requests to modify or 
discontinue signaling systems. Section 235.5 requires railroads to 
apply for FRA approval to discontinue or materially modify railroad 
signaling systems. Section 235.7 defines material modifications and 
identifies those changes that do not require agency approval. Section 
235.8 provides that any railroad may petition FRA to seek relief from 
the requirements under 49 CFR part 236. Sections 235.10, 235.12, and 
235.13 describe where the petition must be submitted, what information 
must be included, the organizational format, and the official 
authorized to sign the application. Section 235.20 sets forth the 
process for protesting the granting of a carrier application for signal 
changes or relief from the rules, standards, and instructions. This 
section provides the information that must be included in the protest, 
the address for filing the protest, the item limit for filing the 
protest, and the requirement that a person requesting a public hearing 
explain the need for such a forum. Section 236.110 requires that the 
test results of certain signaling apparatus be recorded and 
specifically identify the tests required under Sec. Sec.  236.102-109; 
236.377-236.387; 236.576; 236.577; and 236.586-589. Section 236.110 
further provides that the test results must be recorded on pre-printed 
or computerized forms provided by the carrier and that the forms show 
the name of the railroad, place and date of the test conducted, 
equipment tested, test results, repairs, and the condition of the 
apparatus. This section also requires that the employee conducting the 
test must sign the form and that the record be retained at the office 
of the supervisory official having the proper authority. Results of 
tests made in compliance with Sec.  236.587 must be retained for 92 
days, and results of all other tests must be retained until the next 
record is filed, but in no case less than one year. Additionally, Sec.  
236.587 requires each railroad to make a departure test of cab signal, 
train stop, or train control devices on locomotives before that 
locomotive enters the equipped territory. This section further requires 
that whoever performs the test must certify in writing that the test 
was properly performed. The certification and test results must be 
posted in the locomotive cab with a copy of the certification and test 
results retained at the office of the supervisory official having the 
proper authority. However, if it is impractical to leave a copy of the 
certification and test results at the location of the test, the test 
results must be transmitted to either the dispatcher or one other 
designated official who must keep a written record of the test results 
and the name of the person performing the test. All records prepared 
under this section are required to be retained for 92 days. Finally, 
Sec.  236.590 requires the carrier to clean and inspect the pneumatic 
apparatus of automatic train stop, train control, or cab signal devices 
on locomotives every 736 days, and to stencil, tag, or otherwise mark 
the pneumatic apparatus indicating the last cleaning date.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.47; FRA F 6180.14.
    Total Annual Estimated Responses: 1,673,546.
    Total Annual Estimated Burden: 444,883 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 collection; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection 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 August 26, 2015.
Corey Hill,
Acting Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-21542 Filed 8-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P