[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55711-55712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23225]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2015-0007-N-24]


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 ICRs 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 collections of information was published on June 22, 2015.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 2015.

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 
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), 
and 1320.12. On June 22, 2015, FRA published a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting comment

[[Page 55712]]

on ICR that the agency is seeking OMB approval. See 80 FR 35712. 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 requests (ICRs) and the expected burden. The revised request 
is being submitted for clearance by OMB as required by the PRA.
    Title: Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards and Event Recorders.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0004.
    Abstract: The Locomotive Inspection requires railroads to inspect, 
repair, and maintain locomotives and event recorders so that they are 
safe, free of defects, and can be placed in service without peril to 
life. Crashworthy locomotive event recorders provide FRA with 
verifiable factual information about how trains are maintained and 
operated, and are used by FRA and State inspectors for part 229 rule 
enforcement. The information garnered from crashworthy event recorders 
is also used by railroads to monitor railroad operations and by 
railroad employees (locomotive engineers, train crews, dispatchers) to 
improve train handling, and promote the safe and efficient operation of 
trains throughout the country, based on a surer knowledge of different 
control inputs.
    Type of Request: Extension with Change of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.49A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 2,087,543 hours.

    Title: FRA Emergency Order No. 31, Notice No. 1.
    OMB Control Number: 2130-0611.
    Abstract: On May 21, 2015, FRA issued Emergency Order No. 31 (EO or 
Order) to require that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
(Amtrak) take actions to control passenger train speed at certain 
locations on main line track in the Northeast Corridor (as defined by 
49 U.S.C. 24905(c)(1)(A)). Amtrak was required to immediately implement 
code changes to its Automatic Train Control (ATC) System to enforce the 
passenger train speed limit ahead of the curve at Frankford Junction in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where a fatal accident occurred on May 12, 
2015. Amtrak was also required to identify all other curves on the 
Northeast Corridor where there is a significant reduction (more than 20 
miles per hour (mph)) from the maximum authorized approach speed to 
those curves for passenger trains. Amtrak was then required to develop 
and comply with an FRA-approved action plan to modify its existing ATC 
System or other signal systems (or take alternative operational 
actions) to enable enforcement of passenger train speeds at the 
identified curves. Amtrak also had to install additional wayside 
passenger train speed limit signage at appropriate locations on its 
Northeast Corridor right-of-way. FRA is continuing this Emergency Order 
in full force and effect, and is now seeking regular clearance for the 
information collection associated with this Emergency Order.
    Type of Request: Extension with Change of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses (Railroads).
    Form(s): N/A.
    Annual Estimated Burden: 245 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.

Corey Hill,
Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-23225 Filed 9-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P