[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 182 (Monday, September 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57044-57046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23620]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA 2015-0007-N-23]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 57045]]

activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements 
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 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following 
proposed activities by mail to 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 
Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreement.'' Alternatively, comments may 
be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493-6170, or via email 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: 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 the information collection activities 
that FRA will submit for clearance by OMB as required under the PRA:
    Title: Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements.
    Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications for viable projects 
including, but not limited to, preconstruction planning activities, 
safety improvements, congestion relief, improvement of grade crossings, 
rail line relocation, as well as projects that encourage development, 
expansion, and upgrades to passenger and freight rail infrastructure 
and services. Funded projects are those that meet FRA and government 
wide evaluation standards and align with the President's key strategic 
transportation goals to create safe and efficient transportation 
choices, build a foundation for economic competitiveness, promote 
energy efficiency and environmental quality, and support interconnected 
livable communities.
    FRA administers award agreements for both construction and non-
construction projects that will result in service benefits or other 
tangible improvements in rail corridors. These projects include 
completion of preliminary engineering, environmental research and 
development, final design, and construction.
    To ensure accountability of Federal award recipients through 
performance and results, including expenditures in support of agreed-
upon activities and allowable costs outlined in a FRA Notice of Grant 
Award (NGA), FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and 
submission of information, as approved by the OMB. Included in this 
information collection are reports and documentation mandated by OMB 
for completion, as well as additional resources to compile evidence 
relevant to addressing FRA's important policy challenges, promoting 
cost-effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective oversight 
of programmatic and financial performance. This justification draws on 
innovative FRA program designs to use sophisticated practices in 
delivering Federal financial assistance and encourage continuous 
improvements in service delivery.
    FRA issues and manages awards in compliance with Title 2 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Grants and Agreements. This 
justification includes one document package for collection over the 
entire lifecycle of the award process, in adherence to the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards (78 FR 78589, Dec. 26, 2013; 79 FR 75871, Dec. 19, 
2014). All non-research awards are subject to the application, 
reporting, closeout, and other processes described in this 
justification.
    Additionally, the collection detailed in this justification 
represents a combination of previous FRA collection requests, 
including: OMB Control Number 2130-0578, OMB Control Number 2130-0580, 
OMB Control Number 2130-0584, and OMB Control Number 0587. Combining 
these collections under a new collection enables FRA to consolidate 
documentation under one collection, which allows for efficiency and 
provides a uniform period until expiration of this justification 
request.
    Form Number(s): FRA forms 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 229. SF forms 
270, 424, 424A, 424B, 424C, 424D, 425, and LLL.
    Affected Public: State and local governments, government sponsored 
authorities and corporations, and railroads.
    Reporting Burden:

[[Page 57046]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Average time
                              Item                                 Total annual    per response    Total annual
                                                                     responses        (hours)      burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRA Form 30.....................................................             383             .25           95.75
FRA Form 31.....................................................               1             212             212
FRA Form 32.....................................................               1              24              24
FRA Form 33.....................................................               8              79             632
FRA Form 34.....................................................               2             897           1,794
FRA Form 35.....................................................              34             383          13,022
FRA Form 229....................................................              18             .25             4.5
Additional Buy America Documentation............................               1       19,944.50       19,944.50
SF Form 270.....................................................               1             716             716
SF Form 424.....................................................             1.1             383          421.30
SF Form 424A....................................................               3             192             576
SF Form 424B....................................................             .25             192              48
SF Form 424C....................................................               3             191             573
SF Form 424D....................................................             .25             191           47.75
SF 425..........................................................             1.5             897           1,345
SF Form LLL.....................................................             .17             383           65.11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In minutes.

    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 39,521 hours.
    Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 CFR 1320.5(b) and 
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. 2015-23620 Filed 9-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P